When I was a kid, I remember looking at crankbaits and asking, “How the heck could those catch any fish at all?” I mean really, they look like badly drawn cartoons with a big swollen lip on their front, right?

Nonetheless, I gave them a shot, because it is what I saw all the pros doing. The number of bass fishing tournaments won on crankbaits probably would be tough to count. There are so many. In fact, one of the best pros of all time, Kevin Van Dam, is know for his proficiency for crankbait fishing.

If all of them were doing it, so should I, right? Well, a bunch of money, and even more hours later, I was a disappointed little kid. Not a single fish could be bothered by my bait.

Crankbaits Are All About The Seasons

Of course, when I was a little kid fishing, I through whatever I saw the pros using into the water, hoping to catch a fish. I didn’t understand all of the time and study that goes into making a bass attack the bait.

When I really started to study crankbait fishing, I realized it was all about the seasons. Certain crankbaits work best in certain seasons. Here is a short list of what I learned:

  • Pre-spawn and early fall- shallow running crankbaits
  • Spawn- shallow running cranks that look like panfish (eg. bluegill and pumpkinseed)
  • Late Spring and Fall- Medium running cranks
  • Summer and Winter- Deep divers
Now, this is not an exhaustive list, but it is a good starting point. It gives you a few points of reference from which to start experimenting.
Once you understand the seasons, and the bass behavior that goes along with those seasons, you can start to experiment and build up your own skills to catch more fish.
One lesson I have learned since being a kid just starting out—bass fishing is definitely not about copying what the pros use. It’s about understanding why the pros are so good and copying their methods, not specific baits and gear. It is a constant learning experience that never ends…and that we don’t want to end!