Needlenose pliers will allow you to slightly adjust the line tie to the opposite direction of where you want your crankbait to run. A 5.4:1 or similar gear ratio works well for all crankbaits because of two major factors: This style of lure will catch fish of all species in all seasons, whether you're casting or trolling. Knowing the, The Ebony Anglers: Black History in the Making, The 5 Must See Moments From The Unchartered Fishing Series, 4 Bass Lures You NEED In Your Winter Tackle Box, Fishing First Aid: What You Need To Know And What You Need To Bring, How To Find Winter Largemouth Bass In Open Water. Making a long cast past your target will enable the crankbait to dive deep enough to hit the sweet spot in the middle of your retrieve. Fall is arguably the best season to use crankbaits. The lure size you use should match the kind of fish you expect to find when you’re out on the water. Using 12- to 15-pound line works well for most prespawn cranking situations for bass in the mid-depth zone. The key with shallow-diving crankbaits is to fish them with no regard to getting them hung up. Fishing in the winter means more bounty as fair-weather anglers retreat to the warm i…, Lure color changes drastically as you fish deeper underwater. If you're tired of finesse fishing in Winter, this video is for you! it forces anglers to fish the baits slower, and it allows for more power during the retrieve. Crankbaits with square bills are best for running in the shallows from 1 to 4 feet, while a plug with a 1-inch bill will dive to about 10 feet deep. The world of artificial lures may seem endless, but the methods for fishing with them are relatively similar. Crankbaits with longer bills run deeper and have a wider wobble than lures with small bills. Remember that artificial fishing lures are meant to mimic baitfish, so learning how to use lures properly should allow you to do the same. Water clarity determines which crankbait shape to throw for bass in the 7- to 10-foot range. A lure with a plastic lip that causes a bait to dive underwater can be classified as a crankbait. The body and lip of the crankbait will absorb the impact, causing the deflection, and the hooks will rarely penetrate the cover at high speeds. It’s not impossible to fish low water locations with a crankbait, though a floating crankbait would be your best choice. Medium-diving crankbaits work well in water that is shallower than 10 feet, even when they dive deeper than the water’s depth. The lipless crankbait sinks about one foot per second, so let it sink until its at the depth you want. Crankbait rods should be long to allow for increased casting distance and to get to the maximum diving depth. This is when the baitfish become most active and the predatory fish begin to chase them. …, How to Get the Most out of Your Crankbaits. The deflecting lure imitates the same flash produced by a baitfish when it bumps into a log and rolls on its side. Any fish that routinely eats smaller fish can be targeted with crankbaits. If not, it could be due to a defective lure, damage from an errant cast, or simply catching too many fish! However you might have to scale down to 8- or 10-pound test when fishing in clear water where prespawn bass stage a little deeper. Although crankbaits will catch some bass year-round, the prime times to throw these diving plugs are spring, summer and fall. Deep Diving Crankbaits The postspawn period signals the start of deep cranking since bass suspend in deep water and start feeding on shad. Monofilament and braid will float, and fluorocarbon will sink. Like shallow-diving crankbaits, a deflection also triggers strikes, and a short pause after a deflection often results in a strike. How To Make Your Own Fishing Lures Part 1: Why build your own lures There are actually a lot of reasons why avid fishermen make their own fishing lures, often depending on the type of individual and time on hand. Braided line will also have the least stretch, making it the least attractive option for crankbait fishing. In lakes that have shad, a white or shad-pattern crankbait with a fast retrieve is the best lure to use to cover water until you locate a concentration of fish. The solution to fixing a straying crankbait is very easy: tune it! Fishing lures vary widely according to many factors including the type of fish, the type of water and the rod you're going to use. For Smallmouth Bass, use two to five … See more ideas about homemade fishing lures, fishing lures, diy fishing lures. When you want to fish deeper from 12 – 20 feet start throwing your deep diving crankbaits. Please double check your email address. The crankbait’s shape dictates how you should present the lure to prespawn bass. Get your fix of expert articles delivered straight to your inbox! Today’s crankbaits come in a variety of body shapes and widths, but the lure’s bill is the key feature defining a crankbait as a shallow-, medium- or deep-diving plug. In general, crankbaits run deeper when fished more slowly on lighter line with longer casts. He now resides in Spokane, WA and spends his days fishing for bass, writing, making videos, and ice fishing. Some can either hung on the wall or placed on the wall, depending on their size. You just reel them faster or fish with lighter lures in shallow water and vice versa in deeper water. Crankbait fishing is the technique of choice for bass anglers who need to cover water quickly and explore various depths. 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