Tips for Bass Fishing With Crankbait

The right equipment

Long fishing rods--in the 7- to 7.5-foot range--with a light to medium action are best for fishing a crankbait. A longer rod allows anglers to heave a crankbait long distances, while a rod that has some give makes it less likely the angler will pull the bait out of the mouth of a bass or that a bass will be able to shake the lure free. The thinner diameter of the line that is used to fish a crankbait, the deeper the lure will run. In most instances, 10-pound test monofilament line is a good choice. In areas with heavy cover, or when it does not matter how deep the bait runs, 14-pound test or heavier line is a good choice.

The right bait

The depth at which a crankbait will run depends on the size and angle of its bill. A longer bill catches more water and means the bait runs deeper, while a shorter bill keeps the bait closer to the surface. Color is a matter of choice, though it often is best to stick with a crankbait that looks something like the forage in the body of water in which you are fishing. Crankbaits are effective in water depths up to about 20 feet. When choosing a crankbait, choose one that runs a foot or two deeper than the water depth in which you are fishing.

Choose your spots

When bass are spread over large areas, a crankbait is a good choice because the lure allows you to cover large amounts of water and find active fish. Bass also tend to congregate on the edges of beds of vegetation, drop-offs and ledges, and a crankbait retrieved in those areas will trigger bass to bite. Cast from a variety of angles (along the edge or up and down the edge, for example) to determine what works best. A crankbait also is good around rocks and timber, especially when it is used to bump into such cover. It will ricochet off, and the erratic motion causes bass to bite.

Vary your retrieve

A crankbait is a reaction bait that is meant to be cast and retrieved. It produces a reaction bite from bass, which see what appears to be potential prey getting away. Rarely does it work best to simply cast and retrieve a crankbait. Varying your retrieve speed by starting and stopping or reeling fast and then reeling slow is advisable. Bass often will show a preference for one retrieve over another.

Watch your line

Because light, thin diameter lines work best with a crankbait, it is important to check your line for signs of wear. When the line hits rocks, the crankbait itself or some type of cover, it can fray your line. That weakens the line and could cause you to lose a bass.