Bass often hook themselves on braid, so there’s no need for a jaw-breaking hook-set. Braided line is nearly stretch-free, so a strike transmits a sharp thud. Straight braided line is all we ever use for crankbaits. Can you use braided line with crankbaits? First of all, it’s denser than water, so it sinks. I use Bass Pro Shops XPS fluorocarbon line for most of my crankbait fishing these days for several reasons. I’ve won two Elite Series tournaments this season using crankbaits (Strike King Series 5 and 6 lures), and both times fluorocarbon line has been a factor. The key to fishing a crankbait is if you know where the fish are figure out what the fish want.

Try a stop-and-go presentation when running the lure in open water to trigger bites from inactive bass. When fishing around cover slow your retrieve or raise your rod and pause the bait. How do I become a better crankbait fisherman? Making “S” turns is also a good way to test several speeds at once. If you are marking bait and fish but not hooking up, don’t be afraid to speed up or slow down. How fast should you troll crankbaits?Ĭhanging speeds is key Typical crankbait trolling speeds are 1.5 – 3 mph, and there are times when it makes a big difference. Species Approximate Crankbait Length Largemouth Bass 2-5 inches Smallmouth Bass 2-5 inches Walleye 3-6 inches Northern Pike 4-9 inches. Medium Diver: Occupying the second spot in the family of lips, the medium diver has a larger lip than shallow divers and can attain depths between 5 and 12 feet.Crankbait Buyer’s Guide. The most common types of bills for both jerkbaits and crankbaits include square bills, diamond-shaped bills, and rounded bills. Jerkbaits mostly have three treble hooks, while crankbaits have two.

What’s the difference between a crankbait and a jerkbait?Ĭrankbaits are generally shorter and fatter, while jerkbaits are slender and longer.

Fishing planet california crankbait