What is a crankbait lure?
Crankbait fishing was developed to catch canny bass. Professional bass fishermen use this lure to quickly cover water and explore various depths. Also known as a “plug,” the crankbait has a hard, rounded body with a bill or a lip.
The bill or the lip makes the lure wiggle and dive like baitfish. The wiggling action entices the bass to strike. When paired with a thin line, the crankbait gives you a deep dive that enhances the potential of your fishing yield. Crank bait lures are also designed for fishing at various depths. Ones with larger bills go much deeper than the ones with smaller bills.
Here are a few pointers on choosing your crankbait-
1. The color
Crankbait lures come in multiple colors and color patterns. They are designed to mimic baitfish to entice bass. Most anglers do not pay much attention to the color of their crankbait lure. But while fishing in muddy waters, it makes sense to use bright colors that stand out. Colors like dark blue, dark green, and smoky do stand out in dingy/ muddy waters.
2. Know the water
As a fisherman, you will soon realize that each waterbody is unique. It is often difficult to know what lies beneath the surface. Some water bodies may have a forest of vegetation, sunken debris like logs, branches, large rocks, and even sunken automobiles. You need to get a survey map of that waterbody to determine the correct depth to fish.
In shallow water, you need to use the right crank bait lure for the depth. Make a few experimental casts. Reel in the bait quickly. If you find that you are not getting any bites or strikes, slow down until you get bites regularly. Hitting the right spot will give you much better results. Remember, fishing with a crankbait lure is about enticing the canny bass. You must titillate it enough to commit to a strike.
3. Always keep your fishing rod’s tip close to the water
Though not apparent at first, this tip will make a notable difference in the long run. With your rod’s tip near the water’s surface, you will be able to drive the bait to the mouth of the bass. Keeping it away from the water will make you work more to hook bass and tire your arms more quickly.
4. Snatching is a strict no
Snatching at the bait is a typical newbie mistake. Professional bass fishermen always steadily pull their crankbait and never snatch. This will ensure that the fish have enough time to bite. Once the fish bites, reel in a little and make a swift sideways action with your rod to hook the fish firmly.
5. Avoid fishing too fast
A crank bait lure allows you to rapidly cover the waterbody and check for any fish. But in their eagerness to cover the entire waterbody, newbies often fish too quickly. It so happens that the bass is cunning. They lurk in the water and often let the bait go by.
You need to cast several times in the same area and reel in at different speeds until the fish gets madly enticed to strike. Once you hit the right speed, you will be reeling in multiple basses if they are present in the water.
6. Patience is the key
Often you may see a fellow fisherman reeling in fish after fish while you are still empty-handed after hours of fishing. Also, newbies are keen to experience heavy action right away. This makes them do too many things too soon. All this makes for a bad day’s fishing.
Remember, when it comes to any kind of fishing, the process is the key. Enjoy the fishing process. The right processes always deliver good results over a while. In the beginning, it is important to learn the basics of fishing with a crankbait. Eventually, you are bound to hit the sweet spot and begin to reel in the bass. Once you get more experienced, you will be able to read the water better and hone your technique.
To wind off
The more you fish, the more you will look to learn new techniques and try fishing in different scenarios. You will also eventually enjoy being immersed in nature while pitting your wits against the wily fish. With more fishing hours, you will unconsciously learn the finer nuances of angling. So, get out there and hit the water.