Crankbaits have long been a staple in bass fishing, offering the ability to cover large areas of water quickly. Whether in tournaments or casual outings, speed and efficiency often dictate lure choices, making crankbaits a go-to option. However, the overwhelming variety available can create confusion, leaving anglers uncertain about which crankbait is best for a given situation.
Each crankbait is designed for specific fishing conditions, much like using the right tool for a job. Understanding the different types and their unique attributes ensures the best selection every time. The first factor to consider is depth, followed by bill length and shape, body style, and how the lure interacts with cover.
1. Lipless Crankbaits
- Diving Depth: Unlimited
- Popular Sizes: 1/4-ounce, 1/2-ounce, 3/4-ounce
- Wobble: Tight
- Body Style: Flat
Lipless crankbaits, originating with Bill Lewis’ Rat-L-Trap in the late 1960s, are known for their loud rattles and intense vibrations. Unlike lipped crankbaits, these sink to any depth, making them versatile. They excel with straight retrieves or a pull-and-drop technique, particularly around various types of cover. Popular patterns mimic baitfish in clear water, while crawfish and bright colors like fire tiger work best in stained or muddy conditions.
While many refer to this crankbait category as “Traps,” several effective models exist. The Strike King Red Eye Shad, Lucky Craft LV500, and Eurotackle Z-Vibber are all solid choices. In high-pressure waters, quieter options like the Booyah One Knocker or the Damiki Tremor 65 Silent can be more effective.
Lipless crankbaits are particularly useful in the spring when water temperatures range between 45 and 65 degrees. Prespawn bass move from deep wintering holes toward spawning flats, often utilizing unseen structures. Allowing a lipless crankbait to sink to the proper depth before retrieving can entice strikes. When fishing around aquatic vegetation, ripping the lure free from the weeds often triggers aggressive reactions.
These lures remain useful during summer when bass school on deep structures such as ledges, humps, and points. The pull-and-drop retrieve works well for these deeper bass, especially when targeting specific cover like brush piles or stumps.
2. Square Bill Crankbaits
- Diving Depth: Surface to 4 feet
- Popular Sizes: 3/8-ounce, 1/2-ounce
- Wobble: Wide
- Body Style: Rounded
Square bill crankbaits are designed for shallow water and heavy cover. Their bill shape helps them deflect off obstacles, reducing snags. Short, straight-edged bills allow these lures to climb over obstructions rather than getting stuck.
Several options exist in both buoyant balsa models, like the Black Label Wreck and Bagley Flat Balsa B, and durable plastic models, such as the Storm Speed Trap and Bandit Series 100.
These crankbaits shine in the postspawn period, when water temperatures range between 60 and 75 degrees. Many bass remain in the shallows, feeding on shad during their spawning period. Targeting laydowns, dock posts, and aquatic vegetation with square bills can lead to aggressive strikes.
Throughout summer, square bill crankbaits remain effective in rivers and northern natural lakes. Bouncing them off rocks, docks, and other cover in shallow waters often results in reaction bites.
3. Lipped Crankbaits
- Diving Depth: 4 to 25 feet
- Popular Sizes: 3/8-ounce, 1/2-ounce, 1-ounce
- Wobble: Varies (wide or tight)
- Body Style: Flat or Rounded
The majority of crankbaits fall into this category, with bill length dictating diving depth. Short bills typically reach 5 feet, while long bills can take a lure down more than 20 feet. Bill shape also plays a role; rounded bills, like those on Rapala’s DT series, help avoid snags, while coffin-shaped bills, such as those on Berkley Frittsides, offer a mix between square and rounded styles.
Body shape affects the lure’s action. Rounded crankbaits, such as the Norman Deep Little N and DD-22, produce wide wobbles that attract bass in warm water. Flat-sided models, like the Rapala Shad Rap, offer a tighter wobble, making them more effective in cold water.
Lipped crankbaits are effective year-round. In prespawn conditions, when water temperatures are in the 50s, cranking a rounded-body model in 8 to 12 feet of water and pausing after collisions with cover can provoke strikes. Postspawn bass transitioning to deeper water can also be targeted with mid-depth crankbaits.
During summer, deep-diving crankbaits are crucial for reaching bass on offshore structures. Making long casts and using thin fluorocarbon line helps lures reach their maximum depth. Varying retrieve directions can keep bass engaged and prevent them from becoming conditioned to the presentation.
In the fall, when baitfish school in shallow creek arms, crankbaits diving 5 feet or less outperform topwater lures. Targeting ambush points such as stumps, laydowns, and dock posts increases the chances of catching actively feeding bass.
Even in winter, when water temperatures drop into the 40s, lipped crankbaits can still produce. Flat-sided balsa models, especially when modified with lead tape to suspend or slowly sink, offer a subtle action that entices sluggish bass.
Selecting the right crankbait requires understanding depth, cover, and seasonal behavior. Lipless crankbaits provide versatility across various depths, while square bill crankbaits excel in shallow, heavy cover. Traditional lipped crankbaits offer a range of diving depths to reach bass at different times of the year. Matching crankbait type to the conditions ensures better success on the water.
Image/Source: Wired2Fish
