What color crankbaits do you guys prefer? I usually fish on Lake Norman. Also what diving depth?

Ill start by saying that Ive never fished Lake Norman nor do I even know where it is.  As for depth, that will depend on the time of year.  The bass will be deeper in the winter and will start moving up shallower as the lake begins to warm.  Now as for color,  personally I'd say it doesn't make as much difference as you'd think.  Ive caught fish on cranks that were green, purple, red, gold, and pretty much every color with the word 'shad' in it.  But I guess if I had to choose one or 2 colors, I'd go with Sexy Shad or Red Craw or something along those lines.  But when it comes to crankbaits, I think the action of the bait is a bigger factor then the color.

I have fished lake Norman a little. I actually fished it with BASS Elite pro Brent Chapman. He was throwing a magnum-sized wake bait (a big 1- I think) in a clear/brown back. I was throwing a generic brand crankbait (similar to a Bandit 200) in Red Craw. My retrieve was slow and steady, and I did catch some fish. He was BURNING that crankbait and out fished me five to one.

We were fishing docks in creek arms near the channel. That's the best I can do for you. Good luck!

I have fished lake Norman a little. I actually fished it with BASS Elite pro Brent Chapman. He was throwing a magnum-sized wake bait (a big 1- I think) in a clear/brown back. I was throwing a generic brand crankbait (similar to a Bandit 200) in Red Craw. My retrieve was slow and steady, and I did catch some fish. He was BURNING that crankbait and out fished me five to one.

We were fishing docks in creek arms near the channel. That's the best I can do for you. Good luck!

 

Was the difference in catch about technique or were you fishing his used water?

 

oe

Technique. We were in the same boat. He was burning his wake bait, and was getting genuine reaction strikes. My retrieve was slower, and I think that's why he caught fish that I didn't.

My 3 go-to colors regardless where I fish.  Sexy Shad, DB Craw, Chartreuse Black Back.  ok maybe 4 ... I would add the Sexy Ghost Minnow to the mix.

 

Clear - Sexy Ghost, Sexy Shad

Stained - Sexy Shad, Chartreuse Black Back

Muddy - Chartreuse Black Back

 

DB Cray in Clear/Stained if the "Craw bite" is on.

Middle of winter the only crank bait you should be throwing is either a shad rap ( silver baitfish type color) or a jerkbait. 

 We were in the same boat.

 

Him in the front... you in the back...

 

oe

At first. We switched a few times. He still whooped my butt.

 

I dont buy the whole Front vs. Back of the boat theory. He was appealing to the natural tendencies of bass; their predatory instinct. I, however, wasnt doing that as efficently (my crankbait was much slower). He was getting the fish that I was passing to strike his bait because it was going so fast (when I was in front). When he was in front, he made them bite first.

 

The moral of the story is this: Color doesnt matter so much. Choose it based on forage in the area as well as water color. But make sure to bang your bait over every piece of hard cover you can in an effort to get that reaction strike. Burn it. Good luck!

Different shades of crawfish, firetiger, and shad. 

I dont normally use cranks but when I do I will toss something that is either silver, shad, perch, gold. I have one fire tiger jointed rapala that I have never even used.....and dont even know what I would use it for haha..

 

I like jigs.....cranks are still a mystery!