Which crankbaits to take?

Here's how I would play it with cranks.


dipbait said:
1 Standing timber that reaches the surface. Something with a square bill to deflect when running it into the timber.
2 Rip rap dam Non rattling tight wobble fished parallel to the bank
3 Weeds/ Lily pads Tuff one. If the weeds are just below the surface, I would run a wide wobbling noisy shallow crank right over the top. If they're thick weeds I would run the edges of them with a deep diver, also noisy. However in thick weeds or pads I opt for dropping a 12" worm in holes Texas rigged with heavy rattling weight. I've sometimes used up to an ounce of lead. In sparse pads I have had luck using a Storm Hot & Tot with the metal lip. I like the flash and the sharp metal lip can sometimes slice through the thinner stems.

4 Flats I hate flats, so many choices so little time, I usually bypass flats and target structure...
5 Steep banks/bluffs deep diving so that it hits the bottom and deflect off rocks. I would change up between wide and tight wobble as well as noisy and rattle less.

6 Long extended points/humps Definitely a suspending crank and/or jerk bait, and I would play with all depths.
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dipbait said:
Im going to rephrase the original question. What crankbait would you take for the following conditions which I may encounter?The water color will probably be stained green. Late summer early fall. Water temp 80 to 90. Fishing pressure light to moderate. I have my ideas but like to hear other peoples strategies.

1 Standing timber that reaches the surface.
2 Rip rap dam
3 Weeds/ Lily pads
4 Flats
5 Steep banks/bluffs
6 Long extended points/humps
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hard to crank on weeds and lily pads unless its a frog or spinner bait. i do not fish flats unless they are lined at the bottom with rocks (or its spring) i would pass. if they are lined with rocks on the bottom i would go deep crank regardless of depth and maybe even use a craw imitation crank bait. let it bounce and bang on the bottom. i have caught my fair share using deep cranks in medium to shallow water.
 
hung-solo said:
hard to crank on weeds and lily pads unless its a frog or spinner bait.
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Old timey Pico Perch fished over the top or along the side of weeds if possible. As far as flats , the whole lake may be like that. Ill pack a Pico Perch and Rattle Trap just in case.
 
dipbait said:
Old timey Pico Perch fished over the top or along the side of weeds if possible. As far as flats , the whole lake may be like that. Ill pack a Pico Perch and Rattle Trap just in case.
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yes, i was thinking you are fishing IN the wees and pads..
 
Ill probably be fishing in the pads. Especially if I drink a couple of beers. Every once in a while I get a surprise.

My surgeon did a marvelous job.
 
I aggree with Blue sky, Rapala Count downs are the the way to go. I like the Brown Trout, Shad or rainbow trout, and I would go for the #7. # 5 ate a bit small and you dont have the controll you have with a little heavier crank bait. I cought a hog last weekend out here in California. cought on a #9 Brown Trout...



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dipbait said:
Ill probably be fishing in the pads. Especially if I drink a couple of beers. Every once in a while I get a surprise.

My surgeon did a marvelous job.
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LOL.. we are not so lucky here. not many pads floating around.
 
If you can find a rocky shore line, hit that area. Bass love to feed on crayfish that live in the rocks.
 
mbjannusch said:
If you can find a rocky shore line, hit that area. Bass love to feed on crayfish that live in the rocks.
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yeah. i had mentioned above that using a crank craw fish works well banging it on the bottom on rocks and stumps. hit something, let is sit for second. hit someting again and let it sit... the fish will tell you if they hit it right after a pause or if they want a longer pause.
 
I have caught a bunch of bass on small Bill Lewis' Rattletraps. I like the idea of a hula popper or something similar also. What size fish do you think you'll be catching?
 
Rattle trap chrome with black back or chrome with blue back, works everywhere.
 
Ill take a Rattle Trap but they are not something I use much in the summer. The fish get accustomed to the rattle. A rattleless Pico Perch or Bayou Boogie usually takes their place. Now that small Rattletrap , it has come through for me in the hot months.
 
This time of the year I love fishing a Pop-R early in the morning and late in the evening. They are available in many colors but I still prefer the standard Silver/Black.
 
I have always had alot of luck with rooster tails. Its hard to say without seeing the water color and the structure, ie weeds, rocky or sandy bottom fallen trees. I like to throw tubes as well. Just pack a little of everything. Go to the local bait show and see if they have a topo map of the lake. You can see the depth of the lake and any drop offs or under water points.
 
mbjannusch said:
I have always had alot of luck with rooster tails. Its hard to say without seeing the water color and the structure, ie weeds, rocky or sandy bottom fallen trees. I like to throw tubes as well. Just pack a little of everything. Go to the local bait show and see if they have a topo map of the lake. You can see the depth of the lake and any drop offs or under water points.
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Spinnerbaits , worms, topwaters, jigs I already know what Ill be packing. Crankbaits vary so much that I want to know what others use in the six situations that I listed. I have a pretty good idea but crankbaits are not my strongest point. I can only pack a few , so I want to put a little thought into which ones to take.
 
The only thing that sucks about packing just a few, at least for me is: I always end up catching the most fish on what I have the least of, and then something happens and I loose the lure. :(
 
Oh I know. Ive lost most of my fish catchers, then replace them with the same exact thing except they dont catch fish. My first Arbogast Mudbug was a hawg getter. I havent had a Mudbug worth a hoot since.

Ill be able to keep more in my truck just in case.
 
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It's funny. When I have a good day with a particular lure, I will go to all the stores close to that lake that sell that lure in that color and clean them out. Then 90% percent of the time when I go out and fish that lure again I won't catch a thing on it..... But it's the 10% of those lures that do produce which make up my confidence or go to box. The Zoom Baby Brush Hog is at the top of that list. I to this day will clear a rack of those lures in my favorite/ only color I use.
 
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