Back to Basics: Crank Baits
by Ken Sturdivant
Southern Fishing Schools Inc.
The crank bait is one of the easiest
lures to use to catch bass. For most fishermen it's as easy as cast it
out and reel it back. For the serious fisherman, the crank bait is a
very effective tool almost all year.
Crank baits come in every size,
shape and
color. From pumpkinseed colors to shad and even bright oranges, crank
baits have their place in every fisherman tackle box. Spend a little
time working
a crank bait under several conditions and they can be even more deadly.
There are a few basic guidelines for crank baits. These are not rules
but guidelines.
Todays crank baits come with high quality hooks.
These hooks
make the baits extremely deadly even in the hands of novice anglers.
Get the baits close to the fish and they would come after them
getting the
hooks every time. Even if the fish jump out of the water the hooks
will hold better than the first generation of hooks. The lure is
usually equipped
with at least two sets of extra sharp treble hooks.
Colors are
as varied as the rainbow. Start out with clear baits in clear water.
Use
the
shad colors and blues and silvers. In stained or muddy water use
orange, chartreuse
and blacks. The crawfish patterns are extremely effective in
dirty water.
In clear water bass can see the lures very well. The lures
must the right
color and size of the bait fish in the bass diet.
In stained
or
muddy water, bass cannot see the lure until it gets right next
to it. Bass
will miss
the clear colored lure because they cannot see it as well.
Crank baits are affected by the size of the line used. To make lures
run
deeper and with great side to side action go down in the line sizes
to as
small
as ten pound test. This will allow the lures no matter what
size to get
to
fish that are often missed by other anglers.
One of the best
places to fish with the crank baits are points. Next trip, sit on
the point
in
shallow water and cast crank baits out. This will get baits
to fish that may have
never been bothered. In the warm water, fish points that
are long and gentle slopes. In the cold waters, fish sharp drop off point
close
to deep water.
