| Large-lipped, floating and diving crankbaits | | | | |
| give anglers the opportunity to fish a wide | | | | Most crankbaits are not weedless, but very |
| area, at various depths, to find large or | | | | often contact with weeds is needed to create |
| small-mouth bass. The average depth you will | | | | that strike. When your lure hits weeds just |
| get is 6 to 9 feet, but the larger lipped | | | | rip it free, this will usually clear any |
| baits can attain up to 20 feet. | | | | vegetation that might be hanging on, most |
| | | | bass strikes will occur right after you rip |
| When searching for fish stop-and-go retrieves | | | | it free. |
| are the most effective. Crank the lure down | | | | |
| with a fast retrieve and then stop to allow | | | | Burning a crankbait is a good trick to use, |
| the lure to float up. Just continue doing | | | | retrieve as fast as you can, followed by a |
| this to cover the area and different depths. | | | | pause or slow retrieve. The fast action will |
| Once you find bass, fish that depth with a | | | | get that lunker bass attention, and often |
| steady retrieve. | | | | they will strike out of instinct. |
| | | | |
| When you use the slim, long-bodied crankbaits | | | | When using crankbaits try not to hinder that |
| with the small lips they emit actions like | | | | desired wobbling action, some anglers use |
| live baitfish. These are effective for | | | | heavy snaps and swivels to connect their |
| shallow-water bass fishing. Casting or | | | | lures this just hampers that wobbling action |
| trolling these baits above weeds or over | | | | you want when you are fishing. A simple loop |
| shoals is ideal for catching bass. They can | | | | knot or a small round-noosed snap with no |
| even be used like a surface lure in calmer | | | | swivel will allow you to get more lure |
| waters. Just twitching them with a slower | | | | action. They can also take the strain and the |
| retrieve will cause that surface commotion | | | | stress from using your crankbaits, even |
| that will get that surface strike. | | | | ripping out of the weeds and brush. |
| | | | |
| The flat-sided, deep-bodied sinking | | | | Now on to the wide range of colour choices we |
| crankbaits are great to use around sunken | | | | have now, in most cases they vary with |
| structure where a stop-and-go or pumping | | | | personal preferences and of course the bodies |
| retrieve will keep them in contact with the | | | | of water you are bass fishing. Bright |
| structure. Although crankbaits look great | | | | colours, like yellows, whites, and silvers |
| wobbling through open water, they work best | | | | are usually great earlier on in the season or |
| when bumping and knocking into structure. The | | | | during low-light periods; crayfish and |
| large lips, on some crankbaits, act as | | | | baitfish finishes and styles seem to work |
| deterrents to snags. Do not be afraid to rub | | | | best during the day. Also chartreuse, reds, |
| them across the rocky shoals. You should even | | | | and orange coloured crankbaits also work |
| be able to bring them through surface brush, | | | | great in stained or muggy water conditions. |
| by retrieving them slowly. | | | | |