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 Shallow
Water Crankbaiting
By
JP DeRose
The toughest part of any day on the water is
locating your target species. Often times
endless hours are wasted by guessing where the
fish are and working them with a technique that
is not conducive to covering water and that is
where shallow crankbaits can pay huge dividends.
Shallow crankbaits have come a long way in the
past few years and manufacturers are realizing
their full potential for covering shallow water
whether it has cover like weeds and wood or
involves open water sand and gravel flats. Japan
has been leading the way in this category for a
couple of reasons... firstly, the design and
engineering of their baits make them very
efficient and versatile. The other part of the
equation involves the finishes of these baits
which can match just about any baitfish you are
looking to imitate or specific color pattern
imaginable. Baits like the Megabass Griffon Zero
and O.S.P.'s Dai Buzzin' are perfect examples.
 These
crankbaits can cover water less than two feet
deep and often times can be very effective when
used just sub surface, creating a wake. The
profile of these baits is typically short and
fat with a stubby lip that is angled straight
down giving the bait and wide wobble. Add to
that loud rattles and you have a bait that can
call fish from quite a distance even when the
water is stained.
The trick to being effective with these baits is
how you match your tackle to the technique. When
selecting a rod for shallow cranks you want to
find a medium to medium heavy power rod that is
7 - 7'6" long. The extra length will give you
greater casting distance and hook setting power
and most importantly you want a rod that has a
moderate fast action. Using an fast or extra
fast action rod will actually cost you fish due
to the lack of give in the blank, not allowing
the fish to take the bait fully. The G-Loomis
CBR906C or the Shimano Crucial TC4 7'2" MH
casting rod are idea choices and both of these
rods are rated for 10-20 lb line. Your reel
choice should involve a slower gear ratio,
allowing you to crawl the bait back along the
surface. A 5:1 gear ratio like the Shimano
Curado 200 E5 is ideal but the most I would
recommend a 6.2:1. Spool up your reel with 15
pound Fluorocarbon line and you are ready to
cover some water. Braided lines are not the
right choice for this presentation either due to
the no stretch properties of the braid.
Once out on the water select your area and fan
cast it, covering the water fully. Keep moving
along the shoreline or flat looking for the
aggressive fish and when you catch a few, don't
leave, work the area over once again with a
slower moving presentation so you can pick up
the fish that are not so charged up.
Tight lines and long weekends
JP DeRose
 
Tight lines and long weekends
JP DeRose
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