I'm looking at adding to my arsenal this year I have spent hours of research and can't decide whether to add crankbaits or Fat Ika's.  I'll be fishing lakes and rivers in various depths and clarities.  Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Both!

Fat Ika are subtle. When the bass are "chasing",

crankbaits will be more effective. Secondly, cranks

can be fished at any depth; Fat Ika are for water

<12' deep.

8-)

Both. Why would you only want to add just one technique ? These tecniques are both easy to learn.

if you want to focus on one at a time id do the Fat Ika first. check out roadwarriors posts about how to fish them. (t-rigged backwards, no weight).

crankbaits are definitely something you want to have in your tool box, and theyre easy to learn. they love human flesh though.

I'm choosing to do one application at a time so that I can become proficient and confident in when,where and how to fish them in my areas lakes and rivers.  T/Y for your responses.

90% of the time, I'd be fishing a crank before I went to a Fat Ika.  The deal with these types of plastics is KNOWING exactly where there are fish since you basically cast it out, and let it sit.  A crankbait is more efficient at locating fish, especially if they are deep.  Get a few bites on a crank in an area, and it cools off, then ply that spot with an Ika.

I'm choosing to do one application at a time so that I can become proficient and confident in when,where and how to fish them in my areas lakes and rivers. T/Y for your responses.

Good idea but what are you going to do when they don't want that type of presentation ?

When they don't go for a particular presentation that I'm using, I reach for something else in my bag that I have done before(Senko's, Spinnerbaits and Topwaters.)  Only after being patient and exhausting all methods of the new technique.

When they don't go for a particular presentation that I'm using, I reach for something else in my bag that I have done before(Senko's, Spinnerbaits and Topwaters.) Only after being patient and exhausting all methods of the new technique.

Oh I see said the blind man.

When they don't go for a particular presentation that I'm using, I reach for something else in my bag that I have done before(Senko's, Spinnerbaits and Topwaters.) Only after being patient and exhausting all methods of the new technique.

Well, like a Senko, there's not much to actually know about fishing an IKA.....you throw it out there, and wait.  So much more thought goes into it before you even get it wet, thought about more important things, like fish location.

Crankbaits, on the other hand, will take a lifetime of learning, and you still won't ever know it all.

I would make the decision based on the other techniques that you already feel comfortable with: what style of presentation are you missing currently? Search baits? Finesse?

If you don't have a good search bait in your current arsenal of presentations, look at adding the crankbait. Be careful about heading down that path: the number of variables can be mind-numbing. Cranks are tough to beat for covering lots of water and targetting aggressive fish. If a finesse presentation is what's missing, look at the Ika.

Never heard of the fat ika till last year. Some glad i ordered some,they worked out really well last summer. If you fished a senko or tube before yore all sett to learn to fish crankbaits!

I don't think either of the techniques used with these baits will be too difficult to learn and master.  The Fat Ika is fished much like any other plastic, including a senko, and the crankbaits can be fished like many of the other hardbaits you probably already fish.  You don't live too far from me and assuming you are fishing a lot of the same waters I would recommend both of these techniques in your arsenal.  I have been very successful with both of them the past few years.

Thank you guys for all of your advice I appreciate it.