Photo: Livingston Lures
There have been many articles written on the topic of crankbait fishing and just about everyone will explain the same general things. However, when it comes to the nuts and bolts of crankbait fishing, there are many ways to get the job done. Bassmaster Elite Series angler Hank Cherry has an “old school” approach to how he selects his crankbait gear that is both simplistic and logical.
Cranking Line
The popularity of fluorocarbon has relegated monofilament to a few select techniques for today’s bass angler. Even though Hank Cherry is a big fan of fluorocarbon for most applications, monofilament line is his choice for crankbait fishing. “It’s much more forgiving in my opinion and I feel like I get less hang-ups with mono,” said Cherry.
He relies on P-Line CXX X-tra Strong Copolymer for his cranking for everything from squarebills to big deep-divers.
“It’s really, really strong and I don’t hesitate to cast my crankbait around laydowns and docks. I also feel like it is more forgiving of bad casts; because if you cast too shallow, you can let the crankbait float up and out of the way from the cover a lot easier,” added Cherry.
The line size he uses is strictly dependent on the water clarity and he will use from 12- to 17-lb CXX for cranking. “If the water is dirty, I’ll use 15- or 17-lb,” he said. “I don’t feel like I lose any action with that heavy line when using things like squarebills. I’ll switch to 12-lb only if the water is really clear.”
Cranking Rods
Crankbait rods, like line, come down to preference. Hank Cherry uses several different crankbait rods depending on his lure choice, but will always use a longer rod for extended casts. “I like a 7’ or longer rod for everything, especially crankbaits so I can get the bait out further and get it deeper if I need to,” said Cherry.
He also mentioned something that many bass anglers realize when they are shopping for a rod. “Each brand is so much different,” he explained. “One brand’s Medium is like another’s Medium-Heavy; so you really have to feel them to make sure they are what you want. I like a moderate to fast tip with a good backbone on the rod for my cranking.”
For squarebills, he uses an Abu Garcia Veritas 2.0 in the 7’ M model and the Abu Garcia Villain 2.0 7’ M for flat-sided crankbaits. While they are the same length and action, he says each is better for different styles of crankbaits. When using the big deep-diving crankbaits he will use the Abu Garcia "Ike" Delay Series in the 7'10" MH model since it has the length and power to handle big plugs.
Cranking Reels Gear Ratios
Just about everything you read about crankbaits mentions the slower reels for crankbait fishing. There is some justification for this trend, but Hank Cherry never goes slower than a 6.4:1 Abu Garcia Revo Premier. “I just feel more comfortable with a faster reel and will also use the 7.1:1 Revo MGX for crankbaits,” he said. “I can get the bait to do what I want just by slowing down or speeding up.”
Crankbait Selection
Each major lure manufacturer makes a squarebill and that is one of Cherry’s favorite types of crankbaits. He prefers the Livingston Lures Primetyme CB 1.5 and 2.0 for his shallow cranking. “The 1.5 is kind of a hybrid; because it is more flat than some squarebills and I find it to have a much more erratic action. It’s perfect for around rocks,” he added. The 2.0 is his choice for slightly deeper water as it is excellent for deflecting on cover.
When it comes to deep-diving crankbaits, Cherry runs the gamut from handmade balsa crankbaits that are two decades old to the Livingston Deep Impact 18 and Strike King 6XD. “There are a lot of good crankbaits that will get down to those deep depths,” he said. “The biggest thing is finding one that runs true.”
Color Choices
There are hundreds of colors available for crankbaits and each angler has a selection of colors that works for them. Cherry believes color really comes down to personal preference and what works for that angler.
“The more I fish, the less I think color matters with crankbaits,” he said. “When the crankbait is moving so fast and down there deep, I really don’t think the fish have the chance to give it a good look before deciding if they want to bite it.
“In the spring when the water is dirty I do think I get more bites having some orange or red on the bait, but I always tell people to use what they are comfortable with.”
Hank Cherry has a refreshing look at crankbait fishing and will make you question if you are overthinking it. His approach to crankbait fishing is to use what feels right and works best for you.
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