Try Shallow Cranking This Fall

There are several ways to catch bass when they begin fattening up on shad this fall, but my go-to pattern is shallow-water cranking.

As the water cools, bass follow large schools of shad into the creeks and backwaters and will gorge themselves on the abundant baitfish. Find the creeks with the most bait, and you'll find the bass.

Many anglers prefer to fish jigs and spinnerbaits during this period, but the shallow-running crankbait is my favorite pattern, especially during frontal conditions. If the weather has been stable and the fish are aggressive, I'll opt for the spinnerbait because its hook-to-land ratio is better than that of lures with treble hooks. However, crankbaits can be more reliable during those post-frontal conditions that seem to occur frequently during fall. They're much better at triggering strikes from inactive fish.

No water is too shallow for me to crank this time of year. I can control the running depth with line size or by holding the tip up or down.

Better yet, today's selection of crankbaits makes it easier because we now have tools that can be fished in ultra-shallow water. While most anglers key on that 5- to 10-foot range, I've found that a lot of quality fish can be caught in 2 feet or less. In fact, I won a fall tournament at Buggs Island a few years ago by using that pattern.

Another reason I prefer crankbaits in skinny water is that's where most anglers are throwing spinnerbaits, especially around cover. The spinnerbait is less likely to hang up in wood or grass, but the crankbait is more snag-free than you might think and it gives the fish a different look.

I've also found the crankbait to be a good follow-up bait. After I've made a pass through an area and caught some fish on a spinnerbait, I'll go back through with a crankbait and catch fish that didn't react to the spinnerbait.

It's important to choose the proper crankbait for this pattern because not all lures are created equal. The design of the lip and where the line-tie attaches to the bait determine how it runs and performs under certain conditions.

For example, if the water is stained, I want a wide-wobbling lure. But if it's cold or clear, I want a tighter wiggle. The straighter the bill and the farther out the line-tie is on the bill, the tighter the action. Angled bills with the line-tie close to the nose will have wider wobbles.

I fish angled bills around cover because they tend to hang up less and deflect a little better. My favorites are the Strike King Series 1 and 3 models that run from 3 to 7 feet deep, depending upon line size. The Series 3 is my favorite for working along logs because it has a relatively tight wiggle and fishes well over cover.

Strike King also offers super-shallow models (1S and 4S) in two different body sizes. These baits are ideal for fishing over the top of shallow grass or logs, which is important this time of year. Since shad aren't relating to the bottom, you want a bait that doesn't root in the mud.
Baits that rattle can be good choices, especially if the water is stained and you're fishing around cover. The noise helps call the fish to the bait.

I like fishing these baits on monofilament line. I love fluorocarbon and use it with many other applications, but baits run a little deeper on fluorocarbon, which I don't need when cranking shallow. It's also more sensitive, so I tend to react too quickly to a strike and jerk the bait away from the fish. If you prefer fluorocarbon, use it with slower-acting rods.

So when the bass are busting baitfish in the creeks this fall and they're ignoring your spinnerbait, tie on a shad-colored crankbait and give them a different look. It can produce the biggest stringer of the day.