Using Crankbaits for Bluegill, Crappie and Other Panfish

While crankbaits may not be a traditional choice for fishing for bluegill, crappie, and other panfish, crankbaits will catch these fish. In fact, at times crankbaits will out perform virtually all other lures and even baits in catching large numbers of panfish quickly. Crankbaits are a great choice on new waters as they can be fished quickly to cover a lot of ground in little time. Here are some tips and advice that anglers can use to catch panfish with crankbaits.

Go Small

Crankbaits used for panfish need to be small. In most areas, lures of ¼ ounce or less are probably best, but anglers should adjust size to match their local fish and choice of fishing waters. Carrying an assortment of small crankbaits in a tackle box is always a good idea to be able to adjust to various fishing conditions. Even smaller crankbaits may have large hooks on them, replacing the hooks with smaller ones may be necessary to reduce misses.

Use Different Patterns

Minnow patterns are probably the most common crankbaits used for panfish, but crankbaits in crayfish and other patterns will work as well. Just as with size, anglers should present the pattern that is most realistic for the area they are fishing. When possible, try to observe the natural prey in the water and choose lures that match.

Gear

Light gear is best as the crankbaits that will be cast for panfish are small. Stiff rods and heavy reels will make detecting bites and casting accurate difficult. Light action rods and reels spooled with 4 pound test are close to ideal for most panfish. Of course, hooking into a largemouth, walleye or other larger fish is always a possibility. Anglers fishing in areas where large game fish are commonly encountered may want to use slightly heavier tackle to help with landing bigger fish.

Using the Crankbait

It is very difficult to fish a crankbait "wrong." Crankbaits can be fished with a steady retrieve at different speeds, with stops and starts, while twitching to each side, and about any other way that a fisherman or fisherwoman can come up with to use. Of course, crankbaits are typically most effective when presented near cover or other areas where prey fish are naturally present. Crankbaits should be fished both shallow and deep to find to fish when hitting a new area.