The Ultimate Guide to Crankbait Tackle

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Video best crankbait rod action
Mike Iaconelli
Mike Iaconelli

In previous columns, I’ve talked a lot about diving crankbaits. They are a great lure because they’ll catch fish that are hungry and they’ll also trigger bites from non-feeding fish. We discussed color, size and the importance of making your lures deflect off of something and change direction. That’s how you generate reaction strikes. In order to complete the circle, though, we need to discuss the proper rod, reel and line. Without that system in place, you can’t fully appreciate what a great lure a crankbait can be.

Let’s start with the rod. Crankbait rods are very different than most other rods you own and use, both in terms of action and material. That’s because these lures use treble hooks. You need your rod to be parabolic and forgiving, with a lot more flex. That means something whippier and flimsier than you use for flipping or a jig – maybe a 60/40 or 50/50 action. You still need backbone, but it has to have flex, too. My preferred lengths are anywhere from 6’6” to 7’6”, although most of my cranking sticks are 7’ or 7’3”. That’s my comfort zone.

Abu Garcia Veritas PLX LTD Casting Rod 1 The Ultimate Guide to Crankbait Tackle
Abu Garcia Veritas PLX LTD Casting Rod

While most of my rods are graphite, this is the one time that I prefer a composite rod. What does that mean? It’s a mix of graphite and something else, in this case fiberglass. That’s what gives it the forgiving action. The reason you want it to be whippier is twofold. First, it’s for casting, especially with bigger plugs. Longer casts equal more depth, and that bending tip acts as a rubber band. The second reason is to let the fish eat the lure before you set the hook. I refer to this as “delay.” When you feel that bass, human nature is to pull. With a stiff rod, you’ll pull the lure away from him and miss a lot of fish. This way, you’ll still feel the bite but the rod takes longer to load, so the fish has time to engulf the lure.

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Abu Garcia Revo SX LP Casting Reel
Abu Garcia Revo SX LP Casting Reel

One last benefit of the soft tip is that you’ll land more fish. Bass don’t like being hooked, so they’ll jump and dive and shake their heads. With a stiff rod, they’ll get a lot of leverage to help them get off. When your tip is more forgiving, it absorbs those movements and keeps them pinned.

I prefer a low profile casting reel, and 90 percent of the time I don’t want to overwork the lure. That means a slower to medium retrieve rate, usually 5.4:1 to 7:1. I’m in love with a 6.6:1 or 6.8:1. That covers most of my cranking needs.

Monofilament Line Clear
Monofilament Line, Clear

Your last consideration is line. As you probably know, there are three main choices – braid, monofilament and fluorocarbon. You can use all three, but I prefer mono or fluoro only. Remember what we said about delay? Braid has no stretch, and it’s not forgiving. You’ll lose too many fish. My basic rule is that if I want the bait to run shallower or stay higher in the water column, I’ll use mono. Usually that means 10 to 17 pound test. However, for probably 75 percent of my cranking I use fluoro. It’s got stretch, but not too much. Also, it’s invisible and highly abrasion-resistant. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, it’s dense so it sinks. That achieves greater depth and provides more action.

Berkley Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon
Berkley Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon

I hope that you’ve enjoyed this series. I promise you that if you pick the right tackle pieces it’ll make you a better crankbait fisherman. I’ve won a lot of tournaments using these lures, and putting together a system and gaining confidence in it will help you catch more bass as well.

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The Ultimate Crankbait Series, part 3
The Ultimate Crankbait Series_________________________________________________________

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Ethan Smith is a seasoned marine veteran, professional blogger, witty and edgy writer, and an avid hunter. He spent a great deal of his childhood years around the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest in Arizona. Watching active hunters practise their craft initiated him into the world of hunting and rubrics of outdoor life. He also honed his writing skills by sharing his outdoor experiences with fellow schoolmates through their high school’s magazine. Further along the way, the US Marine Corps got wind of his excellent combination of skills and sought to put them into good use by employing him as a combat correspondent. He now shares his income from this prestigious job with his wife and one kid. Read more >>