So I’ve never fished crank baits. Just lipless. But I’d like to get into it. I’d like a few basic cranks like the frittside or something. Stuff that will run 10’ and under. And help or colors or brands or anything is appreciated! And yes I’ve been reading and researching all day lol

I just began fishing cranks in the last few years. I was on the bank a lot when I first started. That meant I mostly fished square bills early on in the season before the aquatic vegetation got too thick.

Anyways, you already mentioned the Frittside, I just started using that this year and have had some success. A more traditional square bill like a Strike King KVD 1.5 or Bill Lewis ATV have been good to me also. For your mix diving stuff I’m a big fan of DT 6s and 8s

I’m pretty basic when it comes to colors. I like to have something more natural like a baitfish pattern, Shad, bluegill, perch whatever is in your particular body of water. I also like something in a more bold or contrasting color for dirty or stained water. Think fire tiger, chartreuse or even the bright reds and oranges. If I’m going to have a third color it will usually be a craw pattern.

1 minute ago, bp_fowler said:

I just began fishing cranks in the last few years. I was on the bank a lot when I first started. For that meant I most fished square bills early on in the season before the aquatic vegetation got too thick.

Anyways, you already mentioned the Frittside, I just started using that this year and have had some success. A more traditional square bill like a Strike King KVD 1.5 or Bill Lewis ATV have been good to me also. For your mix diving stuff I’m a big fan of DT 6s and 8s

I’m pretty basic when it comes to colors. I like to have something more natural like a baitfish pattern, Shad, bluegill, perch whatever is in your particular body of water. I also like something in a more bold or contrasting color for dirty or stained water. Think fire tiger, chartreuse or even the bright reds and oranges. If I’m going to have a third color it will usually be a craw pattern.

Thank you so much. Fleet farm has a good selection of the dt-6 readily available 5 mins from the house. So I’m glad to hear ya recommend those. The three colors makes good sense.

4 minutes ago, Joedodge said:

Thank you so much. Fleet farm has a good selection of the dt-6 readily available 5 mins from the house. So I’m glad to hear ya recommend those. The three colors makes good sense.

No problem! Yeah the DT is probably my favorite Crank bait so far. I know you’re getting off the bank soon and I think that’s where the DT 6 shines. Especially working that transition between shallow and deep water.

1 minute ago, bp_fowler said:

No problem! Yeah the DT is probably my favorite Crank bait so far. I know you’re getting off the bank soon and I think that’s where the DT 6 shines. Especially working that transition between shallow and deep water.

That’s perfect. Yeah that’s the plan. And that what has stopped me forever even trying to throw cranks. I don’t have a cranking rod or a slow gear ratio reel. But I’m gonna get a few and try it out. Then I’ll add that stuff in if there is success.

Hard to go wrong with the strike kings for the money. All the way from the squarebills to the 10xd. Two main color will do 85% of your work; shads and craws. In spring fish reds and oranges, and later on browns and greens for craw. For shads, natural shads and chartreuse shads. I think gills, perches and others are more niche colors for certain situations. Like a jig, make sure you’re keeping in contact with bottom regularly. Stop, go, fast, slow is always a great retrieve. The truth is all brand get bit. Get what you like the look of. Confidence goes a long way

3 minutes ago, Swimbaitstud said:

Hard to go wrong with the strike kings for the money. All the way from the squarebills to the 10xd. Two main color will do 85% of your work; shads and craws. In spring fish reds and oranges, and later on browns and greens for craw. For shads, natural shads and chartreuse shads. I think gills, perches and others are more niche colors for certain situations. Like a jig, make sure you’re keeping in contact with bottom regularly. Stop, go, fast, slow is always a great retrieve. The truth is all brand get bit. Get what you like the look of. Confidence goes a long way

Thank you so much for the help!

Take advantage for the sales at Bass Pro. The have the DT series on sale in all the sizes. Disco Shad and Pearl Grey Shiner are excellent. They also have the KVD Elites series baits , the square bills and the deeper cranks. Simple shad colors there as well.

