I'm really trying to hone my cranking skills this summer. I catch fish but I don't think I'm anywhere close the the baits potential. I have read through the articles numerous times but just can't put a finger on what I'm doing wrong. Was anyone else in a similar situation until something clicked? If so what tips or tricks work for you? Thanks.

If i'm in open water, I try to always be doing something with the bait, as opposed to just cranking it in.  Small pauses, twitches, jerks, etc.  Ideally you'll be banging it off of cover, like logs, stumps, etc.  When cranking, I use very long casts, and just vary things up until I find a pattern that is working... there's no one magical way.  Also make sure you're fishing the appropriate depth.  If you're throwing a 20 foot crankbait, and the fish are holding in 3-4 feet of water, not going to catch any that way.

Find the fish.

Find the depth they are holding

Wide slow wobble (Normans Fat Boy) or vibraing bait(Rat-L-Trap).

Vary your retrieve until you find out what they want.

Try differant colors.

Rember sometimes they want something else (worms , spinnerbaits).

Get copies of KVD's Secrets of a Champion and read about what he does with crankbaits.

There are also a number of good DVDs about crankbaits that you may want to consider purchasing.

Articles in Bassin, Bassmasters Magazine and the FLW Magazine can also be helpful. Bassin is the best of these three publications.

Go on-line to the pros's websites and see what they say about crankbaits.

Read the articles on this site about crankbaits.

In other words, we can post one or two suggestions but the more you read and watch about crankbaits and other presentations the more knowledge you will acquire plus you will have the beginnings of your bass library for future reference.

No go out and buy some crankbaits and start experimenting.        

Cranking is at times frustrating.  You whack em' or you get a bite or two.  I start with depth, vibration and then color.  Example:  I fished smallies on the Oregon Multomah Channel and after 30 minutes found the active fish were around 6 feet and on rock.  I tried a wide wobble and got bit.  I went to a Speed Trap, tight wobble, and the fish liked them just fine.  I threw 4 colors and they ate them all, but, in all honesty, each color did show up well in the slightly stained water. Finally, vary your retrieves.  I try to apply this process when ever I feel a crankbait is a viable tool.  Hope this helps a little.

I think one of these days I'll just bring a few rods w/ nothing but cranks. gotta figure something out that way.

where are you going to crank? The trouble I've been having is going anywhere that is deep enough/isn't weed entangled. I guess a jon would help with that though.

yea it would be on the Quan. I'm just gonna bring all my rods with nothing but cranks and grind it out until i start to feel more comfortable...

Great tips on Cranking