I am new to fishing I havent fished since I was a kid , but I am trying to get back into it. I am having problems using a small crank bait about a minow size. I cant get very much distance with it about 12 feet. I am using 10lb test monofilament line with a spin bell type reel what is my problem ? Is the 10lb test to heay for the light bait, I did not want to put weight on it because I thought it would change the dynamics of the crank bait. Any advise would help greatly thanks

Ya sounds like ur line go to 8 or 6.... berkley XL is perfect for this

a baitcast set-up might help you a little bit.

Thanks I will try it

I don't know what a "spin bell type reel" is, spinning or spincast. But your subject line is "Small crankbait" and small is a relative term. Is it 1/16 oz? 1/4 oz? How heavy is your rod? What kind of 10# line, relatively small or large diameter? All these factors can influence casting distance, as well as the aerodynamic characteristics of the lures.

In general, I'd use 4# line for 1/16 oz. lures, 6# or 8# for 1/8 oz. and 10# for 3/16+. But there's lots of overlap.

With all due respect to Deuceu72, I don't understand how a baitcast can help, since spin gear generally handles light lures better.

I am new to fishing I havent fished since I was a kid , but I am trying to get back into it. I am having problems using a small crank bait about a minow size. I cant get very much distance with it about 12 feet. I am using 10lb test monofilament line with a spin bell type reel what is my problem ? Is the 10lb test to heay for the light bait, I did not want to put weight on it because I thought it would change the dynamics of the crank bait. Any advise would help greatly thanks

I am assuming you are using a spinning reel, the type with a bail you have to open to make a cast. There are a few things since you have what I first started out with not too long ago that affect casting distance.

For lures as light as you are describing, 10# mono is not going to cast it as well as 6 or 8# mono.

It could also be your rod. If it isn't rated for the lure's weight, this is another thing that can hinder casting performance.

Is this a rapala minnow type lure? Well they don't cast that well on 10# line anyway, but you can get around this by carolina rigging your lure. If you use about an 18" or longer leader, the weight will be far enough to not affect the lure's action. You will only need about 1/4 oz weight to cast your lure far.

My original rig used a 3-way swivel. One to the main line, one for the weight and the other to the leader and lure. My first bass when caught this way and I came up with this as a newbie because I was trying to figure out how in the world could I cast those light baits? In essence it is a carolina rig in that the weight is ahead of the lure. A traditional C-rig is much easier and more convenient to prepare.

Another thing I see many anglers do in trying to maximize distance on the cast is to quickly cast in a way that they do not allow the lure's weight to load the rod. They're already moving forward while the lure is still going backward. The end result is a poor cast and the hearing of a whipping sound. Allowing the lure to load the rod is one way to achieve optimum casting distance with little effort.

I am not certain a baitcast rig is going to fare better unless you have a reel like a Pixy, Presso, or Chronarch or other like reel. Something that light is birdsnest city if the wind kicks up. Good luck!

Sounds like you could be throwing it on too heavy of a rig altogether.   I usually throw really small minnow type baits on the lightest action rods I have - - if the rod is too heavy to properly "load up" when you're casting the lure, than that is most likely the problem.......going to smaller diameter line may not help much.