[fish hunter]

Dose anyone regularly use crank baits for bass, Or other fish. I am a loyal Rapala fan and have done well with them. Dose anyone else have a preferance such as the Lucky Crafts or the the Bomber lures ect? How do you like to fish them and what colors do you like????

 

[hammer]

Most of my crankbait fishing was done in tournaments mainly in Kansas. The favorite there was the Timber Tiger
in fire tiger. The water was cloudier than it Colo.
Out here I like the bomber craw color with the red eyes.
The smallies at Chatfield seem to like them in the small size.

One evening a few years ago I was throwing an older Cordell Big O in a shad color on the inlet side of Quincy at dusk. Caught 5 bass on 5 casts.
It was great until the four of us got out of the water and the ranger wrote us all up for not getting off the lake in time. Our fault but I was in the zone and that doesn't happen often.

 

[farmer ted]

My all time fave is probably the shad rap (both deep and shallow) I've had good luck with many colors but favorites are perch, crawdad, firetiger, and silver.

I have a lot of crankbaits in my box, Matzuo, Rebel, Bomber, Storm, Rapala, etc etc. I will use them all from time to time or if i just want to try something different. Cranks with rattles are nice if the fish are agressive. I personally suspect that rattles can scare fish off if their not in an agressive mood (just a hunch, I have nothing to document this)...another reason I like the shad rap. I think different cranks have their place...rattles, colors, actions (wide or narrow wobble) , suspending diving depth...all are factors to consider.

I really enjoy fishing cranks but don't get to as much as I want because I am stuck on shore or wading right now so I have a hard time finding deep enough water to use them without snagging and losing a $5 lure.

lately I have been using a lot of suspending jerkbaits (x-rap and husky jerk) and am interested in getting the deep diving versions of these to use as a suspending deep crank.

Overall, I think that Rapala is my favorite brand, I always have good luck with them.

 

[McFish]

I am a crankbait junkie! There are times it is the only bait a fish will take. Largemouths Norman deep divers, Big O, Wiggle Warts, Rattle traps and Timber Tigers are my go to. Smallies Matzuo, Bandits, Wiggle Warts and Shad Raps. I just purchased a bunch of Bommber A6 and Flat A along with a bunch of Rebel deep and double deep cranks for smallies. As far as colors cant go wrong with brown craw and chartruese variations. I have about 150+ cranks for different situations but I am way over the depp end on fishing.

 

[CaptHook]

I found a new favorite last year. The frenzy tiger striped perch. That's the name I gave it. Not sure exactly what it is called but it looks just like a yellow perch. They make it in differant sizes. I caught tons of trout and some walleye on it. Trolling and casting the thing is wonderful. Worked great at Spinney and Chatfield. My wife caught a 19 inch walleye on it last year at chatfield.

 

[yeager]

Well what crank baits do you recommend for a huge clear water lake for bass or walleye?

65-70 degree water in may...

 

[CaptHook]

For warmer water I have not had much luck with crank baits for walleye. I am sure there are thoughs that have but I have not. I use jigs and twister tails with worms mainly when the water is warmer or jigs with minnows when on a boat. Or a bottom bouncer rig. When off shore I use just a worm or leech with a sliding weight and leader. When bass fishing warmer water I concetrate on rocky shores and use mainly spinners or now tube jigs as a buddy just caught two nice ones the other day with tubes at Chatfield. I know this probably does not help with crank baits though. Sorry

 

[farmer ted]

Well what crank baits do you recommend for a huge clear water lake for bass or walleye?

65-70 degree water in may...

It depends on the depth of the water and structure you are fishing. Trolling or casting? For starters...see if you can identify the forage species in the lake and try to match. perch, crawdads, and shad all have crankbaits patterened after them. Sometimes something completely different from the forage will work. If the fish are particularly agressive a bright chartruse type color my be good...even though they are usually better for stained water. If i'm casting rocky points in clear water, I might use a shad rap in one of the above colors. If water drops off very suddenly, try a extremely deep diving crank...I have a heddon that dives to almost 20 feet. In these water temps, I would try a slowish retrieve with occasional pauses or darts. Bass especially love to hit a lure when it varies from a steady rhythm.

 

[liquorbox]

I do real well throwing crankbaits all summer. that is about all I do. walleye stay toward bottom so I like the deep diving cotton cordells and have had alot of luck on the bombers all colors seem to work mix it up