Good luck it can become an addiction. I started getting into them 3-4 years ago and it's my favorite way to fish but I'm out deeper in a clear lake.

1 hour ago, Joedodge said:

So I’ve never fished crank baits. Just lipless. But I’d like to get into it. I’d like a few basic cranks like the frittside or something. Stuff that will run 10’ and under. And help or colors or brands or anything is appreciated! And yes I’ve been reading and researching all day lol

You've already gotten good bait suggestions above...just want to suggest you make sure to use a rod that can handle deeper cranks. They can pull a lot of water, creating a lot of drag/rod deflection - it's easy to overload a 'lighter' rod. Lotta ways to check this box -just wanna plant that seed if you don't already have a solution.

Cranking is a blast. You're gonna love it.

4 minutes ago, Hartwood71 said:

You've already gotten good bait suggestions above...just want to suggest you make sure to use a rod that can handle deeper cranks. They can pull a lot of water, creating a lot of drag/rod deflection - it's easy to overload a 'lighter' rod. Lotta ways to check this box -just wanna plant that seed if you don't already have a solution.

Cranking is a blast. You're gonna love it.

I actually don’t lol. I don’t have a cranking rod. Several MH and H action rods in fast or moderate fast. But I don’t own a glass rod

1 minute ago, Joedodge said:

I actually don’t lol. I don’t have a cranking rod. Several MH and H action rods in fast or moderate fast. But I don’t own a glass rod

Doesn’t have to be glass. I crank with a moderate graphite rod. Personal preference kinda thing. You have an idea of what you want/price point?

I wouldn't worry too much about nailing down a 'perfect' glass or cranking rod - of course there are a million options and a bunch of worthwhile videos to make suggestions. IMO, get the baits right first, don't spend an extra dollar and just use a heavy rod with monofilament. You'll get the flex from the mono to help the treble baits stay seated. You can then play with the size of the mono if necessary. This advice is geared to keeping costs down and landing about 99% of the same fish.

....and as always, keep your hooks sharp. Buy and practice using a sharpening file, by hand.

3 minutes ago, Hartwood71 said:

I wouldn't worry too much about nailing down a 'perfect' glass or cranking rod - of course there are a million options and a bunch of worthwhile videos to make suggestions. IMO, get the baits right first, don't spend an extra dollar and just use a heavy rod with monofilament. You'll get the flex from the mono to help the treble baits stay seated. You can then play with the size of the mono if necessary. This advice is geared to keeping costs down and landing about 99% of the same fish.

My heavy already has a reel with 15 pound big game on it. I love that mono and use it for a lot of techniques. I just gotta reel very slow lol. All my reels are 7.5.1

You're good to go. IMO, way better to learn how to use the tool in some different ways than it is to endlessly look for other tools.

As a tool, I'm very sensitive to not being replaced.

1 minute ago, Hartwood71 said:

You're good to go. IMO, way better to learn how to use the tool in some different ways than it is to endlessly look for other tools.

As a tool, I'm very sensitive to not being replaced.

Very well said. I agree lol

The Dobyns rods CB models are great. I do all my squarebill and mid range cranking on the Kaden 734 and 735 cb models. Those are non glass. You can also get cb model in the fury and maverick. I really love the flex on the kaden and champ cb’s. And unconventionally, I crank with light braid to mono leader myself. I feel like the ultra thin diameter of like 20lb braid paired with the zero stretch get em down good. Then once you hookup the rod does everything

nice rods

I bought a slow speed reel for crankbaits that was unneccesary. It was a waste of money and collects dust in a drawer. Just reel slower.

Here's a sneaky good option for a shallow runner. My best producer for the past 6 years, especially over nearly topped out grass. Control the depth with line or leader choice.

Ima Bill Lowen Squarebill Crankbait - Tackle Warehouse

3 minutes ago, scaleface said:

I bought a slow speed reel for crankbaits that was unneccesary. It was a waste of money and collects dust in a drawer. Just reel slower.

