Catching Smallies On Crankbaits

[Wayne SW/MO]

Skirts and their counter parts were popular at one time then faded away with explosion of lures. I often used a piece of flat pork rind on the front hook. The one with many slits in the end was the most effective. This was shown to me by someone and I used it up until the rind became unavailable. I like the plain white rubber, but I admit I've never done a real comparison.

The right color lure with right color skirt can be a real producer at times, pea brain or not.

[moguy1973]

Rebel Craw's are crank baits and they'll catch smallmouth just about anytime they aren't biting on something else.

[Lobsterol]

I agree with TrphyFshR, water clarity determines when I fish a crankbait. When the water is clear I usually stay away from them. If you think about it, the only stealthy presentation in clear water is when you use a background to your advantage like the surface or the the bottom. When a fish approaches a lure like a crankbait in the middle zone they have the advantage to see it more clearly.

Then why do suspending jerk baits work well in clearer water?

[Mitch f]

Then why do suspending jerk baits work well in clearer water?

I think because most jerk baits stay in the strike zone longer because of the pause and it drives fish crazy. Also they have a much more realistic profile.

[Al Agnew]

I do know my homemade one is a much better lure in stained water. If there is more than 4 feet of visibility I almost never use it. And like Mitch, for that matter I simply don't use crankbaits in water much clearer than that. You can downsize your cranks and catch fish in clearer water, but when you downsize your average size of fish goes down, too.

Maybe I'm stuck in my ways, but in clear water I use certain lures that I know work well. Maybe certain cranks work well in clear water, too, but I'm usually happy with what I'm using and don't feel the need to try to force feed them crankbaits.

[joeD]

Are we better fishermen from our counterparts, say, 50 years ago?

I am beginning to think we are just chasing our tails looking for that special lure. Technology aside, fish are fish, and have been chasing human trickery forever.

[joeD]

OOpsy. Sorry. Debbie Downer taking over.

I LOVE FISHING FOR SMALLMOUTH BASS IN OUR SPECIAL OZARK STREAMS!

Also, I am quite addicted to spending money on lures, lines, rods, reels, sunglassess, canoes, canoe seats, magazines, etc et al. blah blah blah.

And I vote!

Now, back to your regular scheduled programming..

[Chief Grey Bear]

I do know my homemade one is a much better lure in stained water. If there is more than 4 feet of visibility I almost never use it. And like Mitch, for that matter I simply don't use crankbaits in water much clearer than that. You can downsize your cranks and catch fish in clearer water, but when you downsize your average size of fish goes down, too.

Maybe I'm stuck in my ways, but in clear water I use certain lures that I know work well. Maybe certain cranks work well in clear water, too, but I'm usually happy with what I'm using and don't feel the need to try to force feed them crankbaits.

The main reason I downsize cranks in clearer water is as a rule of thumb as the water gets clearer, it gets smaller and so do the fish. In the waters I fish regularly. I am not a huge fan of cranks in gin clear waters but have used them with success.

On the skirts, I do that same tactic you buddy does. But I only do it from the back of the canoe. Its is not good ethics, I don't think, to do that from the front. You are cutting off the guy in the back. You can toss ahead and float up to it. If you are are in the front of my canoe and you see me making a couple of casts to the front, that is because you have been cutting me off on water you already fished.

[Chief Grey Bear]

Are we better fishermen from our counterparts, say, 50 years ago?

I am beginning to think we are just chasing our tails looking for that special lure. Technology aside, fish are fish, and have been chasing human trickery forever.

In some ways yes, I think we are. As for lures, I am still using lures that were designed, and in some cases manufactured 50 years ago. I don't get all that excited about the latest gizmos.

[RSBreth]

I'll try cranks in the clearest water - you never know when a certain lure will be "the ticket". I like super shallow "wakers" and ones that run 1-foot deep to run through the riffles. Some of my better Summer fish come from the current seem right at the top of the riffles.