One Of THESE Crankbaits Lands More Bass..95% Of Anglers Won’t Guess Why…

[@catchofthedave8681]

I have become a bit of a crankbait guru over the past couple years. Ive tested everything from hooks, to rods, all of it. Most important variable Ive found is hooks. I tend to miss a lot of fish on ewg stout hooks, but when they do hook up, they rarely lose a fish. On your standard round bend hooks like comes on a rock crawler or DT-8……those hooks hook up well, but the fish can throw them easier and you lose fish. But there is an answer….a couple hooks that hook up very well even on weak hooksets, and keep the fish pinned better than anything else. Those hooks are the Duo Realis nano trebles and the gfinesse trebles by Gamakatsu. I use the duo hooks for almost any cranking without grass. They have the absolute best hookup even with swiping fish, and fish that smack the lure to stun it and don’t actually eat it. The reason why is because they are thin, they have a nano coating like the gfinesse, they are shaped like a very subtle ewg treble bend, but most importantly the very tips of the hooks are angled outward just a hair, just enough that you can tell looking at them. This slight tip out on the hooks with japanese hardened steel…..they snag the fish if the fish brushes them at all. Ive caught a 6lber where only 1 hook point was in it, from the outside of the mouth, but that one point went Through The bass cheek bone. It was a nightmare to get out without breaking the bone. I mean these thing regularly hook topwater fish that just swipe or smack it, often one hook point, but it will be in there so good, the fish stays pinned. Also because of the japanese heat treat, even though the hook tips brush all types of structure, they seem to never go dull. The only time these hooks will not work is through grass…..they snag every piece of grass like a grass magnet. And some types of wood, like thick bushes and brush piles they snag everything. But rocks and logs and sparse wood, they are the best to throw. In those grass and thick branches situations, where im on a grass lake and have to crank, i throw the gamakatsu gfinesse hooks. They are much the same size snd shape but the hook points are tipped up or in very slightly. You’ll rarely lose a cranking fish again using these hooks and the right rod. In the past 2 years the only tournaments Ive cashed checks in or finished in top 5 in have been cranking tourneys…..except 1 where I caught them all on a popper. The best rod I have found is a medium action composite/graphite hybrid. A composite tip with a graphite or carbon backbone. Then for really big crankbaits like deep diving, heavy ones, i sometimes use a mh composite blend, or I sometimes use like a medium+ full carbon rod. My favorite cranking rod of all time??- the Daiwa Rebellion Glass Crankbait rod. Its not a glass rod, its very light like a graphite rod. Only the top 1/4-1/3 is “glass” and its got the anti twist x wrap. 7 ft medium is perfect for squarebills and like frittsides, even wiggle warts and money badgers, dt 8s, etc.

[@mikecollett8513]

Great topic. Caught myself thinking mid way through how the quality of your talks and lessons have improved exponentially. Found you at around the 2K sub of your journey and look at your now. The professionalism, presentation, and lesson structures are top shelf. One of the top channels for bass fishing sir.

[@dennishodson990]

This is going to set a standard for all the build of new crankbaits!! Absolutely genius!!

[@squonto47]

This comment isn’t about your current video but I wanted to post in real time that I’m watching the Bassmaster open on the Harris Chain right now on FS1 and it’s BORING. Bunch of 20yo’s hunched over their screens on a shallow weedy fishery. I used to watch fishing shows and tournaments to live vicariously and learn new things. That doesn’t happen any more.

[@erichildreth7562]

I was watching the same one and I turned it off. All they do is video game fish.

[@robertbritt3129]

True so true bassmaster is a business that want checks now forget the future...and so they will fail soon lets just hope they don't take tournament fishing with them...a bunch of people who only want money and can't see more than 1 second into the future what idiots

[@clay7514]

Good video, you’re the only guy I’ve ever heard talk about using the thumb bar instead of drag

[@1955Ranger]

This is a great video! The two largest bass I’ve every hooked, I’m convinced I lost because never set the hook! In both cases, the fish stayed on until they decided to jump and OPEN THEIR MOUTHS! When they did this, they just tossed the bait out. One was on a crank bait, and the other on a jig. In the heat of the strike and battle, it’s hard to remember SET THE HOOK!

