Fishing for bass during the fall can be challenging and rewarding at the same time. Many anglers use a crankbait to mimic baitfish and entice a fish to strike. But it’s a little more complex than just tying on a crankbait and casting it out. In this article, we’re going to briefly cover some tips when it comes to crankbait fishing during the fall. Good luck fishing this fall season, and enjoy these crankbait fishing tips for fall fishing. Check out our helpful fishing videos for additional tips to improve your fishing skills.
What Kind of Rod to Use When Crankbait Fishing
The proper fishing rod is vital to successful crankbait fishing, no matter the time of year. You will want to start with a rod that provides enough parabolic bend in the blank and has enough backbone power to stack up against biggins.
What kind of action should my crankbait rod have?
One of the most overlooked factors in successful crankbait fishing during the fall is the action of the rod. We’ve all heard the variety of fishing rod actions; extra fast, fast, moderate, etc. but do you know what the ideal action is to optimize your hookup ratio when crankbait fishing?
You will want to use a fishing rod that has moderate action. Moderate action fishing rods provide more parabolic bend in the blank of the rod and allow more load-up time to give the treble hooks additional time to embed into the fish’s mouth. How many times have you hooked into a fish when using a crankbait for it to get right off from a terrible hook-set? Chances are that you did not have proper action for your cranking stick.
What kind of power should my crankbait rod have?
Depending on the size of the crankbait, its weight, the diving depth, and the size of fish you plan to catch, you will want to select a medium to medium-heavy cranking rod. Keep in mind that it’s fall and the water is cooling off fast which results in the bass roaming where the forage is. Their food may be in shallow or deeper water and you’ll need to adjust your crankbait lure and rod accordingly.
A medium-power fishing rod is usually going to be the best option when fishing shallow water and crankbaits with square bills. The reason is that a medium-powered fishing rod typically pairs better with a lighter crankbait. A medium-heavy fishing rod is a great selection for deep-diving crankbaits where the lure weighs more, but also provides more backbone to muscle those bass from the depths.
What material crankbait rod should I use?
The material from which your crankbait rod is made ranges and each offers its own pros and cons. Select the material of your crankbait fishing rod based on what you’re most comfortable and confident using. Below we list the most common materials that rods are made from and their benefits.
- Fiberglass – a glass rod will give a lot more bend throughout the blank of the rod. Many anglers claim it has a smooth feel when a fish is hooked.
- Graphite – graphite rods are known to be a little on the stiffer side with less bend compared to a glass rod. They are also known to offer a lot more sensitivity and feel when a bass strike occurs.
- Composite – if you’re looking for the best of both worlds for a fiberglass and graphite rod, then this option is for you. Composite fishing rods offer a blend of both graphite and glass to combine the smooth bend and sensitivity of their counterparts.
What Kind of Reel to Use When Crankbait Fishing
Similar to fishing rods, there are a variety of fishing reels to select. The main feature you will need to pay attention to is the gear ratio of the reel. The gear ratio is going to dictate how much line is reeled in per 360-degree turn of the spool. For crankbaits, you will want a lower gear ratio that allows your lure to stay in the strike zone much longer and isn’t being pulled up too quickly.
Fishing reel gear ratio rule of thumb:
- Lower gear ratio = less amount of line that’s reeled in per turn.
- Higher gear ratio = more line that’s reeled in per turn.
What gear ratio do I use for shallow crankbaits?
When fishing a shallow crankbait, most anglers like to use a fishing reel with a gear ratio ranging from 6.1 – 6.4. This tends to be the “sweet spot” for most shallow crankbaits to reach their rated depth and stay in the strike zone longer. Since you are fishing during the fall, fish are more lethargic and less likely to burn energy chasing their prey, so this is why it’s important to keep your crankbait in the strike zone for as long as possible.
What gear ratio do I use for deeper crankbaits?
When fishing deeper water you will want to keep in mind the amount of effort you will invest on your end. Rapid reeling all day can result in a very tiring day and this is why you will want a reel with more torque. Select a reel with a gear ratio ranging from 5.1 to 5.4 to decrease the amount of stress you will put on yourself when reeling. This gear range also allows for heavier crankbaits to reach their desired depth and strike zone more efficiently. Additionally, the increased torque provides ample power to muscle those fish from the depths.
Fall Fishing When Using The Crankbait
Bass fishing during the fall can provide some of the biggest bass you will see and catch all year. These fish are in a fall-feeding frenzy because they need to fatten up for the winter season. Crankbaits are very effective during this time of year because they mimic baitfish and provide the proper amount of action to get the attention of the fish. These tips can also be applied to all year, including catching bass in the winter. With the help of these fishing tips, hopefully, you can improve your hook-up ratio and land more fish when crankbait fishing during the fall season.
