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Message
School me on shallow water cranking
Posted on 2/22/21 at 9:32 am
Posted on 2/22/21 at 9:32 am
How many of you are good at it? Is it a year round thing or seasonal? What particular models are your favorites to throw? Looking to get better at it, have thrown it off and on but not something I consider myself great at or have a ton of confidence in.
I fish south LA, mostly beating the bank to about 6' deep bayou and canals.
I fish south LA, mostly beating the bank to about 6' deep bayou and canals.
12
Posted on 2/22/21 at 9:42 am to Splackavellie
That new Berkley Frittside is my new favorite. They seem to love the wobble on that thing.
Otherwise its a Bandit 100 or 200 depending on depth.
Otherwise its a Bandit 100 or 200 depending on depth.
Posted on 2/22/21 at 9:48 am to Itismemc
Been using bandits for years. I like the 100 on a Falcon Cara Medium shallow cranking rod.
I also like the KVD crank baits but most of those I use are medium to deep cranks.
I also like the KVD crank baits but most of those I use are medium to deep cranks.
Posted on 2/22/21 at 9:56 am to Splackavellie
Not really sure on best time of year for it, so can't really speak to that. As far as action goes, I was always taught to throw to the shallow water, reel it into the mud towards the drop off, and work it off the edge. When it goes off the edge it darts down quickly and the fish hit it on the quick twitch drop. It's always seemed to work well for me, but I'm not a skilled enough fisherman to tell you why it works. 
Eta. The fact that it looks like I misunderstood the question should tell you all you need to know about my skill level. May need to ignore my advice.
Eta. The fact that it looks like I misunderstood the question should tell you all you need to know about my skill level. May need to ignore my advice.
This post was edited on 2/22/21 at 10:01 am
Posted on 2/22/21 at 9:58 am to Splackavellie
So many good baits. My personal favorite is the Spro Little John 50. Got lots of bites last year at Saline.
Posted on 2/22/21 at 10:22 am to Splackavellie
In less than 6ft around rocks or wood I’m throwing a squarebill. Caught several yesterday in water 46deg, so it’s a year round thing for me. I have thrown KVD branded strike kings just cause they were on the shelf but this past year I’ve been throwing lucky crafts, they seem a little better made with better hooks out of the box. I don’t think there’s a ton of difference in brands honestly. No matter the brand I usually throw a 1.5 size, and stick to either a shad color, bluegill color, or black/chartreuse in muddy water. Personal opinion, they’re reacting more than eating so color isn’t that critical.
Biggest thing with shallow cranking like anything else is learning by doing, and losing the fear that you’re gonna be constantly hung up cause you’re dragging treble hooks through cover. Cranks are most effective banging off things and that sudden deflection is usually what triggers a strike. Once you learn what that feels like you will be able to sense the difference between bumping a stick and a fish hitting, which will keep you from digging hooks into wood. Shallow grass is a differently story but ticking the top of it is money if you can pull it off. Not many cranks I’m aware of that will come through grass.
A rod with some give in the tip works best and a 17-20lb mono leader will keep braid from getting tangled in your hooks, probably the single best piece of advice I’ve got.
Biggest thing with shallow cranking like anything else is learning by doing, and losing the fear that you’re gonna be constantly hung up cause you’re dragging treble hooks through cover. Cranks are most effective banging off things and that sudden deflection is usually what triggers a strike. Once you learn what that feels like you will be able to sense the difference between bumping a stick and a fish hitting, which will keep you from digging hooks into wood. Shallow grass is a differently story but ticking the top of it is money if you can pull it off. Not many cranks I’m aware of that will come through grass.
A rod with some give in the tip works best and a 17-20lb mono leader will keep braid from getting tangled in your hooks, probably the single best piece of advice I’ve got.
