The Baits

• There are three parts to crankbaits: a body shaped like a fish, a plastic bill that extends off the head of the bait and allows it to dive, and two or three treble hooks on the bottom and back of the bait. The bill is the key feature because it determines the action of the bait. Crankbaits with long bills dive deeper than those with short bills, and crankbaits with wide bills have more side-to-side wobbling action than those with slim bills.
  
  

Casting

• Casting and retrieving crankbaits is one way to make them dive. They can be cast at specific targets, or cranked along drop-offs or weed lines in search of schools of active fish. Long fishing rods will help you maximize casting distance of crankbaits, though it is important to use a limber rod. These rods have more give than stout rods, and make it less likely that fish will come unhooked.
  
  

Trolling

• Trolling crankbaits behind a boat is a favorite method of anglers who want to cover a lot of water and find fish. As a result, it is particularly effective when you are on a lake or river that you have never fished before. Troll along drop-offs, weed lines and the edges of reefs and humps, and choose a crankbait that will run right along the bottom. Before you begin a trolling run, let a little bit of line out and troll with the crankbait right next to the boat. Determine how fast you can go before the bait starts tracking to one side or the other. When trolling, you want the bait to track straight ahead.
  
  

Speed Up or Slow Down

• Casting and reeling a crankbait straight back to the boat or trolling at a consistent speed will provoke bites from predator fish. You can increase the odds of a strike by forcing the crankbait to run erratically. Speed is one of the best triggers. As you are casting or trolling, sweep your rod tip forward, which will cause the bait to move forward quickly. That could provoke a strike from a fish that believes its meal is about to get away. Another method is to stop reeling or trolling for a moment. This will cause the crankbait to stop moving and float upward. Again, that erratic movement could generate a strike.