Gussy Crankbait Fishing Tips
The crankbait to a bass fisherman is a lure that can be fished in a simple cast and retrieve manner, or it can be fished with a finer tuned approach, so as retrieve, pause, twitch, and then begin the retrieving process.
This is what makes crankbait fishing such a versatile tool for the bass fisherman, they can be fished fast, or slow, and can be fished in shallow or deep water. And who better to share some crankbait fishing tips, and not just for bass, but any species that may want to eat a crankbait, then 2023 Bassmaster Classic Champion, Jeff ‘Gussy’ Gustafson.
Crankbait Fishing Tip #1: The crankbait MUST be touching the bottom. “If the crankbait at some point during your retrieve isn’t making contact with the bottom, then it is a wasted cast,” said Gussy. “The subsequent deflection and action the crankbait has after hitting a rock, sand, or laydown is many times when a bass will hit the crankbait.”
Crankbait Fishing Tip #2: Gussy prefers to use a lower gear ratio reel, like a 6.1:1 model. “The slower you can bring in the crankbait, the better. As it allows the bait to look most natural in the water, and you aren’t reeling the bait away from a fish that it is tracking it in,” explained Jeff.
Crankbait Fishing Tip #3: “Without good hooks on a crankbait you are going to lose A LOT of bass, so put some good treble hooks on your crankbait,” said Gussy. With the new Northland Tackle Elite Series Crankbaits, they come standard with super sharp Gamakatsu treble hooks.
Crankbait Fishing Tip #4: Having the right rod when fishing a crankbait is not just important for an angler to be able to make long, and or accurate casts, depending on if they are fishing a wide open flat, or up shallow in tight quarters. The right rod allows the angler to get a good hook up on the bass, and then keeps the fish hooked all the way to the boat. “Using a soft rod is so important, if you have a stiff rod, the treble hooks will rip right out of bass’s mouth,” stated Jeff.
Crankbait Fishing Tip #5: Going along the lines (no pun intended) of having the right rod and reel when fishing a crankbait, using the right lb test fishing line is important. “I like to use a heavier line than I would normally use, unless I am trying to get the crankbait to dive deeper, then I’ll decrease the lb test I’m using,” stated Gussy.
As you are gearing up for this upcoming bass fishing season, be sure to take Gussy's crankbait fishing tips into account, and grab some of the new Northland Fishing Tackle Elite Series Crankbaits, and you are setting yourself up for success on the water.
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