Went to the local lake at lunch time today and had three bass follow my crank bait up to the surface of the water.  I know about making adjustments to the lure and throwing a follow-up bait, but I was fishing from bank and only had the one rod with me.  My question is, when you don't have a follow-up bait or another lure, it there any way to get them suckers to bite?

Try changing your retrieve speed and see if that will entice them

The problem with crankbaits is that people fish them like idiot baits and chunk and reel them in. They don't fish them. Its a baitfish imitator,....Make it look alive not mechanical. If a fish follows it they don't see anything wrong with the bait so they don't strike. Your crankbait didn't have fear so why would a bass hit it? Any other baitfish that bass has ever eaten about filled their pants at the sight of him but your crankbait has no fear. Keep that in mind the next time you go fishing.

Man ! TexasBass1 and Chris shure do know their business, excellent replies both of you.  

I fish my crankbaits similair to how you would a spinnerbait giving it little jerks and pausing on the retrieve.

when you see the fish foloowing, pause for a split second, then give it one hard rip of the rod tip.  instant strike!

If you only have one R & R combo,try changing the color.They,ve followed your bait ,so there is some interest there on their part.I was taught by an old time bass tournament angler,who knew his business,to try a different color when this happens.They've shown an interest,but your color hasn't sealed the deal.

or different size

move from side to side when retrieving

<----- crankbait----->

Go back to that lake tomorrow with a finesse worm or a Senko type worm in a green pumpkin color usign 10 lb. test or lighter and make that cast.  I think you'll catch at least one of those bass if the conditions haven't changed.

Having fished a variety of smaller lakes for many years, I find that summer bass are often pretty darn lazy chasing a crankbait.  Once they see it, they lose  interest quickly.  I'll bet you kept casting that same bait with absolutely no response from the bass even though they seemed terribly interested at first.  If your lake temps are past 80, slow down and downsize with plastics to catch the bass. I don't know of a way to keep throwing the same crankbait repeatedly to the same fish in a lake with decent vis. and get them to hit it.  If you did not make the bait deflect off something, I would try that next time if I only had one bait, but do stick a couple of pl. worms in your pocket!