This time of year one of the best baits that you can use to catch bass is the infamous crankbait. Crankbaits can be a great tool to your fishing success because they allow you to cover a lot of water, which allows you to find fish faster.

Two key factors to the success of fishing with crankbaits are where to cast and what speed to retrieve. First, you always want to cast near some type of structure: wood, rocks, grass, lily pads, etc. Bass have multiple reasons for relating to structure; it give them protection, shade, food, etc. (the main time they are not holding to structure is on cloudy days).

Depending on the depth you are fishing, you want to fish with a lure that barely touches the bottom. If there is a stump or a rock up off the bottom, you want your crankbait to bump into it to help trigger a strike.

The next factor you must add into you strategy is finding out what speed they want your bait presented.

For this you will need to experiment, retrieve a few fast, then slow and then try a stop-and-go retrieve. Some days they will not be very active at all and will want the bait to barely swim by them. Other times, they will respond to the fast retrieve because they are feeding and eating everything in sight. Nevertheless, the crankbait is one that you should never head to the lake without.

I hope this information will help you on your next trip to the lake. To learn more on using crankbaits and get some great hands-on experiences, call me and we can get out on the water and put this knowledge to use!

Have questions for Brian or want to share your catch with Pulse readers? E-mail your questions and photos to brian@briancarper.com.

Brian Carper’s Guide Service, (615) 278-6311.