Summer 2018
®
DEEP – TO 20- FEET OR MORE
When air temps reach 90 degrees or more, you can bet the bass will be in deeper water to keep cool. On days like these, you’re going to need a deeper crankbait to get to where the fish are.
Without a doubt, the deep-diving crankbaits are the most productive crankbait for hot summer days. With an extra long lip/bill and specific weighting technology, these crankbaits shine in depths of 20’-feet or more.
Personally, I like to target deep water that has chunky rocks or boulders with a Molix Sculpo XD.
Just like the other crankbaits, it is designed to deflect off cover while keeping bottom contact for as long as possible. Once you feel the bottom, slow your retrieve down, or sweep the rod.
Doing this will keep the bait down longer and will also cause it to deflect off as much cover as possible. Don’t forget to make long casts. Obviously, it’ll take some time to reach the bottom, so casting far will increase your odds of getting the bait down and in the strike zone.
Your rod and reel selection are even more critical with deep crankbaits than with other shallower targeted crankbaits.
It is important to have a
long moderate-action rod to
really absorb the action of the
bait. It will allow for a better
hook-up ratio when a fish
strikes.
If you are fishing with a
rod that is a fast-action rod,
its stiffness will tend to rip the
hooks out of the fish’s mouth
when they bite. It will also wear
you down physically.
You also need to have a
slower gear ratio reel. This
allows the bait to work properly
and stay deep for longer periods
of time.
My preferred setup is a
7’9” 13 Fishing Omen Black
moderate-action cranking
rod, paired with a Concept C
6.6.1 Reel and spooled with
12-pound mono or fluoro. Mono
has stretch, which helps to keep the fish hooked when it strikes. Fluoro doesn’t stretch; but it does sink, so you can get your bait a little deeper. It’s all about what makes you feel the most confident.
These three types of crankbaits are proven to be great at catching fish in the summer and are truly effective for power fishing and covering water efficiently and fast.
Remember to target cover and keep in contact with the bottom as long as possible. Doing this will ensure you get more bites and will really open your eyes to crankbait fishing. •
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