Method
Crankbait fishing: which type runs how deep
A crankbait is a chunky hard lure whose bill pulls it down as you reel. You choose the type by the depth the fish are holding at.
Good for
What you need
- Cranking rod with a soft, moderate action, often fiberglass or composite, about 7 ft to 7 ft 4 in (2.10 to 2.25 m)
- Baitcaster with a medium gear ratio around 6.2:1 so you can control your speed
- Fluorocarbon or monofilament instead of braid: as a guide 10 lb for deep divers and 12 lb for square bills, heavier around thick wood
- Square bills for about 2 to 6 ft (0.6 to 1.8 m) and medium divers for about 6 to 10 ft (1.8 to 3 m)
- Deep divers for about 15 to 25 ft (4.5 to 7.5 m), the depth is usually printed on the package
- Lipless crankbaits with no bill, 1/4 to 3/4 oz (7 to 21 g)
- Where there are pike or muskies: a bite-proof leader of wire or titanium
- Landing net, hook remover, tape measure, priest and knife
Step by step
- Before you go, check your fishing license and the rules for the water, for example which lures and hooks are allowed.
- Use your sonar or a depth map to see how deep the drop-off, rock pile or weed edge you want to fish lies.
- Pick a crankbait that runs slightly deeper than the water at your spot. That way it ticks the bottom and deflects off rock and wood.
- The bigger and flatter the bill, the deeper the bait runs. Thinner line lets it dive deeper, thicker line keeps it higher.
- Cast past the target so the bait has already reached its depth when it gets to the rock, stump or laydown.
- When the bait deflects, stop for a moment, then keep reeling slowly. That is when many bites come.
- Over grass, run a lipless crankbait so it just ticks the tops of the weeds. If it hangs up, rip it free with a sharp pull.
- Any fish you keep, dispatch straight away in a humane way. Release all the others quickly in the water.
Common mistakes
- Choosing a crankbait that runs above the fish: without contact with bottom and cover there is no deflection to trigger reaction bites.
- Cranking on braid: it transmits too much wobble and you miss more bites. Mono or fluorocarbon usually works better.
- A rod that is too stiff and fast: softer rods absorb the deflections and keep pressure on the fish, so fewer come off.
- Moving on after one or two casts: a good rock or log can take 8 or 10 casts before a fish bites.
Tips
- In spring, square bills belong on the bank: a strong window opens when the water first warms into the low 60s °F (about 16 to 17 °C) at midday.
- In cold water, tight-wobbling crankbaits and lipless baits still catch bass at 42 to 43 °F (about 6 °C). In winter, start around mid-morning or noon rather than at sunrise.
- For walleye in cold water, rip a lipless bait: let it fall to the bottom, rip it up about 18 to 20 inches and let it drop again. Most fish hit on the fall.
Quick questions
How deep does a square bill run?
Most square bills run about 2 to 6 ft (0.6 to 1.8 m) deep. In spring, pros often fish them in 2 to 5 ft around grass, rock and wood. The depth on the package is a guide, your line and retrieve change it.
How does line affect crankbait depth?
Thinner line has less drag in the water, so the same crankbait runs deeper, while thicker line keeps it higher. Fluorocarbon sinks and gets the bait a little deeper than monofilament.
What is a lipless crankbait?
A crankbait with no bill that sinks, usually at about 1.5 to 2 ft per second. You count it down to the fish, tick it over the grass tops or lift and drop it like a jig. Many bites come on the fall.
More methods
In Germany, closed seasons and minimum sizes are set by each state and can be stricter for single waters. All German rules by state, with the legal source. Outside Germany, the local rules apply: licence and agency by country.
Sources (9)
- outdoorlife.com/fishing/squarebill-crankbait/
- outdoorlife.com/fishing/how-to-fish-deep-diving-crankbait/
- bassmaster.com/how-to/news/crankbait-tips-for-the-four-seasons/
- bassmaster.com/how-to/news/kevin-short-the-art-of-deflection/
- in-fisherman.com/editorial/bass-week-cranking-early-season-bass/494985
- in-fisherman.com/editorial/crankin-tactics-for-cold-water-walleyes/154
- gameandfishmag.com/editorial/3-scenarios-lipless-crankbaits-best-for-b
- barsch-alarm.de/news/rapala-loomis-feature-mit-crankbaits-auf-barsch/
- blinker.de/angelmethoden/raubfischangeln/angelkoeder/alles-was-man-ube
Last checked 2026-10-25. Found a mistake? Write to [email protected].
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