Three Tips to Improve Your Shallow Cranking with Bill Lowen

 Photo: B.A.S.S.

If you talked with all of the professional anglers on the Bassmaster Elite Series and asked them who is the best shallow water angler on tour, Bill Lowen’s name would come up often. He is known for his skills in shallow water and is always a threat when the conditions are right. One of his favorite ways to fish shallow water is by using a crankbait and he says there are three things that will help you become a better shallow cranker; bait selection, retrieve and finding the right cover.

Temperature Triggers

Lowen says that he will fish a shallow crankbait all year long, but the water temperature is the biggest key to deciding which bait to use. “When the water is below 50-degrees, a flat-sided crankbait excels because of the tight wobble. As it gets into the 50’s and above, the squarebill is my go-to,” claims Lowen. He was quick to say that the flat-sided crankbait will still work in warmer water, but that the squarebill will start to become a better option as fish become more active.

He also noted that it is not just springtime fishing when the fish transition from one bait to another. “It happens when the water warms up to 50-degrees in the spring and then again in the fall as the water dips below 50. A flat-sided crankbait like a handmade balsa bait or the Ima Shaker is what I will be using when the water is that cold,” says the Ohio Pro. 


Bait and Color Selection

There are many great crankbaits on the market and countless colors. Lowen keeps it fairly simple when it comes to both. As mentioned before, he prefers a flat-sided bait when the water is below 50-degrees.  He likes the Hot Craw color if the water is off-colored and then one of the shad patterns when the water is clear.

When it comes to squarebills, he prefers his signature series Ima Bill Lowen Square Bill Crankbait. He uses the same logic for color selection and bases it strictly on water clarity. Another one of his favorites is the chatreuse/black back that Ima calls Lowen’s Hush Hush. 

Hook Changes

Many pros talk about changing hooks on crankbaits, but Lowen believes that it is not that necessary as the hooks that come on crankbaits are very good and often designed to make that bait run perfectly. He does on occasion swap trebles if the fish are biting the bait extremely well or if they are just swiping at the bait. “I like the Triple Grip style if they are crushing the bait and a round bend style if I notice they are not getting hooked. Usually though, what you have right out the package will be fine,” he claims.

Rod, Reel and Line

Having the right rod and reel for the job can greatly affect how your baits perform. Lowen uses a Castaway Skeleton V2 7' Medium Cranking Rod with different reels depending on the crankbait he is using. A Lew’s Tournament Pro with a 6.8:1 gear ratio is his pick for squarebills and a Lew’s BB1 Pro with a slower 5.1:1 gear ratio for the flat-sided baits. “You really need to fish the flat-sided crankbait very slow and if you have a faster gear ratio it kind of defeats the purpose and makes it harder to get the right speed. He will use 12lb Hi-Seas fluorocarbon for most situations, but will upsize to 15lb for squarebills around thicker cover.

Retrieves

The flat-sided and squarebills have greatly different actions and also vary in the retrieve Lowen uses. “For the flat baits, I like to fish it really slow and do what I call ‘worming it through cover’. I’ll crank it down to the bottom and then fish it very slow and try to hit different pieces of cover on the bottom,” says Lowen. This slow approach works well for the colder water that he prefers for these baits.

The squarebill has a much more aggressive action and since Lowen prefers it in warmer water when the fish are more active, his retrieve and approach are also much more aggressive. “I want that squarebill to crash into everything and everything. The fish will usually hit it right after it crashes and deflects off of cover, so I try to make as much contact as possible,” he says.

What to Look For

Shallow cranking will work just about anywhere that the fish are shallow. However, finding the right cover will greatly increase your odds at success. Lowen and other pros look for transition areas. “Spring is always good for shallow cranking because the fish are wanting to move shallow and the transitions from shallow to deep water is where they will be. I also look for anywhere that the rocks turn to bluffs or just any change in type of cover,” adds Lowen.

Having the right equipment and retrieve will greatly help your shallow cranking success. Lowen believes that varying your retrieve and ensuring that you are making contact with something as much as possible is the biggest key to success.  If you follow his advice and keep things simple, your shallow cranking will improve.