Crankbait for bass
- Thread starter Basstard
- Start date
I will more readliy pick up a hard bait before a plastic bait - but this is personal preference most guys find cranking tiresome and no very productive - I am a proactive fisherman I like to keep moving and busy so it is a fishing style that works for me....
Cranks are expensive I suggest look at the salmo range - value for money and a top class product - you can't go wrong
Cranks are expensive I suggest look at the salmo range - value for money and a top class product - you can't go wrong
As a right handed person, have you ever watched a lefty hammering in nails? Well that’s how I feel with plastics. Crankbaits are a reaction type lure, I love them to bits. When investing in cranks, get yourself a crankbait knocker for when you get caught up, it will save you a lot of money. Every crank swims different, even if they are the same make and size, so pay close attention to each one’s behavior in the water. And always make sure you have got it swimming straight.
How fast can you reel in on your baitcaster if a croc was about to board your boat and you need to get the hell out of there? Now add another 25% to that and you’ll have the right retrieve speed.
Top Tips:
1. Solid rod with a soft tip – 7ft
2. 30lb braid
3. Set drag as soft as possible without free spooling while cranking at pace.
How fast can you reel in on your baitcaster if a croc was about to board your boat and you need to get the hell out of there? Now add another 25% to that and you’ll have the right retrieve speed.
Top Tips:
1. Solid rod with a soft tip – 7ft
2. 30lb braid
3. Set drag as soft as possible without free spooling while cranking at pace.
Well looking out of a competitive fishing point and seeing what bags are weighed in and on what they were caught on. I would say rather go for plastics as you can cover a lot more structure types when fishing. Yes cranks can be productive when called for but I would say plastics cover a wider range of conditions. And believe me I have taken some nice fish on cranks but still prefer my plastics
[color=#006600]Fishton[/color] wrote:
That fast?
I have trolled for bass for a number of years, and even though a lot of good bass can be caught at slower speeds, if you going for the real 'Mama' you need a lot of speed. Try keeping it as close to 6kph as possible. I always wondered how fast my reels actually reeled in, so I devised the following ‘benchmarking’ technique. Tape your handheld gps to a skateboard and zero all the odo settings like max speed etc. Then tie your line to the skateboard and start reeling in, slow at first then give it horns, so as not to jerk the board giving a false max speed. Do this with all your cranking reels and rate them according to effort required in order to reach 6kph.
You are Right Fiston
In the end of they day you have to use what gave the best results. You normally use crankbaits so you have much more experience in the field. What cranks gave you the most sucess? I normally use spinners and plastics. So I can learn from your experience next time I am fishing a crank.
In the end of they day you have to use what gave the best results. You normally use crankbaits so you have much more experience in the field. What cranks gave you the most sucess? I normally use spinners and plastics. So I can learn from your experience next time I am fishing a crank.
Fishton, what colours do you normally use. Saw a DLN in a colours resembling a baby bass yesterday. I have never fished a Norman before so was wondering where to start.
I realized the other day that I tend to fish the same stuff over and over without changing much, so I am trying to diversify. Hopefully this would mean more success. So I might as well learn from the "lang baarde" that fish these often and has the most experience.
I realized the other day that I tend to fish the same stuff over and over without changing much, so I am trying to diversify. Hopefully this would mean more success. So I might as well learn from the "lang baarde" that fish these often and has the most experience.
I have a 'Inanda Dam' box, a 'Albert Falls Dam' box, etc. etc. You have to find what's good for each specific body of water.
But a basic guide would be Chartreuse bellied cranks in dirty cloudy conditions and big white bellies in clear blue bird conditions.
Once again, it is not written in stone.
But a basic guide would be Chartreuse bellied cranks in dirty cloudy conditions and big white bellies in clear blue bird conditions.
Once again, it is not written in stone.
Fishton, the Crankbait Master! 
Agreed, the DLNs and DD22s are the first lures I reach for these days when going cranking! I will always throw a crankbait when there is a bit of wind and a slight chop on the water ... especially near rip-rap or drop-offs ...
The Rapalas (FatRaps and ShadRaps) have also been very productive, but currently the prices are a bit steep, especially if you are cranking from the shoreline!
As for colours, most will probably work on any given day, but sometimes the Bass can be picky ... If you are a crankbait specialist (like Fishton and if you can afford it!) you will have your preferred colours for each venue!
In the Norman range of crankbaits (DLN and DD22) you certainly won't go wrong with the Tennessee Shad, Lavender Shad, Rootbeer and Bumblebee colours ... At R50 a pop (best price) to about R65 it all adds up very quickly!
Agreed, the DLNs and DD22s are the first lures I reach for these days when going cranking! I will always throw a crankbait when there is a bit of wind and a slight chop on the water ... especially near rip-rap or drop-offs ...
The Rapalas (FatRaps and ShadRaps) have also been very productive, but currently the prices are a bit steep, especially if you are cranking from the shoreline!
As for colours, most will probably work on any given day, but sometimes the Bass can be picky ... If you are a crankbait specialist (like Fishton and if you can afford it!) you will have your preferred colours for each venue!
In the Norman range of crankbaits (DLN and DD22) you certainly won't go wrong with the Tennessee Shad, Lavender Shad, Rootbeer and Bumblebee colours ... At R50 a pop (best price) to about R65 it all adds up very quickly!