Fall 2021
Photo: Providence Marketing Group – Zach Rinn
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Often, the bass that are located on offshore structure in deep water are schooled up and by throwing a crankbait you can efficiently have the lure make contact with the cover, whether it is a ledge, scattered rock, weeds or submerged timber.
The other advantage to using a deep-diving crankbait is to cover water quickly and determine if the school is active. If they are you can load the boat with some big bass in a short span of time.
Some of my favorite deep-divers include the Rapala DT 14 and 16 and the Strike King 6XD.
As far as color selection goes, I stick to four choices. I use shad patterns for when the bass are feeding on baitfish, crawfish for late summer, chartreuse patterns for when the water has some color to it, or the bass want a bright color and finally a bluegill pattern when they are feeding on bluegill.
Experimenting with the line size for crankbaits is important, as it affects the running depth and action of the bait. I start all my crankbaits on a reel with 12-pound Seaguar AbrazX fluorocarbon line. Fluorocarbon is very abrasion resistant and sensitive. This allows baits to come over rock without worrying about line getting damaged, while still being able to feel the bait. If I want the bait up in the water column, when fishing shallower, I will upsize my line to 15- to 17-pound AbrazX.
Now that you have the 411 on crankbait fishing in all levels of the water column, I hope you can apply that to your next fishing trip! •
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