Getting the most out of cranking

Whether fishing a major impoundment or a private farm pond, crankbaits are among the bass catching-est baits that can be tied on a fishing line.

This is especially true in the August heat, when a bass’ metabolism is high and they are actively chasing forage fish. Although it’s often referred to as chunking and winding, there’s more to fishing a crankbait than the name implies.

In order to get the most production from any crankbait, it’s important to understand what the particular lure was designed to do. At the top of that list of criteria is depth. Most manufacturers include list the rated depth range on the packaging.

Speed of retrieve is next, since some crankbaits were born to burn while others work best doing nothing at all.

Third, and just as important, is a crankbait’s action. Call it a wiggle if you like, the side-to-side movements vary lure to lure and each design has a purpose. The action may be designed to have a slow, wide wiggle or a tight, fast wiggle.

While all of these facets are built-in by the manufacturer, here’s a few suggestions on how to get more from the crankbait based on your actions at the other end of the rod:

Stop and go: This retrieve can be either fast or slow and is designed to elicit reactionary strikes from bass. A stop and go retrieve may be better achieved using the rod in a pumping action, versus using the reel to wind and stop. Bass typically hit during the pause, which can vary in length from a split second to several seconds.

Bump and run: Deep or shallow, while retrieving the crankbait over some kind of cover, whether it be stumps, logs, timber or rocks, bump it into the cover then pause the retrieve. This mimics injured or disoriented prey and creates a lot of strikes.

Deflection: Similar to the bump and run only without the bump, deflection is making the lure suddenly change paths. This can be accomplished by reeling the bait hard to your right with the rod tip pointed perpendicular to your body, then pause, swap the rod to the other side, and reel hard to that side. An up or down deflection can be created by letting a sinking bait drop on a slow retrieve, then lift the rod tip and crank the bait to make it rise. A floating crankbait on a slow retrieve will rise, then dip when the speed is increased while raising or lowering the rod tip.

Barn Burner: This “grip it and rip it” retrieve can work when bass are lethargic or in a negative mood. The idea is to not give the fish a chance to eyeball the lure. The retrieve is so fast it triggers a reactionary strike.

The pump: A great and sometimes better alternative to the barn-burner is to burn the lure at top speed, then pause in the middle of the retrieve, and pull it slow with a pumping motion of the rod. This allows the bass to “freight train” the lure on the slower move.