[@fishybassvon5752]

Randy! Just want to thank you for your truly practical tips sharing. Encountered fall transition tough fishing yesterday on the lake, recalled your tips of using small crankbaits ie Z3, pulled out one, 5 casts, 3lber smallmouth nailed it. Fished everything at the spot before Z3 including bigger crankbait, nothing. Really saved the day! Keep the great work!

[@willowwisp6401]

I still use some of my OLD Balsa-B’s whenever I get the chance to go fishing.

[@kensharpless4753]

Never really have a problem hook one and gettin it in

[@catchofthedave8681]

Yeah those megabass squarebills are amazing. I always wondered why the hook eye was on top like that……i always assumed it was to keep the hook from snagging stuff as badly, cuz that thing will go through wood and grass etc.

[@timgendron4211]

Always had success with the old school Bagleys DB-2 in shad color, my favorite crank bait.

[@tommyjackson6443]

Thanks Randy I always wondered why I lose fish on a crank bait now I know. Appreciate the info thank you again!!

[@comfortablynumb9342]

I just got a KVD wake bait to try for redfish and trout. They're supposed to be very good in when there's a little ripple on the water. These tips are helpful. There's not that much difference in throwing a wake bait for bass or redfish except the redfish fights harder and tastes better, but the same tackle is fine. Salt Strong sells a bait you should probably try for bass. It's called the Skinny Lipper. It's a jerk bait with a short bill so it doesn't dive deep. You kind of twith it just under the surface like a floating Rapala. I have never seen a small lure cast so far, it's crazy. They're about 4.5" long, a good size for bass. They have single inline hooks that hook less little fish but lose less big ones, according to the Salt Strong guys. They also have a spook type bait with single hooks you might want to try called the Moon Walker.

[@dong8307]

Ihave some of these S Cranks and haven’t thought about the rear hook position. Interesting and great explanation. 👍

[@Bankfishindude]

Definitely some great info in this one! Thanks Randy 🎣

[@nsac3450]

Winter fishing question. What is the warmest rainproof coat for fishing? Lots to pick from AFTCO, Simms, Striker, Bass Pro, etc. My 20yr old Columbia parka is out of life.

[@jack-b8u3l]

great tips, Randy. thanks!

[@erichildreth7562]

Great stuff Randy and that's one of the first things that I check on a crankbait, if the hooks cross or not. If they do I will change out the hooks so they don't and I learned this the hard way. Got me a mess of gamakatsu trebels from baitwrx and I really like these hooks!!

[@Dogwool613]

Love your videos Randy, great how you tell it like it is and don't sugar coat stuff as well as talking about things nobody wants to. About your comment that most crankbait fish are from making contact with something, I fish a lot of them up here in Ontario, Canada in open water and above weed beds and do quite well. I do a few things also when retrieving like that without any deflections, like twitches and pauses with speed change. That being said deflections definitely cause a fish to strike a lot of the time! Great tip as well on the hard hookset, I find the big fish hold that bait so hard a lot of the time if you don't you won't move the bait enough to bury the barbs. I like to do a quick sweep set with a hard jig hookset at the end to drive it in. Keep up the videos bro, and do your thing! If you are ever up in the South Eastern Ontario region, I'd love to take you out for a fish 🎣🎣

[@terrytresemer2864]

I build most of my rod over the past twenty years. In doing so I color code my rods with the thread I use. Anyway I use a parabolic tip on all my crank baits and it serves me well. Less tip on my jig rods and so on. When I started fishing I didn't think it much mattered, experience has corrected that thought process. Up here in the north country I have plenty of time in the winter for my rod builds. But if you buy off the rack, grab the rod just above the reel seat with one hand and the tip in the other. Give it a bend to judge the tip.

