Crank Biats - Losing fish

I'm still having problems with crank baits. I can get bit, but I seem to
lose a lot of fish on crank baits. I have lost two or three really good
fish this year. Two of them were easily my best bass this year. I switched
to a lighter rod with more give and it seemed to help some, but I have since
still lost two good fish recenntly on cranks. I have heard that a lot of
people lose fish on cranks, but somehow I don't think that is the case for
me. I think I am somehow playing them wrong. In each case I have had them
on for a while and moved them a substantial distance. One or two I lost
becasue I over horsed them to try and get them up and away from a submerged
tree or something like that, but I really tend to lose them near the boat
whent hey change direction.

I am considering going through my cranks and upsizing all my hooks to
Excalibur rotating hooks. I do get better hook ups on my baits that have
those hooks, but I still have lost a few fish on those too.



--
Spinner Baits Tips & Tricks Contest
featuring
Secret Weapon Lures
in December

** Public Fishing and Boating Forums
** www.YumaBassMan.com

"Bob La Londe" wrote in message
...
I'm still having problems with crank baits. I can get bit, but I seem to
lose a lot of fish on crank baits. I have lost two or three really good
fish this year. Two of them were easily my best bass this year. I
switched
to a lighter rod with more give and it seemed to help some, but I have
since
still lost two good fish recenntly on cranks. I have heard that a lot of
people lose fish on cranks, but somehow I don't think that is the case for
me. I think I am somehow playing them wrong. In each case I have had
them
on for a while and moved them a substantial distance. One or two I lost
becasue I over horsed them to try and get them up and away from a
submerged
tree or something like that, but I really tend to lose them near the boat
whent hey change direction.

I am considering going through my cranks and upsizing all my hooks to
Excalibur rotating hooks. I do get better hook ups on my baits that have
those hooks, but I still have lost a few fish on those too.

Changing hooks might help Bob, but you have to remember that it's simply
part of crankbait fishing. With the free swinging hooks and added weight,
it's just the nature of the beast that you're going to lose some fish.

For me, I've found that good hooks will help, as will gently playing the
fish to avoid overpressuring it. OR, simply change the lure that you're
using to something with a more positive hookup. Many times a spinnerbait or
soft jerkbait will trigger a "crankbait" fish just as well with better
results.
--
Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers
http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com
G & S Guide Service and Custom Rods
http://www.herefishyfishy.com

"Bob La Londe" wrote in message
...
I'm still having problems with crank baits. I can get bit, but I seem to
lose a lot of fish on crank baits. I have lost two or three really good
fish this year. Two of them were easily my best bass this year. I
switched
to a lighter rod with more give and it seemed to help some, but I have
since
still lost two good fish recenntly on cranks. I have heard that a lot of
people lose fish on cranks, but somehow I don't think that is the case for
me. I think I am somehow playing them wrong. In each case I have had
them
on for a while and moved them a substantial distance. One or two I lost
becasue I over horsed them to try and get them up and away from a
submerged
tree or something like that, but I really tend to lose them near the boat
whent hey change direction.

I am considering going through my cranks and upsizing all my hooks to
Excalibur rotating hooks. I do get better hook ups on my baits that have
those hooks, but I still have lost a few fish on those too.

Changing hooks might help Bob, but you have to remember that it's simply
part of crankbait fishing. With the free swinging hooks and added weight,
it's just the nature of the beast that you're going to lose some fish.

For me, I've found that good hooks will help, as will gently playing the
fish to avoid overpressuring it. OR, simply change the lure that you're
using to something with a more positive hookup. Many times a spinnerbait or
soft jerkbait will trigger a "crankbait" fish just as well with better
results.
--
Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers
http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com
G & S Guide Service and Custom Rods
http://www.herefishyfishy.com

I have had excalibur hooks break, they are pretty bridle, Mustad triple
grip hooks seem to do good job and don't break...

I like Gamagatsu & VMC. But I have had fish spit baits out even with
the sharpest hooks. It's like they grab it so firmly and exhale it
without a hook ever touching them.

When you do get hooked up, use the drag to your advantage, or better
yet, learn to pop the thumbar with your thumb and use your thumb on the
spool when a big fish makes a run. Learning to do that has helped me
put a lot of big fish in the boat.

Quality tackle was the best thing to help me learn to fish crankbaits.
A top line graphite rod designed for fishing crankbaits has got
fiberglass beat for me. And I tried a bunch of them. My line is 10lb
Big Game. I also like the Norman Speed clips and get rid of the snap rings.

Trying to horse a fish out of timber is a mistake. That's where I am
getting bit. Simply keep pressure on and feed some line when you think
it's right and that fish might just swim right out of the mess for you.

Don't expect to keep a really big fish on if it grabs the bait at the
side of the boat and dives. No thumb in the world is quick enough to
pop the thumbar before the pressure is too great to do so. That's where
hooks rip out or tackle breaks.

Carlos

I like Gamagatsu & VMC. But I have had fish spit baits out even with
the sharpest hooks. It's like they grab it so firmly and exhale it
without a hook ever touching them.

When you do get hooked up, use the drag to your advantage, or better
yet, learn to pop the thumbar with your thumb and use your thumb on the
spool when a big fish makes a run. Learning to do that has helped me
put a lot of big fish in the boat.

