Field Guide

Crankbaits

One system — squarebill to 6XD — that covers shallow runners through deep divers with bottom contact as the trigger.

Confidence

SpringSummerFallWinterSquarebill 0–5 ftKVD 1.5 DD 4–8 ftDT10 8–12 ft6XD 12–20+ ft

Gear

Rod

Cashion ELEMENT Z2 Cranking Rod 7'3" Medium-Heavy — moderate glass-ish action loads on treble hooks.

Reel

Shimano SLX 150 DC (151 LH) — 6.3:1.

Line

Sufix Advance Fluorocarbon 14 lb. Drop to 10–12 lb for max depth with a 6XD — and make the longest cast you can.

60-Second Refresher

Knot: Palomar default. Non-Slip Loop Knot when you want extra hunt — balsa baits, clear water, pressured fish.

Pick the size: Choose a crankbait that runs slightly deeper than the water you're fishing.

Trigger: Bottom contact and deflection — dig, crash, change direction.

Wind helps: Breaks visibility and pushes bait/bass to predictable banks.

When to Throw

Good Water

Prespawn on rock and riprap, postspawn shad bite, summer offshore ledges/humps, fall bait migrations in creek arms.

Bad Water

Slick clear post-front days with no wind; heavy wood/brush where trebles foul; matted grass.

Shallow / Bridge Cranks · 4–8 ft

Strike King KVD 1.5 Deep Diver

More depth than a squarebill, less than a true medium diver. Riprap, secondary points, clay banks.

Strike King KVD 1.5 Deep Diver

Green Gizzard Shad

Clear/slightly stained, shad forage, riprap

Strike King KVD 1.5 Deep Diver

Brown Belly Orange Craw

Prespawn, rock transitions, clay banks

Medium Divers · 8–12 ft

Rapala DT10

Secondary points, riprap, channel swings, shallow ledges, and mid-depth rock.

Rapala DT10

Big Shad

Clear water, herring lakes, offshore bait schools

Rapala DT10

Citrus Shad

Wind, stain, clouds, aggressive reaction bites

Rapala DT10

Classic Craw

Rock, chunk rock, gravel, prespawn craw bite

Deep Divers · 12–20+ ft

Strike King 6XD

Long casts, lighter fluoro. Offshore points, humps, brush piles, roadbeds, ledges.

Strike King 6XD

Green Gizzard Shad

Primary deep cranking shad — summer schools, offshore

Strike King 6XD

Demon Craw

Prespawn, deep rock, ledges, red/orange reaction

Color Family Reference

Three families cover it

Natural Shad for clear water and herring lakes. Bright Shad when wind/stain/clouds knock down visibility. Craw colors any time bass are eating off the bottom — rock, riprap, clay, prespawn.

Color Reference

Natural / Bright / Craw

Three families that cover every situation

Bottom Contact Reference

Dig · Deflect · Pause

Most strikes come on a direction change

Where to Throw Each

Riprap

Parallel the bank and keep the bait grinding.

Rock points

Cast across the point and contact the crown or sides.

Wood

Deflect, pause briefly, then continue.

Grass edges

Tick the grass and rip the bait free.

Offshore structure

Long casts across humps, ledges, and brush piles.

Cheat Sheet

0–5 ft

Squarebill / shallow diver.

4–8 ft

KVD 1.5 Deep Diver.

8–12 ft

Rapala DT10.

12–20+ ft

Strike King 6XD.

Winter

Flat sides, subtle retrieves, natural shad on bluff ends and deep points.

Prespawn

Craw colors on rock, riprap, clay, transition banks.

Summer

6XD on offshore humps, ledges, brush, main-lake structure.

Fall

Shad colors around bait — creek arms, wind-blown banks, schoolers.