Ripping crankbaits during the fall transition

[Dan Wood]

Ripping Crankbaits for Late September Bass

Equipment: 3" Glow Ghost Photon Lure Crankbait, Curado 100b, 20 lb. Power Pro Braid, Med./Hvy. action 7' rod

PhotonLures

Technique: ripping photon lure crankbaits on sparse weed edges.

Technique (specific): Fishing 3-10' depths along the weed edge transition (near 10' the weeds cleared and the depth dropped sharply down to 15+).

Pull the crankbait down until you feel weeds and "feel" your way through the weeds. When you feel a weed hang on the lure (action of the crankbait will feel noticeably different) - rip the crankbait free of the weeds by swiftly pulling just like a very hard hookset. This is what triggers the fish often times and it keeps your bait free of weeds and in the strike zone much longer.

This can be a very effective technique all summer, but is particularly effective in the fall. The bright glow from Photon is another great tool to have in your box for off color water or low light conditions. I prefer heavy tackle to really rip the baits out of anything and everything. Braid line helps cut weeds a little better than mono and the low-stretch definitely helps in ripping baits out of weeds.

Spinnerbaits also work very good for this technique. I prefer the heavier spinnerbaits for weed edges - typically 3/4 oz. and up. Anyone else have success with either of these techniques?

[This message has been edited by Dan Wood (edited 09-24-2004).]

[friendlyfisher]

I have been doing this for the past couple weeks and the bass are really starting to pick up.
Half my strikes come after being hung up on the weeds.
Yesterday morning in less than two hours I landed 10 bass. not very big but they are yet to come.
O ya, I also landed a 6 1/2 l2 walleye yesterday morning doing the same thin
Not sure what a walleye is.

[cheektowaga]

Love this technique, works great when summer cold fronts move in as well (which was most of this past summer).

Little different though, I usually use a broken Rap that suspends so that you can work it with a more slow steady retrieve untily you graze those weeds.

Seems to really get sluggish smallies going too!

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Na-Na-Na-Na-Na-Na-Na-Na-FISH-ING

[bucketmouth64]

Great technique to use. Had great luck with it in June. My son and I caught about 40 bass going around the lake fishing the weedlines. Was working even around noon when we quit and the recreational boaters started to outnumber fishing boats. The quality of the fish weren't all that big but the quantity caught was fun...at least for my son.

[Tonka Boy]

Sure do. I had been doing very well with a DT-6 until I lost it to a nort last weekend (haven't had time to replace yet). Basically ripping it in and over the milfoil would produce nice bass. A good hard "rip" did indeed trigger strikes.

I know Ebass uses this technique quite a bit as well. He got me started.

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Tonka Boy
Catch-N Tackle Field Staff

[RandyFish]

Guys,

Will this technique work with Ratt-L-Traps too.

If this is a good time of year for ripping, I will try it. I have had a lousy run this summer.

RandyFish