A crankbait is a type of fishing lure that mimics a baitfish or crawfish and is designed to attract predatory fish species. It is a hard-bodied lure that has a plastic lip that allows it to dive underwater when it is reeled in. The length and angle of the plastic lip determine the depth that the bait can reach, with longer, less-angled lips diving deeper than short, sharp-angled lips. Crankbaits are grouped into four basic categories: squarebill/shallow diving (0’-8’), medium diving (8’-12’), deep diving (12’+), and lipless (varies) . The lipless crankbait is one of the most versatile lures because it can be fished at any depth.
Crankbaits are fish-catching machines because they can effectively cover water, and they are great lures for targeting largemouth bass. The user can control how deep they dive into the water, and they often have bright and sometimes unnatural colors to make them easier to see. Choosing the right color is important, and anglers use crank baiting rods and reels developed explicitly for cranking.
