For many years, one of the tried-and-true ways to catch bass during the winter months was with a crankbait. Diving lures, especially flat-sided baits, have been catching bass for decades, and they still do, but many anglers now opt to utilize their electronics and forward-facing sonar much more when the water is chilly.
Major League Fishing pro Ott DeFoe is a crankbait fanatic and has used homemade balsa baits for years, and now works closely with Rapala for his own line of baits. He says that crankbaits still have a definite time and place during the winter months, especially when conditions line up perfectly for a good cranking bite.
How Cranking Has Changed
The crankbait will still catch them in all conditions during the winter, but DeFoe admits that it can be hard to compete in tournaments when everyone is using forward-facing sonar. That doesn't mean you can't still win cranking; it just means things have changed.
"The crankbait is still a winning strategy, but has become more condition-oriented," he said. "It used to be that everyone threw a crankbait all the time in the winter, so that's how events were won. But with the new sonar fishing, that is usually how most winter tournaments are won on sunny days with calm conditions."
Of all the weather conditions and factors, DeFoe says that wind is the most important clue that it's time to throw a crankbait in the winter, both when you are in a tournament or out fun fishing.
"Wind is your biggest factor, even more than water color for crankbaits," he said. "You can usually find some dirtier water somewhere on a lake or reservoir, and it will be good on a sunny day or cloudy day, but wind is one time when they will bite a crankbait anywhere."
Three Cranks to Cover it All
DeFoe uses several different crankbaits in the winter months, but three flat-sided baits can cover it all. These include some classics like the Rapala Shad Rap. Also in the mix are the Rapala DT6 and DT8, and Rapala Ott's Garage OG Deep Tiny.
"My number one and the first one that always comes to mind when I talk about cold-water crankbait fishing is the Shad Rap," he said. "Day in and day out, that will outproduce any other crankbait in the winter. Typically, I use the #5 and #6, but the #7 and #8 sizes can also be very good. It's got a nice, tight wiggle and the right action when it's cold."
DeFoe will fish his Shad Raps on a spinning rod with 8 to 10-pound fluorocarbon line, as it's easier to cast. His other favorites, he'll fish on baitcasting gear with 12-pound fluorocarbon.
The DT6 and DT8 have a more aggressive action than the Shad Rap, and he'll switch between the two baits based on the depth and conditions. "The DT8 is what I typically use in cleaner water when I am fishing slightly deeper, and I lean more towards the DT-6 when it's windier, and I'm staying shallower," he said. "The Tiny Deep is sort of a cross between the DT baits and the Shad Rap in terms of action and is a very good winter crankbait."
Color Thoughts and Things to Look For
For his crankbait colors, DeFoe keeps things simple with a handful of different hues that have worked for years, but he also mixes in some custom colors.
"The old crawdad colored Shad Rap is my favorite of the colors you can get from the factory, and it's caught a lot of fish over the years," he said. "For the Ott's Garage series, I chose all of those colors and hope that one day they'll be available in some other baits."
DeFoe will also send baits to a custom painter to get some different colors, especially when throwing crankbaits in the winter months. "I have one that I have made that's chartreuse and brown, and it's great in the cold for my Shad Raps and DT6 to match the chartreuse rootbeer craw we have in the Ott's Garage lineup," he said. "The chartreuse and browns are great for dirtier water."
There are many places where a crankbait will work in the winter months, but DeFoe says that a few things stick out when he's looking for the right bank to fish.
"I like the sloping banks, especially if you can find the 45 or 60-degree banks," he said. "I'll also look for stuff that's even steeper and bluffy. Those are the type of banks that hold fish this time of year and are great for a crankbait."
Don't put away those crankbaits when it gets cold, as they can be one of the best lures you can throw in the winter months. It's something that Ott DeFoe has done for many years, and he'll still be throwing them this winter.
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