Summer crankin?

[Bassboss]

OK guys, so I've just completed the body of a crankbait! Now I just need to add the hook, lip and paint. But that's not really what the thread is about!

I'm wondering what size lip I should put on, and what color to paint it! I'm thinking a Med diver.. about 6- 8 footer would seem about right since I don't fish any where super deep. And as far as color, I want something pretty simple. I've been reading on what kinda colors the pros like in summer, and bight, hot colors seem to dominate.

I'm thinking maybe a red, or chartreuse color. Like some of these:

A

B

C

D

E

F

G


So whater y'alls favorite crank colors for the summer?

[rodnreel]

My best producing crank so far this summer, Norman Deep Lil N:



Also caught 2 decent size fish on the LC Flat CB D20:



Forgot to add, I like to add a splash of color to the bottom of my cranks. Either a solid strip or a little up toward the bill, usually orange but sometimes I'll make it chartreuse. Don't know why it matters, but the fish around here seem to like it.

[plugsandaxes]

Bassboss - of those colors I like firetiger, the blue/green back chartreuse is always hot, the fire craw and the tennessee shad. I guess it depends on your water clarity. if you're in florida I guess that answers that.

As for the bill, what depth do you fish most? sounds like a medium depth from your description. try to make it dive deep enough to knock some structure and kick up a little dirt, especially if you choose a craw color or something and if it's a floater. if it suspends then I'd probably make it more accurate with the depth you fish. good luck, man!

[BigBassin144]

I still like my more natural colors. I use bluegills, white w/ black back, sexy shad, rootbeer etc.

Very rarely do I throw a chartreuse crank, but when I do, it's chartreuse and black or chartreuse and blue.

BB

[keithdog]

I think color is probably a regional thing, and varies from lake to lake. In my lakes, I've never even had a hit on a chartruese crankbait, and yet that is a color that is VERY popular. I have better luck with more natural colors like Bigbassin mentioned., Bluegill and perch color schemes are good here, but then, that is the primary food for bass here and not shad. Crawdad colors have done well also. Now I do have a crankbait with a blue back, with a blend of silver and chartruese on the rest of it that produces on sunny days. It just kind of depends on what forage base you have in your lakes and water quality. One thing I always believe is that a lake that is always stained, you can still do ok with a natural colored crankbait. I'd want a rattle in it though. A bluegill looks like a bluegill whether it's living in a clear water lake or stained water. The bass live in that environment and are accustomed to catching pray in that environment.

[Bassboss]

OK guys, an update! I added a central balance point to the bait. I took a 1/16 oz bullet weight, and mashed it down into a narrow shape, after that I drilled the hole in the lowest point in the crankbait. Than I jammed the weight up in there real tight! I placed it in the water, and PERFECT balance point! The nose is tilted down just enough! I'll paint the bait tonight, than than get the lip and hook tomorrow if my schedule permits.

Originally Posted by keithdog

I think color is probably a regional thing, and varies from lake to lake. In my lakes, I've never even had a hit on a chartruese crankbait, and yet that is a color that is VERY popular. I have better luck with more natural colors like Bigbassin mentioned., Bluegill and perch color schemes are good here, but then, that is the primary food for bass here and not shad. Crawdad colors have done well also. Now I do have a crankbait with a blue back, with a blend of silver and chartruese on the rest of it that produces on sunny days. It just kind of depends on what forage base you have in your lakes and water quality. One thing I always believe is that a lake that is always stained, you can still do ok with a natural colored crankbait. I'd want a rattle in it though. A bluegill looks like a bluegill whether it's living in a clear water lake or stained water. The bass live in that environment and are accustomed to catching pray in that environment.

Very good point Keith!

Originally Posted by plugsandaxes

Bassboss - of those colors I like firetiger, the blue/green back chartreuse is always hot, the fire craw and the tennessee shad. I guess it depends on your water clarity. if you're in florida I guess that answers that.

As for the bill, what depth do you fish most? sounds like a medium depth from your description. try to make it dive deep enough to knock some structure and kick up a little dirt, especially if you choose a craw color or something and if it's a floater. if it suspends then I'd probably make it more accurate with the depth you fish. good luck, man!

Fire tiger is a pretty hot color here, I think I'll go with that!

Originally Posted by rodnreel

My best producing crank so far this summer, Norman Deep Lil N:

Also caught 2 decent size fish on the LC Flat CB D20:

Forgot to add, I like to add a splash of color to the bottom of my cranks. Either a solid strip or a little up toward the bill, usually orange but sometimes I'll make it chartreuse. Don't know why it matters, but the fish around here seem to like it.

Good idea, I'll ad a little bit of color the the bill, most likely some red.

[bcklash]

DUH PINK

[Bassboss]

Originally Posted by bcklash

DUH PINK

lmao! I've caught bass on pink spinnerbaits! I bet they don't see pink that often.. good idea though!

[BigBassin144]

Originally Posted by bcklash

DUH PINK

Originally Posted by Bassboss

lmao! I've caught bass on pink spinnerbaits! I bet they don't see pink that often.. good idea though!

It's called bubblegum.

BB

[Bassboss]

Originally Posted by BigBassin144

It's called bubblegum.

BB

Bubble Gum?

[Cavs1123]

Sounds cool Boss! put some pics up!

[Jim80]

How is the vegetation in the places you are fishing ? Being shore bound you might want to have the bait you are making run right above the weeds rather than just bury itself after a couple turns of the handle . I would go shallow diver but that's just me



Jim

[Bassboss]

Originally Posted by Jim80

How is the vegetation in the places you are fishing ? Being shore bound you might want to have the bait you are making run right above the weeds rather than just bury itself after a couple turns of the handle . I would go shallow diver but that's just me



Jim

Yeah, that's what I'm trying to do Jim! The water is about 15 feet deep not far off the bank (large man made canal), and the hydrilla and coon tail come grow up about 5 feet or so. Thats only in the deepest part, but I've swam around in there and most of the weeds are about 6 or 8 feet under.