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9 Characteristics of Crankbaits

With the vast variety of crankbaits available, these 9 characteristics will help you choose the right one

The seemingly infinite number of crankbait options presents a dilemma for anglers who use them when fishing for bass and other species. How do you select a lure that will catch the most fish? Are there certain conditions when one crankbait is preferred over another? When are big crankbaits more appropriate? Small ones? How does one choose the best color? Is a floating bait best or one that dives deep? Should it be cranked fast or slow?

There are no pat answers to these questions. But don't fret. Help is available from “The Doctor of Diving Plugs,” Joe Hughes of Mount Ida, Arkansas. Hughes has worked hand-in-hand with numerous lure designers and fishing professionals to help develop fishing lures for major companies such as Rebel, Cotton Cordell, Heddon and Bomber. His knowledge of crankbaits and crankbait fishing is unexcelled.

“I sat down one day and tried to determine what makes crankbaits perform the way they do under various conditions,” Hughes says. “The word ‘characteristic’ kept popping up. It has a characteristic of sinking, a characteristic of high buoyancy, a characteristic of the depth it attains. I put these on paper and came up with nine basic characteristics.”

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