Reaction baits

[Tin Can]

This is a weak point in my fishing for sure. It's something I want to work on, crankbaits specifically. The lakes I'm fishing are warming up and are close to 60 degrees now.

Say I am on a spot that I know holds fish. One spot in particular is an off shore hump that is 10' on top of the hump with an 18' flat around most of it with one side having a sharp drop to 40'. Lots of chunky rock all over the spot in all depths.

So, how would you approach such a spot and how long would you target it with crankbaits before switching to something else? I know I can't force a bite that isn't there. I just want to see how long others will stick with the crankbait before deciding it isn't the right thing to be throwing.

Should I pick up the crankbait and make only a few casts each time I pull up on a new spot? Should I just cover water and not sit there trying to pick apart one spot?

Opinions?

[BigJeff]

I would fish that crankbait at all angles around the hump and try different times of the day. You might have to kneel and reel to get the bait all the way down to the 18' flat. Cranks work good when they deflect off structure.

You might also want to pull a swimbait from the 40' drop up that hump and hang on. Sounds like a good jig spot too.

[Jason C.]

I would probably approach the spot on the outside edge of the 18ft flat, go all the way around it and work my way in to the center. I would use a DD22 or DD14, or a Lipless Crankbait and fish that on the bottom or just above it. Once I got to the center of the hump I could cast out to the 18ft flat on all sides and just fan cast. Alot of times its good to be in shallow water and cast to deep water then it is to be in deep water and cast to shallow water.

[Tin Can]

Thanks guys! Appreciate the feedback. I'm going to rig 2-3 rods with different depth cranks and go for it this weekend.

I'll definitely be dragging a hudd up the steep side, I wanted to last time out but didn't bring any of my swimbait stuff. This time I will bring it all.

[Tin Can]

So only two guys on here fish crankbaits eh?

Next time I'll use something about Dobyn's rods or cheating in my thread title to draw more than two replies.

Thanks to the guys who took the time to reply, I apprecite it.

[Maddoglures]

Sorry; No crankbait.

Swimbaits and Jigs for me. A few cast with a 8" Swimbait or Wakebait will tell you which big dogs are ready for a big meal.

[Ranger Jason]

I have a pretty violent addiction to crank baits because I'm terminally impatient. I'm not a self professed "power fisherman" or anything… I just have ADD and like to imagine what the lure is doing in my little head. If I were fishing that spot I would pull a DD14 and DD22 parallel to the transition and stay in contact with the bottom. You’ll cover two depths well this way. If that doesn’t work fire that DD22 over the hump; pull it uphill and across the top of the flat. Fan cast as you slowly orbit the hump with your trolling motor.

[RipnRog]

this sounds like a good spot to yoyo an LV 500...... this can be a deadly bait as you can work it so many different ways.......

[Tin Can]

Thanks guys. I'm going to the tackle shop at lunch to add a few more crankbaits to my box. I WILL learn these things this year!

[civicrr]

So only two guys on here fish crankbaits eh?

Just nothing to add that wasn't already posted. How about this?:D

Can't stress enough the importance of getting a deflection. That erratic action will get the reaction bite from a fish even if it doesn't want to eat. I too would start out deep casting to the hump. Try to get the lure to 'match' the slope & then tick/deflect bottom of flat. If that didn't work, I'd cast from the hump to deep water again trying to get deflection.

After the bite dies down, don't give up the spot. Switch out to a football jig or C rig to mop up!

[jsoregon]

Some good advice in his thread...

I'd also throw a 1/2 oz Staysee 90 (version 3) jerkbait for suspended fish (Phantom Chart Shad or Chart Shad color). I can get this bait down to 10 feet pretty easily on a long cast and a lot of times the bigger fish will come up to eat it in 20 feet.

Good luck man.

[gabuelhaj]

You didn't mention if there is structure, just rocks which sit on the bottom. If not, then there's nothing to deflect from to trigger those reaction bites. If that's the case, I'd get a DD22 or a deep hot lips and just drag and hold to the bottom. I would try and deflect off of those rocks.

Good luck!