The majority of my time, I fish soft plastics but I do use other baits. I don't recall using a crank bait for long periods. If that's all they are biting, I would! I threw one for awhile yesterday and that was a squarebill that didn't run that deep. It seems it could be a fish catching machine but geez, that is tiring. I guess your rig has a lot to do with it. My gosh, it seems like it would wear you out if you fished it all the time. Are there people who fish these a LOT? Probably have forearms like Popeye. Do you think of crankbaits as an important part of your arsenal?

What are you throwing it on? There are days I only throw cranks and I don't have a problem. Jerkbaits are another story.. That's when I start to feel like Popeye!

I had it on a light rig yesterday, should've had it on a heavier rod. And reel.

I had it on a light rig yesterday, should've had it on a heavier rod. And reel.

I fish mine on a medium rod. What was the gear ratio?

Theres been two days in my life where I was on a pattern of  ripping a crankbait. Id swing the lure hard just like I was setting the hook , reel in the slack and repeat.  That was tiring .

 

ps . the lure was a Bomber Flat A and I was catching suspended fish .

You get used to it... I fish squarebills alot and my gear is definitely less than optimal but I don't get that wore out from it, but it ain't like your gonna be feeling like a new man at the end of the day haha!

You'll get used to it. I love crank baits. Like Jakob said, it's way better than jerkbaits and especially better than top water lol!

I fish cranks a majority of my time, so it doesn't seem to bother me, especially if you're using the right setups. I've spent numerous week long trips in Canada ripping rattle traps through grassy flats every day for bass, walleye and pike. 

Consider a 5:1 gear set if you do it much. It will make a big difference.. Ripping rattle baits is just tough work though.

For medium to deep diving cranks, I use a glass rod and 21-23ipt (4.7:1 to 5:1 gears).

Josh

What is 21-23ipt?

What is 21-23ipt?

 

IPT = inches per turn while turning the handle of the reel

 

In this case, he's saying he prefers a reel that brings in 21-23 inches of line per full rotation of the reel handle

Yup, another example is a Shimano CTE200GT

@ 5:1 = about 20" per turn, add in a aftermarket longer handle if needed and you can run deep cranks easier as well.. Makes the day much more enjoyable, believe me, lol

You are assuming the OP is using a baitcasting reel, he hasn't clarified what his outfit is except a "light outfit", whatever that means?

Square bills are not high water resistant lures and neither are jerk baits or lipless crankbait. Deep diving 3/4-1 oz crankbaits are high resistant lures to crank all day and big swimbaits can wear you down. It's all about the right tackle and your physical condition.

Tom

After logging full and part time between jobs running a 25lb 100cc chainsaw all day my arms were like Popeye. Fishing from shore making about 500 to possibly 1,000 casts per outing was nothing. The only problem I had was the higher gear ratio reels with crankbaits and spinnerbaits. I use the 5.3 ratio reels for them. Another thing I learned the reels with more ball bearings while being smoother also wore me out. I break in the spinning reels with more bearings on my plastic setups first. I do have the faster bait casters.

The higher gear ratio isn't for everyone. The 5.0 ratio is what most want and use.

Second thought?

How fast are you moving cranks? I move cranks to the point I get a smooth slow wiggle.

I move inline spinners and spinnerbaits just fast enough to let the blades spin. Don't fish so fast. Relax take your time and enjoy the strike.

The more you do something the easier it becomes. Just like lifting weights per say.

I throw square bills on a mh rod and a 6:X:1 ratio reel. We fished last Saturday from 11-8 out on the boat. I used it all day along with a jerkbait.

I could see it possibly getting tiring using a spinning combo of you don't throw them often. Most are a low ratio reels, and you'd have to reel it faster.

I have never been worn out from a day of square billing, lipless cranking, easy pulling stuff like wiggle warts, etc....but a long day of walking a frog, fishing a jerkbait,or pulling a 5xd/6xd has made my feel like I had my ash whooped with belts, even on gear designed to do such things.

Popeye had some strange lookin arms. 

Yea, but spinach doesn't work for me, just Popeye the sailor man, lol

I like fresh, but that canned stuff...

Lol^

The right equipment makes it much easier and enjoyable.  So does catching fish, that makes a lot of annoyances go away.  

I love tossing Crankbaits all day, generally gear ratios range from 5 to 1 up to 7.3 to 1. For me it is easier than plastics. Holding the spinning rod all day is really hard on my wrist.

What does get really tiring is throwing Muskie baits for a couple of hours and having the butt of the rod bruise your ribs. Those guys have it rough.

I'm very out of shape, yet I throw squarebills and other cranks a ton. I don't really find it that tiring.