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Crank Baits
Crankbaits are one of the best lures you can use for reasonably active fish. Crankbaits have a built in action that is determined by the way the bait is designed. Crankbaits are manufactured from hard plastic, soft plastic, metal and wood. The trick to using a crankbait is to make its action appear erratic. Bump the lure off of stumps, pilings, or the bottom to change the way the bait presents itself. Here is a list of some of the available baits and tips on when and where to use them.
What to use, where when and colors
Metal - use in clear water. 5-15 feet deep. Good for trolling across deep flats, humps and points. Use when water is 55 degrees or warmer. Suggested colors are Gold, Red and Chrome.
Shallow Diver - use in murky to stained waters. 1-3 feet deep. Good for muddy or gravel bottom.Use when water is 50 degrees or warmer. Good bait for early spring. Suggested colors are Crawfish, Red and Chartreuse.
Medium Diver - use in stained to murky water. 4-6 feet deep. Use when water is 50 degrees or warmer. Good for sparse cover areas. Good for digging bottom in shallow water. Suggested colors are Chartreuse and Crawfish.
Deep Diver - Use in clear or murky water. 6-15 feet deep. Good around rocks and wood. use when water is 50 degrees or warmer. Bump cover or bottom to create erratic action. Suggested colors are Crawfish, Red, Silver, Chartreuse and Gold.
Super Deep Divers - Use in stained to murky water, 15-30 feet deep. Good for deep structure. Use when water is 60 degrees or warmer. Bump deep cover to entice a strike. Suggested colors are Red, Chartreuse, Chrome and Shad.
Flat Sided Baits - Use in stained to muddy water. Use around wood and rocks in 2-10 feet of water. Use when water is 45 degrees or warmer. Use in places you would use a spinnerbait. Good bait for logs and standing timber. Suggested colors are Shad and Chartreuse.
Giant Crankbaits - Use in stained to murky water. Use 2-12 feet deep, arounf rocks,wood or weeds. Use when water is 60 degrees or warmer. Swim bait over weed beds or across stump flats. Good night bait. Sugested colors are Perch, Shad, Trout, Black or Baby Bass.
Jointed Crankbaits - Use in clear water 3-10 feet deep. Use around weeds, rocks and wood. Use when water is 55 degrees or warmer. Twitch bait over submerged cover. Suggested colors are Shad, Chartreuse and Black.
Metal Billed Crankbaits - Use in stained to muddy water, 50 degrees or warmer. Good around rocks and wood. Make sure lure has prolonged contact with structure, work bait slow. Suggested colors are Crawfish and Chartreuse.
Critter Imitations - Use in 1-6 feet of clear to stained water. Water should be 50 degrees or warmer. Great ultra light lure. Use in streams and ponds. Suggested colors, imitate natural forage found at location.