Posted on 2/22/21 at 10:40 am to TheDrunkenTigah
quote:
A rod with some give in the tip works best and a 17-20lb mono leader will keep braid from getting tangled in your hooks, probably the single best piece of advice I’ve got.
quote:This was always my thought. Seeming to get better with knowing what I can throw it around.
and losing the fear that you’re gonna be constantly hung up cause you’re dragging treble hooks through cover.
quote:Ever try the wake baits for this? The crankbaits that will basically run the top of the water column? Just curious, Ive never tried it.
icking the top of it is money if you can pull it off. Not many cranks I’m aware of that will come through grass.
Posted on 2/22/21 at 10:54 am to Splackavellie
Lucky Craft, Strike King and the cheap Academy brand square bill all have great action that bass like. You will need to experiment to see what the bass like but action is about 80% of square bill fishing.
For 5' to 8' depths I like a Bandit 200.
For 5' to 8' depths I like a Bandit 200.
Posted on 2/22/21 at 11:47 am to Splackavellie
There is a few shallow water lipless crank baits I like to throw in shad color or silver. Sometimes when they are starting to bed and you can't see the beds I throw it and you can catch some nice fish that way.
Posted on 2/22/21 at 11:56 am to TheDrunkenTigah
quote:
Personal opinion, they’re reacting more than eating so color isn’t that critical
I used to think the same thing until one trip to BB. I was sitting on a point wearing them out. My Son was throwing a color similar to me but wasn't catching anything. I was clowning him thinking it was something he was doing. We swapped rods and the results swapped too.
I felt like a dick because he was about 11 at the time and we didn't swap until about an hour into it.
Posted on 2/22/21 at 11:59 am to Splackavellie
Shallow cranking is all about banging the crankbait up against any cover you see. I almost try to get hung up. After it bangs off a laydown or rock is when the big ones come and get it.
Posted on 2/22/21 at 12:16 pm to cbr900racer22
quote:
My Son was throwing a color similar to me but wasn't catching anything.
Color is one of those things where it doesn’t matter until it all the sudden does. Guys will swear by red in the spring, and I personally have a certain shad color I have confidence in. I figure that’s getting into splitting hairs territory when you’re just learning a new technique, but it’s also what makes bass fishing fun that one little detail can make the difference.
Posted on 2/22/21 at 1:12 pm to TheDrunkenTigah
I like bandit cranks. I really got into throwing square bills this fall and winter off of trees. Its a very effective way to catch fish.
The one problem I have with bandit is they come with TINY hooks. I like the hooks that come on KVD cranks better.
The one problem I have with bandit is they come with TINY hooks. I like the hooks that come on KVD cranks better.
Posted on 2/22/21 at 1:36 pm to Splackavellie
Buy a lure retriever or make your own. I ziptied a big snap swivel it a 2 or 3 oz lead weight. When I get snagged, I move on top of the snag, put the swivel on the line, and drop it. It almost always comes off with some bouncing around.
The other piece of advice is to buy some size 2 Mustad triple grip hooks, a good pair of split ring pliers, and a bunch of Strike King 1.5 squarebills and get out there and have fun!
The other piece of advice is to buy some size 2 Mustad triple grip hooks, a good pair of split ring pliers, and a bunch of Strike King 1.5 squarebills and get out there and have fun!
Posted on 2/22/21 at 3:58 pm to Splackavellie
Year round technique.
Square bills are their own subset of shallow cranking. More often a reaction bite with these as they bang off stumps/trees & rocks. I like these for down to 3' maybe 4'. Riprap & stump fields are where these shine. Bandit 100s, lucky crafts, rapalas, KVD 1.5s up to magnums, etc.
Shallow cranking in spring/fall on the deeper side of channels going from 2' flats into 5-6' is more of a standard cranking technique just with less aggressive divers. Swimjigs chatterbaits, spinnerbaits and jerkbaits could all work here equally well. Bandit 200s, small shad raps, KVDs, etc.
Steep but shallow riprap that only gets to 6-8' deep. Any crankbait you want almost all year long. Flat sided cranks can be great in this situation when it's a little cooler out.
Wake baiting crankbaits over grass. More of a summer & fall technique when there are small shad on top. Manns 1minus is the original but lucky craft has some really good stuff.