Quality tackle was the best thing to help me learn to fish crankbaits.
A top line graphite rod designed for fishing crankbaits has got
fiberglass beat for me. And I tried a bunch of them. My line is 10lb
Big Game. I also like the Norman Speed clips and get rid of the snap rings.

Trying to horse a fish out of timber is a mistake. That's where I am
getting bit. Simply keep pressure on and feed some line when you think
it's right and that fish might just swim right out of the mess for you.

Don't expect to keep a really big fish on if it grabs the bait at the
side of the boat and dives. No thumb in the world is quick enough to
pop the thumbar before the pressure is too great to do so. That's where
hooks rip out or tackle breaks.

Carlos

Crank Biats - Losing fish

Group: rec.outdoors.fishing.bass Date: Thu, Dec 30, 2004, 8:45am (CST-1)
From: (Bob=A0La=A0Londe)
I'm still having problems with crank baits. I can get bit, but I seem to
lose a lot of fish on crank baits. I have lost two or three really good
fish this year. Two of them were easily my best bass this year. I
switched to a lighter rod with more give and it seemed to help some, but
I have since still lost two good fish recenntly on cranks. I have heard
that a lot of people lose fish on cranks, but somehow I don't think that
is the case for me. I think I am somehow playing them wrong. In each
case I have had them on for a while and moved them a substantial
distance. One or two I lost becasue I over horsed them to try and get
them up and away from a submerged tree or something like that, but I
really tend to lose them near the boat whent hey change direction.
I am considering going through my cranks and upsizing all my hooks to
Excalibur rotating hooks. I do get better hook ups on my baits that have
those hooks, but I still have lost a few fish on those too.
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
That is why fishing is so much fun....sometimes you win...sometimes the
fish wins! Just grin, and congratulae the big guy/girl!

JK

2 or 3? 1 or 2? You have no problem Bob, it's all part of the fun!

--
Warren

http://www.warrenwolk.com
Http://www.tri-statebassmasters.com
2004 NJ B.A.S.S. Federation State Champions

"Bob La Londe" wrote in message
...
I'm still having problems with crank baits. I can get bit, but I seem to
lose a lot of fish on crank baits. I have lost two or three really good
fish this year. Two of them were easily my best bass this year. I
switched
to a lighter rod with more give and it seemed to help some, but I have
since
still lost two good fish recenntly on cranks. I have heard that a lot of
people lose fish on cranks, but somehow I don't think that is the case for
me. I think I am somehow playing them wrong. In each case I have had
them
on for a while and moved them a substantial distance. One or two I lost
becasue I over horsed them to try and get them up and away from a
submerged
tree or something like that, but I really tend to lose them near the boat
whent hey change direction.

I am considering going through my cranks and upsizing all my hooks to
Excalibur rotating hooks. I do get better hook ups on my baits that have
those hooks, but I still have lost a few fish on those too.



--
Spinner Baits Tips & Tricks Contest
featuring
Secret Weapon Lures
in December

** Public Fishing and Boating Forums
** www.YumaBassMan.com

2 or 3? 1 or 2? You have no problem Bob, it's all part of the fun!

--
Warren

http://www.warrenwolk.com
Http://www.tri-statebassmasters.com
2004 NJ B.A.S.S. Federation State Champions

"Bob La Londe" wrote in message
...
I'm still having problems with crank baits. I can get bit, but I seem to
lose a lot of fish on crank baits. I have lost two or three really good
fish this year. Two of them were easily my best bass this year. I
switched
to a lighter rod with more give and it seemed to help some, but I have
since
still lost two good fish recenntly on cranks. I have heard that a lot of
people lose fish on cranks, but somehow I don't think that is the case for
me. I think I am somehow playing them wrong. In each case I have had
them
on for a while and moved them a substantial distance. One or two I lost
becasue I over horsed them to try and get them up and away from a
submerged
tree or something like that, but I really tend to lose them near the boat
whent hey change direction.

I am considering going through my cranks and upsizing all my hooks to
Excalibur rotating hooks. I do get better hook ups on my baits that have
those hooks, but I still have lost a few fish on those too.



--
Spinner Baits Tips & Tricks Contest
featuring
Secret Weapon Lures
in December

** Public Fishing and Boating Forums
** www.YumaBassMan.com

Bob this may be a silly response but...
do you raise your rod when they are near the boat?
you said you lose most of em when they are near the boat or they change
direction sounds like your rod tip is too low, this allows for slack line,
which will allow the fish to toss you.
Wayne
"Bob La Londe" wrote in message
...
I'm still having problems with crank baits. I can get bit, but I seem to
lose a lot of fish on crank baits. I have lost two or three really good
fish this year. Two of them were easily my best bass this year. I
switched
to a lighter rod with more give and it seemed to help some, but I have
since
still lost two good fish recenntly on cranks. I have heard that a lot of
people lose fish on cranks, but somehow I don't think that is the case for
me. I think I am somehow playing them wrong. In each case I have had
them
on for a while and moved them a substantial distance. One or two I lost
becasue I over horsed them to try and get them up and away from a
submerged
tree or something like that, but I really tend to lose them near the boat
whent hey change direction.

I am considering going through my cranks and upsizing all my hooks to
Excalibur rotating hooks. I do get better hook ups on my baits that have
those hooks, but I still have lost a few fish on those too.



--
Spinner Baits Tips & Tricks Contest
featuring
Secret Weapon Lures
in December

** Public Fishing and Boating Forums
** www.YumaBassMan.com