How To Choose Crankbaits For Bass Fishing

The bass in your local lake will have a primary source of food. There will be a species of bait fish that is predominant in the water system.

It really doesn't matter if it is Threadfin Shad, Gizzard Shad, Blueback Herring, or even juvenile panfish. What matters is that you figure out what the species is, and that the crankbait you choose matches the natural food source.

You may also find that the bass change their dietary preferences as the seasons change.

We will take a look at seasonal behaviors in the bass next. But before you continue reading, why not open another window, and do a quick Google search for your local lake to see if you can figure out what the predominant form of bait fish is.

Now that you have had a chance to check out your local lake and determine the bait fish population (you did do that right?), we can take a look at seasonal bass behavior.

First, let's look at early spring, and early fall. They are very similar in bass behavior, but for very different reasons. In early spring, the bass go through a period called pre-spawn. This means they are getting fat for the coming spawn. In early fall, they do the same, but not for any spawning purposes. In the fall it's all about preparing for the winter.

Both of these times are prime crankbait fishing time. Shallow running cranks that mimic the bait fish they are eating will do very well.

Next we have the dog days of summer, and we have the dead of winter. In these extreme temperature times, bass will often do the same thing. They will seek out deeper water, and generally be less active. When this happens, you will need a deeper running crankbait, and you will likely also need some suspend dots for keeping your bait in the strike zone.

Now, these are only two examples of four different times of year. It is important to study the seasons and what the bass do during those times to really get a good understanding of what fishing tactics you should be using.

Crankbait fishing is one of those tried and true bass fishing techniques that seems easy on the surface, then seems to get more complicated when you dive deeper. The reality is it's only as complex as you make it.

Remember the two rules outlined here: Match the type of fish the bass are eating, and match the depth of your baits to their seasonal behaviors. It will take experimentation on your part, but that really is the foundation of good crankbait fishing.