[@stevesteve4350]

Once I started using David Fritts Perfect Cranking Rod my hook up rate with moving baits has been awesome. Great show this morning.

[@waynewallace9055]

Excellent info on crankbaits, thank you Randy!!!

[@northeastodc3921]

Off topic comment but I have to say…. Had a couple hours to get out today and started with the 110 i had tied on, seems like they’ve been hitting it better than a jr lately. 4.5lber on the first cast, i like to throw back with a different color but couldn’t replicate another strike no matter what color I tied on. After a few more fish I realized i started with a silent 110 and that was the only thing getting bit! I had a hammer of an afternoon throwing a silent 110 around cover. So thanks for the tip!!!!!!

[@PhillipRhodes]

Man, that hook length thing is HUGE. And what I still don't understand to this day, is why some manufacturers will ship you a "brand new, straight from the factory" bait with hooks that can cross and get tangled up. IMO, that is something that should *never* happen with the factory hooks! Now if you start changing out hooks, then yeah, obviously you can create whatever goofed up scenario you want. But out of the box? That just burns me up.

[@rodneyritchie8846]

Yep Mega bass lures are great and I love them but it hurts when you lose one

[@norbgeniec8721]

Good advice !

[@zacharyhubbard9200]

I add a tear drop shaped split ring on the line tie and rear hooks on my crankbaits.

[@dong8307]

The Megabass S cranks are great around rocks but are not the greatest around wood. Will hang up a bunch.

[@georgia2thaheart]

Awesome tip as always. I have been following your channel for a while and i finally am moving from a bank fisherman to buying my first bass boat. I really would like your input on the transition from the bank to a boat. And your opinion on what to look for in a bass boat while buying. Thank you

[@simplecircuit]

Wish I had seen this video yesterday…. I lost a 4-5lb smallie at the boat yesterday on a square bill. I tried loosening the drag instead of free spooling it.

[@TannerGriffith-r2c]

make a video about your kerr lake boat sinking idea to catch mega bags.

[@philsurratt5982]

Question Randy.. some of my crank baits get fouled when I cast, especially if I glance one off a piece of cover, dock, rock etc . The front and back hooks get hooked together. Quite frustrating when you make a great cast. Is there something you can do to somewhat eliminate that? Put a smaller treble on the back maybe. Input from other anglers appreciated. Well you actually answered my question at the end of the video.

[@johnmeyer6537]

I have not bass fished in 30 years. (blew out my elbow) At one time down at Table Rock it seemed the only crank bait that would catch fish was the wiggle wart. It has a bottom attached rear hook. Always had to change the factory hook so they would not hook each other. Caught a 6 lb'r that had the same wiggle wart stuck in his mouth.

[@johnnymassengale6275]

I like at least a 7 foot rod as well. I use to use a medium action graphite rod but have since gone to a composite rod with a parabolic bend. I tried a glass rod but everything just felt dead to me. I like to be able to somewhat tell what the bottom is made of. As far as a reel goes, I use a 6:3 gear ratio year round. I can always slow it down in cold water. Unless I'm using a trap. In that case I use a 7:3 gear ratio. Usually I use 12 pound test line except on a trap, 15 # usually and always florocarbon.

[@treehunter1]

Any other crankbaits that have that same hook eye position?

[@siryarwammowray3445]

Interesting 👍

[@jimwrigley3304]

Wonder why the old backstabber cranks didn’t catch on based upon their design and how fish hit a bait in your discussion.

[@oldschoolbassin]

Sharper hooks too. Sharper hooks. SHARP HOOKS.

[@daveengstrom9250]

Did you say crankbaits need to "hit something" in order to get a bite?? Explain please.

[@barndawg77]

I've landed more crankbait fish the last two years than I have the rest of my life after I started using rods designed for crankbaits.

[@Snatchinlipsbaits]

Do what pays the bills, let the nay sayers working for other channels that are jealous do their keyboard trolling, trying to get under your skin.