What is your favorite season to throw a crank bait in?

As long as there is open water - I'll have some kind of crank bait tied on.

 

A-Jay

Yep, a crankbait is 12 months a year for me.

What season do you find is the most productive?

Crankbaits run from 6 inches to 30 feet deep so you can target fish 12 months out of the year.  I think the more appropriate question you should be asking is how to choose the appropriate diving depth by season.

Crankbaits run from 6 inches to 30 feet deep so you can target fish 12 months out of the year.  I think the more appropriate question you should be asking is how to choose the appropriate diving depth by season.

I agree.  It's more about what type of bait and what depth the bass and baitfish are.   Reaction baits work year round, there isn't really a best season.

What season do you find is the most productive?

 

Can't answer this question, but I know the bass where I live love a craw colored treble hooked lure during the pre-spawn

I have caught fish in every month of the year here in VA with water temps as low as 35 on a crank bait so for me, like A-Jay, i always have a crank bait tied on.

365 days.

What season do you find is the most productive?

For me, late summer/fall. Usually August-October.

So year-round is the consensus decision, what are your favorite conditions to throw one in (i.e. clear skies, no wind, etc.)?

The question is what season is the best . I would pick fall. It just seems like every year I get on a really good fall crankbait bite. 

Spring and fall around here is usually the best time.

Early morning or points with a slight wind chop around rock.  If you have a nice break close by that can be a plus.  Season....all four can be awesome.  Rainy days....awesome.  Just getting to be on the water and fish em......awesome.

In general, Spring and Fall. Choosing the appropriate crank is another story.

If you had to pick the perfect condition to throw a crank in (besides every condition) what would it be?

If you had to pick the perfect condition to throw a crank in (besides every condition) what would it be?

Windy and rainy/cloudy days are my favorite conditions.  Killed em' on a Rapala DT-4 during my first five club tourneys this year.

 

I also prefer stained water.

Cloudy with some wind helps the crankbait bite for me.  Sunny can be good too especially deflecting your crankbait off of cover.  Sun makes the fish hold tighter to cover and you can create good reaction strikes.  Really to me having some wind is more important than whether or not it is sunny or cloudy.  And like fish devil stained water is also what you are looking for.

My best crankbait bites are in the fall. Crankin Rap time.

 

Spring is lipless time for me.

 

A few cranks work well for me in the winter when a reaction strike may be the only thing you can get due to neutral fish. 1/4oz redeye shad and a rebel wee-r squarebill. My favorite cold water baits.

 

I don't throw crankbaits much in the summer.

I think you're missing the point. There is no perfect condition for a crankbait. Where there is fish, a crankbait is going to be close to the top of anybody's list of an effective bait. Gin clear water is about the only time I think it's not quite as effective, but it can still work well. Just make sure it's deflecting off of the bottom or cover.

I think it depends on the season where you are throwing cranks but all year you ca catch them. I lost a fish that would of went like 4-5# today on a Rapala DT Flat and yesterday lost one the same size on a KVD 1.5. Its funny cause it was the only bites i even got both days and they came right when I started fishing.It was super windy both days and I had to stop fishing because of like 30 mph gusts of wind. I couldn't hardly cast not to mention my baits where running in a huge arch cause of the wind grabbing my line.

Spring and fall around here is usually the best time.

Yep.

All year round.  However, you may want to present the crank baits differently depending on the season.  

Open water season.

All year really , let the water temp and water clarity dictate the depth and wobble. Provided your in the non solid water season.