6 hours ago, J Francho said:

I'm gonna catch heat for this, but I think I can actually feel a fish on the follow with a crank.  Not always with bass, but definitely northern pike.  They disturb the water around the bait, affecting it's action.  I can feel this through the line and the graphite.  It can't be in my head.  Anyone else fish cranks that has had this experience?

I don't think I fish the same crank long enough to become that familiar with the feel, but I believe it is possible. When throwing soft plastics, right before the bait hits the bottom, you can feel it and even see the line move. Maybe it's the same kind of thing.

10 hours ago, Ksam1234 said:

Funny you mention that. I actually called a guide , marcel , I have a trip booked in the summer next year for lake st Clair !

I follow Marcel on Facebook he is an incredible Lk St Clair guide.

4 hours ago, Fishin' Fool said:

I follow Marcel on Facebook he is an incredible Lk St Clair guide.

Good to hear! I can’t wait.  I’m spending an 8 hour day with him then going to try my own boat and see how I do

5 hours ago, Ksam1234 said:

Good to hear! I can’t wait.  I’m spending an 8 hour day with him then going to try my own boat and see how I do

When is your trip date?

I'm in the camp that has little or no luck with crankbaits. I've caught some on lipless cranks, but almost nothing on squarebills. I still break them out and I've fished a 1.5 for hours and caught nothing.

 

Something odd did happen to me last spring with a crankbait. I went out and bought a black/black/chartreuse 1.5 and within 10 casts I snagged it and lost it. So I bought another later that week and the same thing happened. Bought a third one and yep, within 10 casts snagged and lost that one. Bought a FOURTH and got in a few days of fishing with it, snagged it and lost another one.

 

I haven't replaced it. I fish other color crankbaits with no problems, but that black/black/chartreuse is a jinx for me. Never again. Maybe...

For those looking to try trolling crank baits - my experience has been hooking pike to bass about 3:1.  So, I use a metal leader to avoid bite offs.  Pike seem to accomplish this just as you're about to net them to maximize the #&!@ you factor by forcing you to watch your $10 swim away. 

I can't imagine not catching fish on crankbaits. I always have 3 crankbait combos locked and loaded on the deck.

I love fishing with crankbaits... The Bandit 200 been a great lure! 

 

Couple of weeks ago I landed a 4.5 on a Strikeking 6XD out in 25’ of water. 

 

I don't do anything crazy when cranking. Just cast and reel.. every now and then I might pause or give a light tap..

8 hours ago, Fishin' Fool said:

When is your trip date?

Not sure yet. He is on a trip in Michigan and won’t be home till next week. But I’m thinking mid July of next year 

Ya know, I'll throw my 2 cents in again. I was the guy who early on said that cranks were my go to bait and I had good luck with them. I went back and reread your post and realized something.

 

On this forum I always see people who say that this bait or that bait is the one they go to when nothing else will work. One of these is soft plastics like worms either Texas or Carolina rigged or just on a hook. I fished a lot this summer and caught a lot of stuff. Mostly on cranks and paddle swimbaits. I got all geared up for soft plastics and read all about them. I gave them an honest shot. I was excited to see results.  i.e. using only them for a long period of time. And I kept it up even though not one fish... I usually 2-5 each time out. Often every other day. That's a fairly good for my body of water. But the worms... nada.

 

Is it my lake? How I'm using them? Dunno. I look at all the youtube vids. So, if you don't seem to have any luck on cranks, welcome to the head scratcher club. I don't have any luck on jig worms even though lots of people say their a no fail bait.  It may or not be my fault but it's the way it is. I wouldn't fret about it. Just use what works and experiment.

 

No luck on chatterbaits either but I love the idea and feel of them.

9 hours ago, DanielG said:

Ya know, I'll throw my 2 cents in again. I was the guy who early on said that cranks were my go to bait and I had good luck with them. I went back and reread your post and realized something.

 

On this forum I always see people who say that this bait or that bait is the one they go to when nothing else will work. One of these is soft plastics like worms either Texas or Carolina rigged or just on a hook. I fished a lot this summer and caught a lot of stuff. Mostly on cranks and paddle swimbaits. I got all geared up for soft plastics and read all about them. I gave them an honest shot. I was excited to see results.  i.e. using only them for a long period of time. And I kept it up even though not one fish... I usually 2-5 each time out. Often every other day. That's a fairly good for my body of water. But the worms... nada.

 

Is it my lake? How I'm using them? Dunno. I look at all the youtube vids. So, if you don't seem to have any luck on cranks, welcome to the head scratcher club. I don't have any luck on jig worms even though lots of people say their a no fail bait.  It may or not be my fault but it's the way it is. I wouldn't fret about it. Just use what works and experiment.

 

No luck on chatterbaits either but I love the idea and feel of them.

It's impossible to not catch a bass on a Yamamoto senko worm with a 4/0 EWG Gamakatsu hook. Depending on your water clarity if its clear i like the Watermelon black flake but about any flake color with Watermelon is good and the same thing with green pumpkin. Cast the senko near the edge of lily pads or the edge of a weedline or under a dock and let it flutter fall for 3 to 5 seconds it is impossible to not catch a bass this way.

4 hours ago, Fishin' Fool said:

It's impossible to not catch a bass on a Yamamoto senko worm with a 4/0 EWG Gamakatsu hook. Depending on your water clarity if its clear i like the Watermelon black flake but about any flake color with Watermelon is good and the same thing with green pumpkin. Cast the senko near the edge of lily pads or the edge of a weedline or under a dock and let it flutter fall for 3 to 5 seconds it is impossible to not catch a bass this way.

I understand. But, alas, I would be living proof that it is possible. Wish it wasn't. But next summer is another opportunity to try.

It's important to understand basic bass behavior before tying on your favorite lure and start fishing.

Back in '74 I made the Cosmic Clock and Bass Calendar for a seminar to illustrate and discuss basic bass behavior based on the water temperature* and activity levels. What is important to remember is bass are cold blooded animals and water temperature affects their matabelism and need for food. Let's agree bass are not active feeding 24/7, they rest more then they hunt prey. When bass are resting they have levels of inactivity and when hunting levels of activity. 

Using crank baits a lure bass must chase to strike are only effective during periods of active hunting bass and a poor choice for inactive resting bass. Select lures that can be fished effectively where the bass are located and where active bass are looking for prey.

This thread is diciussing catching bass on crankbaits, it's not intended cover all lure types, that would result in a book.

The reason I suggested trolling to learn how to use a crank bait is covering a long zone of water depth where active bass are likely to be located in areas the lure is effective. The higher number of bass that see the lure the higher your odds are finding active bass that may strike.

Tom

* water temperature at the depth the bass are at, not surface temps.

Today we use sonar to located bass.

Maybe where you are it's just an off year for crankbaits.  I usually do well on cranbaits throughout the year, but last year from the end of the spawn until winter they wouldn't produce.