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| I like throwing crankbaits and have a lot of confidence and success with them, but I still always wonder about which to choose (or a progression to follow) for a given day. In the fall, I usually start with a 10" Jake or big granny thinking that's it trophy time, but these baits tend to produce more follows and are harder to control (especially in the figure 8) than other baits. Lately, I've tended to go to the other extreme and have been throwing a lot of small baits - baby Depthraiders or Mann's 1-. These baits are much easier to control and figure 8 and I have better success converting fish on the 8. But the fish tend to be smaller and I always wonder if I should be throwing the full-size DR or the Jakes.
Any thoughts about how to approach crankbait selections and a progression to follow?
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Posts: 1046
| Myself, anytime of the year I start out full size(8"-10") and let the fish tell me when to go smaller and truthfully that is very seldom.If you are getting that many follows from bigger fish, stick with the bigger bait and change your retreive to convert. If the bigger fish are looking, force feed`em and get the net! |
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| I guess I approach crankbaits a little differently. I throw a variety of baits that run at different depths to try to discover where the fish are staging . Sometimes this requires using a count-down crankbait (CD Depth Raider- River Run Shark-both sink at about a foot a second) Once you have figured out the depth you can go from there.. I have found that using a lower geared reel (3.8 to 1) maxes out the running depth of floating crankbaits. I wrote an article in Esox Angler Winter 2001 if you'd like to check it out farther. Article is titled 'Staged Raking'
SV |
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Posts: 1938
Location: Black Creek, WI | MNSteve.... sounds like you are either straight retreiving your crankbaits or not getting enough action into the larger ones. Smaller cranks typically have more SPEED and are better for just "reeling in".... and since they are smaller they typically twitch a little better/easier too. This could be why you have been more successful with the smaller stuff?
I'm like Handyman.... and start big and work smaller. But... I'm usually workin' the snot out of those bigger cranks. Secondly, I'd be less concerned about the Figure 8 with your crankbaits and more concerned with triggering strikes further out from the boat.
Good Luck.
jlong |
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Posts: 1916
Location: Greenfield, WI | I use the 6" deep diver Slammer Crankbait more than any other. It works fine for straight retrieves, but I use eratic almost a jerkbait retrieve more often than not. I even use them in shallow water say less than 5', by jerking them down and pausing them to allow the bait to rise to near the surface.
Another aspect to my retrieves if I am retrieving the bait straight in is once the bait gets to the boat pop the rod upward about 2' which provides both a change in direction and multiplies the vibration. If you use a longer rod you can go right into a figure 8 with 2'-3' of line out, but make sure your free spool is engaged with your thumb on the spool for the hook set.
Figure 8 as deep as possible.
Edited by Steve Van Lieshout 11/5/2004 8:31 AM
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Posts: 146
Location: Wayzata, MN | I love crankbaits. My three fav's are 10" jointed Belivers, two sizes of jointed Wiley's and Rapala Super Shad's.
One thing to try, when your bait is about 12 feet +/- away from the boat, change the direction a bit... it helps trigger strikes [away from the boat] and lines you up for a figure 8 or a sweeping 'L' boatside.
I start smallish in the spring, and get bigger as the year progresses. But I still will throw a small lure once in a while in the fall... to change thinsg up a bit. |
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Location: Contrarian Island | One thing I started doing this year and WISH I had done more in previous years....I took a few straight baby D Raiders and put on 3 larger eagle claw hooks, that weighted it to perfect natural buoyancy....now you can work this just like a Triple D or whatever...I start the retrieve about 8 cranks, then stop and take my rod tip and very lightly pop it about 4 times, with just a hint of slack.. the thing swings side to side and looks killer,,,,I do this with a the 8'6" Heavy and then retrieve and do it over...I have caught 2 this way recently, one other miss and a multiple fish up...try it out if they are following Triple Ds, that's what I did and nailed 2...
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Posts: 240
| Thought I posted this but I will try again.
I really like the 7" Salmo Whitefish with metal diving lip in the GS, BS, and firetiger. These have been great crank baits by far producing the most fish for me. I had my biggest on last year land lost it at the boat. This year it helped me to my biggest yet at 48 * 25. They work great speed trolling, or casting.
Regards
Cory |
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| Thanks for the ideas. I never straight-retrieve a crank, but I'm sure JLong is right that I get a lot more action into a baby DR than a 10" Jake. Probably time to tinker with some of my bigger baits to get more wobble and roll.
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Posts: 663
| Here in the Vilas County area we have been having success lately with baits in the 8" range like Slammers, Grandmas, Cranes. The fish are responding best to a long pull and rise action. Hitting on the pull just after the rise. |
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Crankbait Choices