The flexibility also ensures bass stay pinned during the battle. Softer actions launch baits well into the stratosphere while helping to reduce fatigue. E-Glass or fiberglass-blended blanks are tailor-made for this. A great cranking rod needs a comfortable grip and flexible action. Rod lengths can vary from 6 1/2 to 8 feet. A good starting point is a longer, medium-action rod. But don’t scoff-if the tackle isn’t working together, you’ll never understand how lethal these baits can be.įlinging baits far and constant cranking is the domain of baitcasting. The rod action, line size, retrieve speed and lure weight all need to be considered when fine-tuning a day on the water. Tuning the equipment to the fishing conditions will ease most of the grunt work. Technically, the presentation is fairly easy: tons of casting and reeling. You’ll need to work for your fish, but the rewards are worth it. We never hit any of the lake’s famed giants, but got 3- and 4-pounders.Ĭranking is vigorous lazy anglers need not apply. Smallmouth after smallmouth smashed our cranks. We casted parallel to a long underwater point, and hit the mother lode. Wicked wind whipped the water so manically that finesse fishing was out of the question. Reaching our favorite rocky point, we instantly started zinging rattle baits. On the windswept morning on Lake Simcoe, we battled harsh waves. Surprisingly, these diamond-shaped lures are versatile and range from 1/4 to 3/4 ounce with 1/2 being the most popular. Simply allow it to sink to a desired depth then start cranking. This is helpful for achieving a range of running depths. Instead, the top of the head is flatted and creates a tight wiggling action when the lure is retrieved.Īnother unique feature is that they aren’t buoyant. Similar to a traditional crankbait, its profile is that of a baitfish but without a diving lip. Often called rattle baits or lipless crankbaits, these odd-looking lures are amazing. That’s when I discovered the power of vibration crankbaits. During the early 1990s, Joel Isenberg and I ventured out twice a week. “This is too easy!” I yelled back to Joel, as I slipped another chunky smallmouth into the drink.īoth of us were experiencing a dream come true.