Capt. Mike Gerry offers tips for fishing deep-running crankbaits

In summer you can find some bunched up bass suspending in 20 foot of water, and there is no better way to catch suspending fish than with a deep-diving crank bait. When I hit the water and know that I am going to be fishing for suspending fish, the first thing I do is to rig my rods correctly.

Deep running crank-baits have some very distinct intricacies about them. They can have a very different wobble and can go to some very different depths if you rig them with different line sizes. A wide-wobble crank bait can be reduced to a narrow wobble by using heavy line, and some crank baits running depths can vary as much as 4 to 6 feet by using different line sizes. So to get the most out of a deep crank bait you need to consider your objective: are you going to fish suspending fish, get to the bottom, or try get a reaction bite from a wide wobble.

The key here is to get those crank baits down to the depth you want to reach. I determine the ideal depth sometimes by just looking on the depth finder and seeing the depth that’s holding suspended fish. Once you identify the depth you want to fish, then decide the line size and type of crank bait you’ll need to get it there.

One thing is for certain: when fishing deep crank baits, get them to the depth you want, bring it to the strike zone you are seeing on your depth finder, and then slow it down. Slowing your retrieve will give the bait more time in front of the fish.

Lastly pick colors that match or imitate the bait the bass are feeding on. Color selection can make the difference in coming home with a winning bag or a goose egg.

Captain Mike Gerry
Fish Lake Guntersville Guide Service
Web: www.fishlakeguntersvilleguideservice.com
Email: bassguide@comcast.net
(256) 759-2270