Rick Clunn - four-time BASS Masters Classic Champion, and 1988 B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year - on the craft of crankbait.
Crankbait
Crankbaits let you cover a lot of water, which makes them very effective for searching fish out.
Deflection
Deflections generate 80 to 90 percent of all crankbait strikes. The bass is a predator controlled by certain laws of nature, one of which is to eliminate the weak. And what indicates "weak" to a bass is irregular motion. When the bait deflects, it triggers the bass - whether he's feeding or not - to eliminate that weak prey.
Timing
When a bass takes a crankbait, he often doesn't strike it - he inhales it. So you've got to give the fish that extra moment to get the bait in his mouth.
Rod Angle
Rod angle is the most overlooked thing about crankbait fishing - the angle of the rod affects depth control. A lot of fishermen keep their rods too high. The real key to getting maximum depth is to drop your rod on the water.
I use a glass rod. Glass gives me a slower action to let the crankbait work with full motion. Also, the slower action in a glass rod lets the bass inhale the bait. With crankbaits, you don't want to feel the strike. You don't want to feel the fish until he's closed in on the bait. Then you can set the hook. I like a long rod with a long handle for a two-handed cast - like a surfcaster - to get the bait out there. When I start to retrieve, I get the handle under my forearm and lock it against my side. Then I can crank without a lot of stress on my shoulders and arms. I use a Team Daiwa baitcasting reel.
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