Fishing Frenzy

If you've been fishing for any length of time, you've probably seen your share of crankbaits. While it can be a lot of fun, fishing with crankbaits can also be very frustrating. Finding the right lure to catch fish can seem like searching for a needle in a haystack.

All it takes is a quick online search for "crankbaits" and you will be inundated with options for dive depths, colors, sizes, shapes, and finishes...and you still will probably be scratching your head.

What makes the difference between a bait that puts bass in the boat, and one that is little more than a pretty, plastic waste of your cash? Or, are all crankbaits created equal, and it's just a matter of luck? In order to answer this question properly, we need to move our attention away from the bait, and take a look out the window.

Bass behave a certain way depending on the season. Changes in weather patterns, as well as other seasonal concerns such as food availability and spawning, all play a role. Match the right bait to the right season and you will look like a fishing genius. Here are a few things to keep in mind on a per season basis

Generally speaking, in early spring prior to the spawn, and in early fall, you will be best served with a shallow diving crankbait. The fish will be in shallow water feeding heavily and very aggressive. Don't be afraid to speed up your retrieve either!

When early summer, and mid-fall hit, it is usually best to switch to a mid-running crankbait. This is a transitional time for the fish, and you will have an opportunity to catch them holding off shore, but not quite in the deepest parts of the lake just yet.

When the dog days of summer hit, or the cold days of winter, it's time to get you bait deep! Find the deepest diving crank you can. You may even need to employ a few suspend dots to keep them in the strike zone for longer periods of time.

This list is not all inclusive, but it does give you a good starting point so you can start experimenting for yourself. Using these general guidelines, you can start to find which baits will be most productive for you in your favorite lake.