Hey guys so I want to pick up some spro little john cranks. I was wondering how people like them in stained to muddy water. I know in dirtier water you want a loud crank as well as a crank that moves a lot of water. I have not used a little john, or any flat body crank for that matter much at all. I am wondering how the little johns do in stained or muddy water since they are flat body and have that low pitched rattle that is not very loud.

 

Also would you throw a little john year round? I have read some places that a flat body crank is  great in colder water or when the fish are pressured, but then I also saw a video with John Crews where he said the little johns are the only crankbaits he throws year round. I know he is a pro promoting his bait but I thought there may still be some truth to this. I was just mainly wondering how flat body cranks are in the summer or fall when the water is either hot or starting to cool but still not considered cold.

 

Thanks for the help guys!

Flat sided crankbaits excel in cold water and tidal waters where you have moving water however that's not to say you can't throw them in the summer. Grab a few and try them out if you like them fish with them!

Yes they work all year long. You can always grab some of the Fat Jons too, that's what the fish in my avatar ate

Cool thanks guys! I plan on also getting the Fat Johns, but I was mainly worried about the others since I can get the MD along with the normal Little John and fish it deeper. I will probably end up getting enough that I can cover all of the different water depths. I havent gotten to use one yet but I love the looks of all the spro baits.

I haven't used the little john but I am a fan of flat sides. The Poes 300 flats were the first ones I used and those taught me that flat sides work in cold water but I found them to be excellent after a front as well. I like the DT flat 7 and flat 3 and Kopper live target bluegill crank shallow diving matte finish, the shape with the flat sides makes it look like a bluegill with the way it swims. I like to use flat sides in the summer around rip rap, if you go through an area and don't get bit on a square bill, go back through and slow roll a flat side, I bet you get bit, the tighter action seems to draw strikes for some reason.

Thanks for all the advice guys! I am going to hit the water tomorrow cant wait to try out the Little John I picked up

What a bait is designed for dosen't mean that is the only way it should be or can be used.  I've fished flat sided and silent cranks in stained and muddy water down the same breakline others were fishing fat bodied cranks with rattles and cleaned up behind them. I've also had my butt kicked attempting to throw a bouyant, fat, crank with rattles in the spring with water temps in the low 50's, so take my advice for what it's worth.

What a bait is designed for dosen't mean that is the only way it should be or can be used.  I've fished flat sided and silent cranks in stained and muddy water down the same breakline others were fishing fat bodied cranks with rattles and cleaned up behind them. I've also had my butt kicked attempting to throw a bouyant, fat, crank with rattles in the spring with water temps in the low 50's, so take my advice for what it's worth.

 

 

Ok cool sounds good thanks for the advice! It ended up raining most of today and thats the first rain we have had in maybe two weeks. Hoping that will bring some more bass in shallow, this has been a weird spring so far. I cant wait to break in the little john tomorrow!