Tackle is anything from 8-10# spinning gear up to 20-25# baitcasting. All depends on the conditions and what you want your bait to do. A spinning reel with 20# braid & 12-20# leader is nice when you want to throw 1/4 oz cranks around cover.
Another bait that no one has mentioned is deep diving jerkbaits in the same areas that you would throw a square bill. The lip helps bounce it off snags and then it actually suspends when you stop it. Beef up your hooks for this technique.
The biggest thing is to go out and fish. Go where you know there are fish and only use these baits until you start getting bites.
Square bills are their own subset of shallow cranking. More often a reaction bite with these as they bang off stumps/trees & rocks. I like these for down to 3' maybe 4'. Riprap & stump fields are where these shine. Bandit 100s, lucky crafts, rapalas, KVD 1.5s up to magnums, etc.
Shallow cranking in spring/fall on the deeper side of channels going from 2' flats into 5-6' is more of a standard cranking technique just with less aggressive divers. Swimjigs chatterbaits, spinnerbaits and jerkbaits could all work here equally well. Bandit 200s, small shad raps, KVDs, etc.
Steep but shallow riprap that only gets to 6-8' deep. Any crankbait you want almost all year long. Flat sided cranks can be great in this situation when it's a little cooler out.
Wake baiting crankbaits over grass. More of a summer & fall technique when there are small shad on top. Manns 1minus is the original but lucky craft has some really good stuff.
Tackle is anything from 8-10# spinning gear up to 20-25# baitcasting. All depends on the conditions and what you want your bait to do. A spinning reel with 20# braid & 12-20# leader is nice when you want to throw 1/4 oz cranks around cover.
Another bait that no one has mentioned is deep diving jerkbaits in the same areas that you would throw a square bill. The lip helps bounce it off snags and then it actually suspends when you stop it. Beef up your hooks for this technique.
The biggest thing is to go out and fish. Go where you know there are fish and only use these baits until you start getting bites.
Posted on 2/22/21 at 8:41 pm to Splackavellie
These things are all the rage right now - Booyah One Knocker
The new BOOYAH Bait Co. One Knocker lipless crank bait sets itself apart from the crowd with a unique fish-catching sound and cutting edge color patterns. The One Knocker is famous for its single, oversized tungsten rattle that produces a "thump" unlike any other rattle bait.
Like a rattle trap kinda, get something red or crawfish in the spring and get out off the bank in the staging areas 4-8 feet.
Cast as far as possible and reel back at different speeds till you figure out what they like.
The new BOOYAH Bait Co. One Knocker lipless crank bait sets itself apart from the crowd with a unique fish-catching sound and cutting edge color patterns. The One Knocker is famous for its single, oversized tungsten rattle that produces a "thump" unlike any other rattle bait.
Like a rattle trap kinda, get something red or crawfish in the spring and get out off the bank in the staging areas 4-8 feet.
Cast as far as possible and reel back at different speeds till you figure out what they like.
Posted on 2/22/21 at 8:58 pm to Splackavellie
Posting this question on the OT would have resulted in vastly different answers.
Posted on 2/22/21 at 9:12 pm to Splackavellie
I use bandits, rebel deep wee r and shallow wee r crankbaits from the 1970's, Manns minus 1, cotton Cordell big o plastic also original wood ones, and 3/4 and 1 oz rattletraps prespawn grass. Do miss the bagley honey B's.
Changed he hooks over the years.
Funny in the spillway those dinks like those rebel super teeny wee r.
It wobbles like a small crawfish.
Biggest bass was 10lbs 3 oz on a 1 oz rattletrap on a butt cold day with clear skies.
I pretty much throw out and use the rod to work in back reeling in the slack.
Changed he hooks over the years.
Funny in the spillway those dinks like those rebel super teeny wee r.
It wobbles like a small crawfish.
Biggest bass was 10lbs 3 oz on a 1 oz rattletrap on a butt cold day with clear skies.
I pretty much throw out and use the rod to work in back reeling in the slack.
Posted on 2/23/21 at 12:12 pm to Splackavellie
Cuaght my personal best bouncing a KVD square bill off a stump
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