Cranking Not The Bottom
Hey guys is there ever a time where you do not crank the bottom? If so, what type a Crankbait are you using , time of year and what kind of situation is it?
I ask this question with leaving smallmouth out of it and also when the fish are just super aggressive.
Thanks,
Derek
Squarebills come to mind. Usually fish those through cover. Otherwise, I'm usually digging up the bottom with any diving crankbait.
If I ever come into a situation where I’m cranking and don’t wanna hit bottom. I’m either cranking the top of grass lines or using the stop and go method to create a change in direction and speed to “mimmick” that deflection. I could be wrong but that has worked for me when I don’t want to or have nothing to deflect with crankbaits!
When I find fish chasing bait at a certain depth I'll run a crankbait to match their depth or a little less than. Worked will multiple times on Sam Ray.
Great question Derek. When largemouth fishing, I almost always want to contact the cover. There are some situations that fishing off the bottom is effective. Some are mentioned above. Schooling fish is the most common time I fish off the bottom with cranks. I will run the crankbaits through the bait or just under the bait to trigger strikes. Some times I burn a crankbait or lipless crank off the bottom to use speed as a trigger.
My best success comes from a 1.5 or 2.5 squarebill when timber is flooded or trees with leaves during the summer. I have had good success fishing them on out side of tree when fish are aggressively waiting for ambush from cover of leaves
I've had tremendous success throwing a 1 - 2.5 square bill when the fish are chasing bait at or near the surface. This works best for me when the fish are staying up for a period of time while busting the top.
I can say I use a square bill when the fish pull out off the bank when the water is dropping and they move to ledges. I fish parallel to a ledge. I prefer a spring craw bandit 100 series to fish a ledge that drops from 4 down to 10 feet
Long winded answer but here goes.
I fish a lake reservoir that has a lot trees under water. The water goes up and down... Often a year or two in a row of drout. Think thats why trees grow fast they are i think mesquite trees. Then when lake up they are submerged.
Im no pro but believe this technique requires tools and skill.
I select a crankbait that when paused it floats backwards in upward manner.
use a reel like david fritts says it has slop think its called multi stop
Which is different than zero anti reverse.
Next when stop bait move rod reel forward straight at bait.
How to fish:
I throw this crank out... Long cast get lure to depth and run it into these underwater trees. Paying very close attn.... At moment feel bait crash into trees i stop and move rod forward.
Let bait allow enough time to float up backwards and slow reel again
IF there is fish on that tree he smashes it as i begin reeling again.
The technique I describe keeps you from hanging up.... Its not for faint hearted takes alot skill to master to not lose more baits than can afford.
I might add i use very low gear ratio
5.1.1 lews bb1 reel or old shimano bantam curado this is important because your trying to not get hung up
Low gear typically has low inches per turn... Its a timing thing.... High concentration... Stop too late your hung.
I do it fairly often actually. A few examples:
1. Shallow square bills for spawn oriented fish. Sometimes use them almost like a wake bait or twitch like a topwater. The fish will often “shark” the bait so you know the bite is coming.
2. Schooling fish
3. Hot weather speed cranking in shallow areas.
4. Over deep water discharges at power plant lakes.
Bryan Thrift talks about using crank baits that only dive to the depth of the top of brush piles in a video here at BU. Sorry but I don’t remember which one.
This is the Bryan Thrift cranking video.
https://bassu.tv/bass-fishing-video/cranking-all-depth-ranges-bryan-thrift
