All About Bass Fishing - Guide To Mid-Depths With Crankbaits

Deep-diving crankbaits are designed for specialty types of fishing. Manufacturers design some of these lures to dive to depths of 20 feet or more under ideal conditions. One of the conditions is using very light line, which can be the cause of lost lures and bass. For this section we will concentrate on using these 20-foot lures to fish 12 to 16-feet deep on heavier line. The other crankbaits for mid-range depths are lipless crankbaits which can be fished at virtually any depth.

3 Most Important Factors About Fishing Mid-Depths With Crankbaits

Use deep crankbaits to catch suspended bass or pull bass up from deeper cover.
Light line is required to allow the lure to achieve its maximum depth.
Deep diving crankbaits have large bills and generally work best in baitfish colors and patterns.

3 Most Effective Fishing Methods

Make long casts or troll to achieve maximum depth.
Cast across points and extended flats allowing the lure to bump bottom or bounce off cover.
Look for tops of trees or brush at 10 or 15 deep, over deeper water.

Deep crankbaits are ideal for mid-depth bass.

The two most productive ways to fish crankbaits in these mid ranges include bottom bumping on rock or gravel bottoms, and fishing the tops of cover that reside in deeper water.

For bottom bumping, use deep-diving crankbaits in darker colors to create a contrast with the bottom. Make long casts or troll to get the lure to the desired depth allowing it to bump and bounce, creating noise and disturbance to attract bass. If you are not touching bottom, switch to a deeper-diving crankbait, go to lighter line or make longer casts.

To fish the tops of trees, grass or other cover at mid-range depths, you can use a deep-diving crankbait or a lipless crankbait. Shad color-lures work best with light bottoms and dark tops. With either lure it is crucial that the lure be bumping into the tops of the cover. If grass begins to collect on the lure, fish it a bit shallower so as to stay just above the top of the grass.

Big crankbaits fished in deeper water have a reputation of catching bigger bass. Use line heavy enough to land the fish and reduce the cost of lost lures.