Using Your Crankbaits Wisely

  There have been many words written about the finer points of using a crankbait. It can't hurt if I add a few of my own.
  The popular methods, used by today's pro's, involve ripping a crankbait through the water, violently bouncing the lure off logs, sticks, and rocks. According to the articles I read, this works very well, I wouldn't know, I simply can't afford to lose that many expensive baits.

 There is no doubt that fishing a crankbait through cover yields the best results. However, I think it can be done with minimal losses to the poorer variety of fisherman, such as myself.

First of all, match your crankbait to the area you are fishing. Crankbaits come in a multitude of sizes and depth ranges, it pays to use the money you save on lost baits to expand your arsenal.
  When fishing open water, use a bait that will get you to the bottom. I prefer to fish crankbaits parallel to the shore, when fishing from the bank. Early season fishing means a deeper running crankbait when fishing this way, as the fish will be out a bit farther.
  As the season progresses, I'll use a shallower bait and fish closer to the bank.

  Fish your crankbait slow and careful, make a few stops, while maintaining tension on the line. I generally use a floating bait, this type can get you out of trouble much of the time. By fishing your bait slowly, you'll feel most of the obstacles before you get hung up. When you feel the bait hit an obstacle, stop and let the bait float free. You want your crankbait to hit those rocks and logs, but you don't want to lose it, if you can avoid it.

  When fishing around logs, try to position yourself to fish across the log, not lengthwise. Logs have split and rotten ends, when you contact the end of a log lengthwise, you risk getting your line wedged in those gaps and your bait will wedge there too. You can bounce a log pretty safely if you stick to fishing it crosswise.
  Rocks can be difficult too, lots of places to wedge your line and bait.  A slow retrieve can save a lot here. Let that bait float and bounce over the rocks.
  The distance of your rod tip, from the water, makes a difference in the depth of your crankbait. Match the distance to the area you are fishing.

  Those bumps and stops are what will draw strikes. I know what the pro's say, but I don't subscribe to the idea that a violent retrieve produces more fish. Fish are highly tuned to their environment, they know your bait is there, even when it's quiet.
  The bass is, primarily, an ambush predator, they are hiding in that cover, simply provide an opportunity they can't resist.

   Get to know those obstacles in the water you fish. Most of us fish a local bass lake or pond, pay attention to the cover, work out the best way to approach each hiding spot effectively.