Ehrler Early Spring Cranking

March 16, 2010

Posted from TackleWarehouse.com – Pro’s Picks

One of the most often overlooked ways to catch fish in the early spring is by throwing a crankbait. They are very popular around the country in late spring through fall, but they are often a neglected tool when bass begin moving from their winter haunts toward spawning areas. Location:

Crankbaits are the perfect tool for targeting two areas that bass use in their winter to spring transition. In most of the country, bass are in between one of two areas this time of year, on secondary points heading into spawning areas, or in the backs of creeks feeding and preparing for the spawn. This time of the year, they are somewhere in between, heading towards spawning areas and setting up in them for pre-spawn

Lure Selection:

I’ll use two types of baits for shallow water, and two types for deep water, both depend on the mood of the fish. If they are in a colder water scenario, I’ll use the Lucky Craft SKT series. If the water is warmer, then a Lucky Craft Fat CB BDS3 is perfect in shallow water and a Lucky Craft Flat CB DR in deeper water.

The difference between the baits is in the action and the sound. The SKT has a really tight wiggle and no rattles, this is tailor made for targeting fish in 48 to 55 degree water temperature. Once the water climbs above that level, the fish get more aggressive and the wider wobble comes into play, that’s when I turn to the BDS or Flat CB series.

Lure Presentation:

I always start with a standard retrieve for each approach. For cranking deep water, I begin with a steady, medium retrieve with the slower gear ratio reel. This insures that the crankbait will run to its proper depth range and will allow me to feel every wobble it makes. In shallow water the fish that are up there are looking to eat something. I turn the reel handle a little faster because I want the bait to bang around a bit, creating a disturbance and causing the bass to react.
Cranking In Early Spring January/February 2010. Basswest USA (Brent Ehrler pg. 74)