Crank Baits

Crankbaits are a fantastic way to put large numbers of fish in the kayak. This is a fast moving method of fishing and you can cover a lot of water and find the schools quickly. Crankbaits and the kayak are like peanut butter and chocolate - two great tastes that taste great together, although we advise against placing treble hooks near your mouth; this has inherent dangers that the bass can attest to.

Likened above, there are two main types of crankbait styles that work well inshore and in the bays. Baits such as the Fat Free Shad from Excalibur or the Norman Deep Lil N are fat bodied wobblers that dive deep fast and cause a ruckus on the ocean floor (if they reach it). The other is the minnow bait, Rapala CD series baits (11 and 14) and the unquestioned minnowbait leader the Berkley Frenzy. All of the baits listed will easily acheive 15' deep on a good long cast with a fast retrieve and can be worked in shallower waters with more patience and a slower crank with generous pausing to allow floating to lift the bait back up off the bottom.Digging in a sand floor is a sure-fire way to get attention of bass. Colors again are a personal preference but the shad style baits work well (black and chrome is the most popular Frenzy color) and firetiger is also a hot item on murky days.

For bay bass fishing 8 lb test is recommended for line. Anything more drags the crankbait up into the water column and anything less puts your crankbait in jeopardy of being easily snapped off. Fish cranks on a fast tipped rod with a little softer flex, this helps you avoid ripping the hooks away from the bass too quickly on the hookset and puts less stress on the fishing line. Remember that your kayak acts as a natures 2nd drag system allowing you to 'lighten up' on fishing line and gear overall. No swivels or leaders needed - tie it straight to your line with a palomar or improved clinch knot and go. Check your line after every fish for abrasion and retie often.

Crankbaits are a well served when used in a fan-casting approach. Find a body of water you wish to cover and then cast every direction you can see. Use the clock methodology and start at 9 and work all around til 3, casting in a half-moon shape around you. When you find fish note the depth, any structural features (grass, submerged boulders, etc) and then work that area more thoroughly. Somedays it's all about finding how deep they are and if they're right on top of structure of moving freely. From then on it can be become more of a harvest than a fishing trip.