What's your go to crank bait for clear water?

I would Probly paint up some transparent bluegill patterns. See how thin I can get my greens and browns and oranges. Get a crank that's as natural as it gets. 

I don't know what your version of clear water is.  For me clear water is 20 feet plus of visibility.  If you've never fish that - I'm here to tell you that in that kind of envinonment, whatever is presented is either going to have to look very real or be moving very fast, or both.

In the crank bait category, there are several options that can get the job done.  Depending on the time of the year and water temp, the earlier & colder the better; a lipless bait, usually silent models, as well as square bills are a good choice.  As the water warms the speed of the presentation will need to increase.  And regardless of the temp - a long cast in that kind of visibility, is a must.

A-Jay

Something with greens, browns, or shad colors.  I start from there and see what works, and what doesn't.

Clear water for me is eight foot visibility .  I use a lot of colors . Perch , bluegill , shad  , baby bass ... Bluegill had been real effective shallow . Shad and chartreuses have been effective to around 15 foot deep . Usually its just a guess as too what color to use. More important is diving depth and water displacement .

In clear water I'm almost always throwing a square bill in a bluegill or ghost minnow type pattern. The only requirements for me is that it has to be very real looking or translucent and the bait is always moving fast in clear water except for cold water but that is another story.

The same cranks I use for muddy water.

natural (black&silver) shad rap works well in clear water

 

 

H2O XPRESS® Rattlin' T 5/8 oz. 

Sexy Ghost color for me usually works but like anything some days its chrome with black trim or blue trim. Or any number of other colors.

A Shad Rap is a 24/7, 365 crankbait. 

2 hours ago, Mosster47 said:

A Shad Rap is a 24/7, 365 crankbait. 

I have caught more fish on Shad Raps than with all my other cranks put together for more than 2 decades.

Another vote for the shad rap. I also like the dt6. 

3 hours ago, Raul said:

I have caught more fish on Shad Raps than with all my other cranks put together for more than 2 decades.

#5 or #7?

 

oe

7 hours ago, OkobojiEagle said:

#5 or #7?

 

oe

In order: 7, 9, 5

Another fan of the Shad Rap in clear water. I like to weight them for a slow rise as well. The #5 is my favorite, followed by the #7.