That’s the plan lol

2 hours ago, Joedodge said:

That’s perfect. Yeah that’s the plan. And that what has stopped me forever even trying to throw cranks. I don’t have a cranking rod or a slow gear ratio reel. But I’m gonna get a few and try it out. Then I’ll add that stuff in if there is success.

What are you talking when you say slow reel? I like 5 speeds, but only if we're talking deep cranking where there's a ton of drag. Otherwise any 6 speed is perfect for squarebills or mid-depth.

I’m not big on the deeper cranking stuff but I love me some squarebilling! Typically the 3-5ft range is squarebill territory. Technique is most important here, chuck and wind ‘em and bang ‘em on any and every piece of hard cover you can find, laydowns and dockposts etc. also bang them along hard bottoms, run em along any edges even rip them out of weeds. I don’t just straight crank them; crank/pause crank/pause twitch twitch, pull/pause/pull etc. mix it up, they’re made for speed and reaction bites and the more random and erratic the better ime. There’s lots of them, can’t go wrong with an old standby and one of my favorites the og lucky craft LC1.5, my other fave being the megabass s-crank, nice but expensive. Other good ones are the berkley squarebull and the under the radar sk hybrid hunter.

As for the setup, contrary to popular belief I don’t buy into the need for a proper “cranking” setup (ie moderate action) for this part of the water column. I use a 7ft medium power/fast action st croix rod with a soft tip for casting, I like to get into the backbone fast around cover, and I like a more powerful hookset than you can get with your typical moderate cranking rod. I roll with a 7ish geared reel and 10 sometimes 12lb yo-zuri copoly. I also use this setup for mid-divers in the 6-10ft range, any deeper then you probably do want to go more moderate on the rod.

Also on youtube there’s a video called “Rick Clunn and the history of the squarebill”, it’s a very cool and informative video about its beginnings and how it evolved. Good luck to you sir.

1 hour ago, PhishLI said:

Here's a sneaky good option for a shallow runner. My best producer for the past 6 years, especially over nearly topped out grass. Control the depth with line or leader choice.

Ima Bill Lowen Squarebill Crankbait - Tackle Warehouse

I like it. I haven't tried this one yet. Looks like it would be a good one. Thanks for pointing it out.

LC or SK 1.5 square bills

DT 6

Bandit 100,200,and 300

Rebel Deep Wee R

SK 5 Series

These are the best cranks I have. I have others but these have all worked well for over 10 years. For colors I like 3 patterns overall, shad, crayfish, and chartreuse with a dark back. There's a lot more baits and colors but these are my top performers.

Allen

5 hours ago, Bass Rutten said:

I’m not big on the deeper cranking stuff but I love me some squarebilling! Typically the 3-5ft range is squarebill territory. Technique is most important here, chuck and wind ‘em and bang ‘em on any and every piece of hard cover you can find, laydowns and dockposts etc. also bang them along hard bottoms, run em along any edges even rip them out of weeds. I don’t just straight crank them; crank/pause crank/pause twitch twitch, pull/pause/pull etc. mix it up, they’re made for speed and reaction bites and the more random and erratic the better ime. There’s lots of them, can’t go wrong with an old standby and one of my favorites the og lucky craft LC1.5, my other fave being the megabass s-crank, nice but expensive. Other good ones are the berkley squarebull and the under the radar sk hybrid hunter.

As for the setup, contrary to popular belief I don’t buy into the need for a proper “cranking” setup (ie moderate action) for this part of the water column. I use a 7ft medium power/fast action st croix rod with a soft tip for casting, I like to get into the backbone fast around cover, and I like a more powerful hookset than you can get with your typical moderate cranking rod. I roll with a 7ish geared reel and 10 sometimes 12lb yo-zuri copoly. I also use this setup for mid-divers in the 6-10ft range, any deeper then you probably do want to go more moderate on the rod.

Also on youtube there’s a video called “Rick Clunn and the history of the squarebill”, it’s a very cool and informative video about its beginnings and how it evolved. Good luck to you sir.

Funny you say that Pat. I watched that video and some other Rick clunn vids today since the weather was awful