Crankbaits

Diving hard baits that deflect off cover and trigger reaction strikes. Crankbaits mimic baitfish with tight wobbles and erratic action. Cast them out, reel them down, and let them bang into rocks, wood, and grass — the deflection triggers bites from bass that can't resist.

Why Crankbaits Work

Bass react to erratic movement. When a crankbait deflects off cover, it changes direction suddenly — mimicking a fleeing baitfish. That triggers a predatory response. The wobble creates vibration, the rattles add noise, and the flash mimics scales. Bass hit because the lure looks like an easy meal trying to escape.

Crankbait Types by Depth

Shallow Crankbaits (0-5 feet): Short bills that run just under the surface. Best for fishing over grass, around docks, and in shallow water. Spring and fall when bass are shallow.

Medium Divers (5-10 feet): Versatile for most situations. Work points, ledges, and mid-depth structure. The workhorse crankbaits that cover the most productive zone.

Deep Divers (10-20+ feet): Long bills that dig deep. Best for summer and winter when bass are deep. Work ledges, humps, and deep structure. Require heavier line and slower retrieves.

How to Fish Crankbaits

Cast past your target and reel steadily. Let the bait dive to depth, then maintain contact with the bottom or cover. When the bait deflects off something, pause briefly — that's when most strikes happen. Vary retrieve speed to change the wobble and depth.

Use a steady retrieve for covering water and searching for fish. Stop-and-go retrieves trigger bites from followers. Burning crankbaits fast over grass triggers reaction strikes from aggressive bass.

Best For

• Covering water and searching for active fish
• Deflecting off rocks, wood, and grass to trigger strikes
• Fishing shallow to deep depending on crankbait type
• Spring, fall, and summer bass fishing
• Reaction strikes from bass that aren't actively feeding

The D&F Way

We keep things simple, honest, and respectful of the water. If it's in our store, it's something we'd fish ourselves.

Nothing extra, nothing wasted. Just solid gear for good days on the lake.