Crank baits

[Mn Walleye 1976]

I've never really gotten into the fall fishing a whole lot but was just wondering what everyone else likes.

What are your favorite fall time crank baits? What size? What color?

All I've ever used was rapala's shad raps in the 7-9 size range. In the black & silver pattern.

[markkstanley]

Husky jerks #12 glass perch, fire tiger. Sometimes natural colors work but those are my go to colors. The big eyes like the minnow baits. Can even go to the #14 size.

[BIG]

Caught my biggest on #7 silver/black shallow shad rap. Best lure this year #5,#7 firetiger shallow shad rap run 100 feet on 10/4 fireline.........hope these specifics help since you don't get them too often on these forums....oh ya, Mille Lacs.

[zelek]

I love reading old back issues of In-Fisherman and have always respected Doug Stange for his knowledge on topics like this. In his mind, the minnowbait-style cranks are the ticket in the fall--and big ones. He says, "Bigger baits rarely intimidate walleyes, particularly during the fall. The surest sign of a novice walleye angler is an insistence on choosing baits several sizes too small for the job." He recommends baits the size of the #13 floating raps...with a preference for the old #13 "husky" rap that has been discontinued. He adds, "but the #18 rap, a 7" long bait that immediately intimidates most walleye anglers, turns almost as many fish during the fall. And a bait that size often becomes the preferred bait at night on waters where bigger fish are common".

I nailed my two biggest last year on a #18 black/sil floating rap in the fall.

I know the Husky Jerks in sizes 12 & 14 work well too as mentioned above. Check out the Mille Lacs forum sometime and you'll hear all kinds of reports on big walleyes smacking these things at night.

Hope that helps a little.

[Borch]

I like thre bigger stuff as well. My mainstay cranks or #13 raps, Thundersticks, 12 or 14 HJ, Rattlin rogues or super rogues. I often upgrade to #18 rapalas or 8" bombers. Funny thing is I've caught 13" eyes on both of these lures in the fall.

Colors vary greatly based on the ngiht and waters I'm fishing. Usually if the moon is shining you'll find some version of chrome on the end of my line. If it's very dark out then perch or gold will usually get the nod.

[PerchJerker]

Shad raps and shallow shad raps are good baits but when the water temps fall to the 50's then I like minnow baits better. Shad raps have a tight fast wiggle, minnow baits are slower and have more of a wobble. Husky Jerks and Rogues are my favorites, and I like big baits. Experiment with colors. Borch makes a great point about chrome when the moon is high, especially later in the night like after midnight when the moon is overhead. Firetiger and clown are good on dark nights, dark baits can be good on bright nights. Experiment and change up a lot. And don't be afraid to fish shallow, in Sept we pulled a lot of fish from 5.5 to 7 fow, in Oct we stayed between 6 and 9.