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Crankbaits

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Crankbait lures are designed to imitate the appearance and movement of baitfish. They're ideal lures for targeting both warm and cold water species including bass, pike, muskies, walleye, trout, perch and crappie. Crankbaits can be used year-round in open water and near cover. They come in a variety of colors and sizes ranging from 2 to 12 inches. When fishing murky water, use chartreuse/blue black, gold or fire tiger. When water clarity is high, use shad, crawfish and natural-colored, translucent crankbaits. Crankbait size should be determined by your target game fish.

Species Approximate Crankbait Length
Bass 2-5 inches
Walleye 3-6 inches
Northern Pike 4-9 inches
Musky 4-12 inches
Crappie 1-3 inches
Trout 1-3 inches
Perch 1-3 inches

Crankbaits are lipped or lipless. Lipped crankbaits have a plastic bill that allows them to dive down and be fished at varying depths in the water column. Lipless crankbaits are ideal for use in the shallows. They have a tight wobble that makes them perfect for fishing during cooler weather when fish may be lethargic. Lipless crankbaits are also ideal for fishing near cover and underwater grass.

Lipped crankbaits dives down through the water column to different depths. The depth a crankbait dives is determined by a plastic "lip" attached its front. The size and shape of the lip—along with the bouyancy of the crankbait itself—determine the depth a crankbait will dive.

There are three main types of lipped crankbaits: shallow-diving, medium-diving and deep-diving. Each type of crankbait is designed to be fished a different depth.

Crankbait Depth Usage
Shallow Diving Crankbait 1-5ft For fishing the shallows over weed cover and vegetation. Ideal for targeting bass in spring as the move into the shallows to spawn.
Medium Diving Crankbait 5-10ft For fishing the shallows over weed cover and vegetation. Ideal for targeting bass in spring as the move into the shallows to spawn.
Deep Diving Crankbait 10-15ft Use in open areas where you need to get down deep where gamefish are located. For fishing rocky bottom and around points, ledges and rock piles.
Extra Deep Diving Crankbait 15-25+ feet When fish are located in the lower water column at depths below 20-plus feet and you need to get your lure to the very bottom.