Crankbait Fishing Tips for Winter Bass on Rocky Banks

Crankbait fishing for winter bass is an excellent way to cover water and trigger lethargic fish when water temperatures are below 50 degrees. While Huff regularly targets deeper roaming bass with forward-facing sonar, for many, reading the bank and chunking a crankbait is preferred, or at least a welcome change of pace from head-down forward-facing sonar sharp-shooting. Huff explains how to find productive shorelines and choose the best crankbait for the job based on depth and water temperature. *Additional product links at the bottom.
TACKLE USED
• CRANKBAIT - Rapala DT8, color - Bleeding Oliver Shiner: Buy at Tackle Warehouse www.tackleware...
• CRANKBAIT - Rapala DT10, colors - Rootbeer Crawdad: Buy at Tackle Warehouse www.tackleware...
• CRANKBAIT - STORM Original Deep Wiggle Wart: Buy at Bass Pro Shops bassproshops.v... | Buy at Tackle Warehouse www.tackleware...
• ROD - Bass Pro Shops Johnny Morris Signature Series Made in USA Casting Rod - 7'2" - Medium: Buy at Bass Pro Shops bassproshops.v...
• REEL - Bass Pro Shops Johnny Morris Platinum Signature Baitcast Reel - Right - Model JPT10HA: Buy at Bass Pro Shops bassproshops.v...
• LINE - Sunline Crank FC Fluorocarbon Line, 12-pound: Buy at Tackle Warehouse www.tackleware...
• RAIN JACKET - Guidewear Xtreme Late-Season Parka: Buy at Bass Pro Shops bassproshops.v...
• RAIN BIBS - Johnny Morris Bass Pro Shops Guidewear Elite Bibs: Buy at Bass Pro Shops bassproshops.v...
WINTER BASS LOCATION ON HIGHLAND RESERVOIRS
Huff emphasizes fishing the conditions, focusing on gravelly banks and transition between rock types and depth. He blends fishing flats and steeper bluff areas, never knowing exactly what the bass are relating to on any given day. Huff stresses the importance of finding shallow water near deep areas, especially on main lake bluffs that transition to flat points. He suggests starting on the main lake and moving into creeks if necessary, constantly adapting until you find consolidations of willing biters. As always, channel swings are likely spots in the winter on highland reservoirs.
HOW TO CHOOSE GOOD WINTER CRANKBAITS
While the Storm Wiggle Wart is legendary on Bull Shoals and other Ozarks Lakes, they can be too much in terms of action in cold water. Huff's approach involves fishing crankbaits with a tighter, softer wobble, ideal for cold water temperatures below 50°. He prefers the Rapala DT series over wide-wobbling hunting baits for its tighter wobble -- think of the DT lineup as a Shad Rap on steroids. Additionally, the DT lineup covers all key depth ranges, so you can change to deeper or shallower running models based on where the fish are positioned. On this day, Huff alternated between DT8 and DT10 models, selecting natural colors for the clear-water conditions. Key to his strategy is covering water and targeting high-percentage spots, from shallow banks to steep transitions.
WINTER CRANKING BOAT POSITIONING AND GEAR
Huff's technique involves paralleling the bank to keep the bait in the strike zone longer. As a crawfish pattern, swap crankbaits to ensure enough running depth to make bottom contact consistently. His choice of gear, a 7'2" medium power rod paired with a 6.8:1 ratio reel, optimizes this crankbait tactic.
ELECTRONICS & BOAT CONTROL
• FISH FINDER - Garmin EchoMAP Ultra Fishfinders: Buy at Bass Pro Shops bassproshops.v...
• FORWARD-FACING SONAR (FFS) - Garmin LiveScope Plus System Bundle: Buy at Tackle Warehouse: wired2.fish/3c...
• DOUBE STACK MOUNT - The Ultimate Double Stack: Buy at Beatdown bit.ly/46LmTNs
• FFS TURRET - RITE-HITE Turret, Buy at Amazon: amzn.to/3vvVApZ
• TROLLING MOTOR - Garmin Force Trolling Motor: Buy at Tackle Warehouse: wired2.fish/Ga...
• BASS BOAT - NITRO Z21 XL: Check out at NITRO www.nitro.com/...
• MOTOR - Mercury 250hp Pro XS: Check out at Mercury rb.gy/ycd6r
• TOW VEHICLE - Toyota Tundra: Check out at Toyota toyota.us/3YzkEd8
#rapala24 #basspro24 #garmin24 #toyota24 #mercury24 #beatdown24
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[@perrymatherne9264]

Besides top water,crankbaits fishing is awesome, it's hard to say which way is best if you ask me, crankbaits is just awesome

[@TonyCollumtheHOWTOHERO]

DT series crankbait is my go to

[@MBPFishing]

Love banging dem rocks with cranks. 👍😄

[@Tbowie13]

😊 I saw the thumbnail and thought, man that looks like Bull Shoals. 😂 I love this time of year on Bull S. This is when I catch the BIGS. Bonus monster crappie sandwiches, too. Gotta love havi g the lake to yourself, without the annoying jet skiers and wake boats.

[@guywithagoprofishingshow3011]

I love this time of year but in my soul I knew it was gonna be a brutal one cuz we're past due.

[@CODCritic101]

I’ve got that same hat it’s very warm must have been cold nice fishing !

[@jeffreyrodgers5835]

They work in central Florida clear lakes year round till they break the bill off. Always makes me giggle reeling in a bill with no lure

[@guywithagoprofishingshow3011]

have very similar #coldwatercranking system , there brother. & not just our #bassfishing friends , but giant #walleyefishing as well (double digit) on the #DTseries great vid as always @W2F

[@Tbowie13]

Yes Sir, I catch monster walleye every winter cranking Bull Shoals. Huge, aggressive black crappie hitting my bass and walleye baits this time of year as well.

[@guywithagoprofishingshow3011]

@@Tbowie13 kzbin.info/www/bejne/nnvLZ6Sji6Z_Z80&pp=gAQBiAQB thats a DT 16 fish in 38 degree water news years eve eve 2023(?)-not only is it a beautiful chunk oof nature but what a specimen.only bite all day #Rapala #DTseries

[@Tbowie13]

@guywithagoprofishingshow3011 Right on. Are you on the Arkansas or Missouri side?

[@guywithagoprofishingshow3011]

@@Tbowie13 I wish brother!! I'm in one of the toughest states to put a big bag of bass in ...W.V.

[@Tbowie13]

@@guywithagoprofishingshow3011 Oh yeah, I hear ya. I've heard WV is tough.

[@Kezawahigashi]

DTシリーズは最高だ。多くのカラーバリエーションがあるが、特にいいのは塗装が安っぽいもの。

[@Wired2Fish]

素晴らしく多彩なラインナップであることには同意します。ルアーのカラーってどういう意味ですか？グーグル翻訳すると「塗料が安いのが一番いい」と出ました。それが正しい翻訳だったのかどうかはわかりません。