CRANKBAITS FOR FALL FISH 
By Bob Jensen

In many lakes and rivers throughout the Midwest, fish of all types go on a big bite in the autumn months. These fish can be caught by employing a variety of lure types. If the fish are pinpointed in a certain area, a jig, live-bait rig, or slip-bobber set-up might be most productive. However, much of the time in the fall it works well to cover water to locate the fish, and perhaps the best lure type for covering water is a crankbait of some sort. Crankbaits come in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes, and can be cast or trolled. Following are some ideas to keep in mind when using crankbaits for fish in the fall.

First off, it usually works well to use longer, thinner crankbaits for walleyes and northern pike, and shorter, fatter cranks for largemouth bass. That is just a suggestion for a starting point. Sometimes walleyes will take a short, fat bait, and sometimes bass will take long thin baits. But in the fall, start with the idea of short, fat baits for bass and long, thin baits for walleyes.

The deep weedline is a great place to catch largemouth bass this time of year. Look for points, pockets, or any irregularity in the weedline. Cast a crankbait around the suspected fish holding area. Some days the fish will be over the tops of the weeds, other days they will be working the edges. A Frenzy Medium Diver has been very good the past couple of years in this situation.

On some bodies of water this time of year, walleyes will be chasing cisco and whitefish. Trolling medium diving Frenzy Minnows through and around the suspended schools of cisco and whitefish will be productive.

On other bodies of water, the walleyes will be feeding on perch. When that is the situation, try trolling baits along the weedline or over flats. Casting cranks to windblown points can also be productive.

Color can often be a very important consideration. Firetiger is a good place to start, but don't forget about perch, chrome/blue, or chrome/black. There should be a different color on every line until the best color is determined.

Speed is another important detail. The Humminbird Legend 3000 sonar unit that is gaining favor among anglers has a built-in speed indicator that will reveal what speed you are traveling at. When a fish hits, note the speed and duplicate it as closely as possible.

Crankbaits are a great way to locate fish, and they are a proven producer of trophy fish. In fact, most expert walleye anglers reach for a crankbait first when they are on big fish water. Regardless of what specie of fish you're after, crankbaits will help you catch bigger ones right now.