Why Use Balsa Crankbaits When Fishing Shallow Laydowns

Laydown trees are a great shallow water fishing target, especially during the cooler water periods. Most laydowns provide bass with optimal cover, food, and ambush points. 

Balsa crankbaits are an excellent choice for fishing laydown trees, offering several advantages over other types of lures.

Buoyancy

One of the biggest advantages of balsa crankbaits is their buoyancy. Balsa is a very light wood, which makes balsa crankbaits more buoyant than plastic crankbaits. This buoyancy allows balsa crankbaits to float over cover more easily, reducing the chances of snagging.

Action

Balsa crankbaits also have a unique action that is different from plastic crankbaits. Balsa crankbaits have a softer, more subtle action that is often more appealing to bass. This is especially true in shallow water, where bass can be more wary of lures.

Sound

Balsa crankbaits also tend to be quieter than plastic crankbaits. This can be an advantage in shallow water, where bass can be more easily spooked by loud noises.

Here are a few tips for fishing balsa crankbaits for shallow laydown trees:

• Focus on casting to the edges of the laydown trees. This is where bass are most likely to be positioned.
• Don't be afraid to cast your balsa crankbait right into the laydown trees. Balsa crankbaits are very durable and can withstand a lot of abuse.
• If your balsa crankbait does snag, release the tension on the line and allow the buoyancy of the bait to float it free. 

Bass pro Seth Feider loves fishing balsa crankbaits when probing shallow cover like laydowns and submerged trees. Take a few minutes and watch as he provides an on the water demonstration and discussion listing several tips when fishing shallow wood with balsa crankbaits…

Using Squarebill Crankbaits to Catch Fall Bass

Even though air and water temperatures cool quickly, bass fishing starts to heat up in the fall. These changes trigger bass to start aggressively feeding up for winter and will strike reaction baits worked around their prime fall haunts. 

One of the best lures to use during this transitional season is a squarebill crankbait. 

Here's how to use this effective lure to catch more fall bass:

Choose Your Squarebill: Squarebill crankbaits feature a square lip that gives them an erratic darting action ideal for triggering reaction bites. Pick a model that dives down to 2-8 feet to target bass relating to cover and structure. Standard squarebills are about 2 inches long, but going bigger with a 2.5-3 inch version can be even more effective on big fall bass. Opt for shad, perch or crawfish patterns in natural colors to match local forage.

Target Shallow Cover: Focus your squarebill retrieves around shallow cover that bass are using as ambush points to attack prey. Target areas with cover types like laydowns, rocks, stumps, dock pilings, and grass edges in depths from 2 to 8 feet. The squarebill's wobbling action will grab the attention of bass hiding around shallow cover.

Work the Crankbait Properly: It's essential that you work the squarebill crankbait at the right speed and retrieve cadence to trigger aggressive strikes. Use a medium-fast 6.3:1 reel and keep the rod tip down for maximum diving depth. Crank the lure as fast as you can while still bouncing off cover and keeping it near the bottom. Try using a stop and go retrieve to make the bait kick off to the side and dart erratically.

Experiment with Different Retrieves: One of the best things about a squarebill is you can vary your retrieve to appeal to how active the bass are. Burn it steadily back on a straight line for aggressive fish. Kill the lure and let it float up when the crankbait hits something for a deadstick pause. Pop your rod tip during the retrieve to make the bait slash and dance. Experiment until you find what triggers the bass that day.

Take a few minutes and watch as the folks from Lurenet demonstrate some of the finer points for catching fall bass around shallow cover with a squarebill...

Small Crankbaits Can Trigger Big Fall Bass Strikes

No bass angler questions the effectiveness of crankbaits to cover water and trigger fall bass into striking. If you look at the rods rigged on the decks of fall anglers, you're likely to find a variety of squarebill, flat-sided and sometimes even deep running crankbaits among the mix.

But there's one type/style of crankbaits many bass anglers leave out of their fall arsenal; the micro to small sized baits that offer many different advantages over traditional crankbaits especially in highly pressured situations.

Take a moment and listen as Bassmaster Elite Series pro John Crews spills the beans on his approach when fishing small crankbaits for big fall bass...

And by the way, John Crews isn't the only fan of ultra small crankbaits. 

Bass fishing OG Rick Clunn has been a propenent of micro-sized crankbaits dating back several decades including in some of his early career tournament success!

Tips for Fishing Crankbaits During Fall

As the fall period progresses, bass and other gamefish go through many transitions as they prepare for the upcoming winter…

For the most part there is one main thing driving the actions of bass through the fall; feeding in preparation for a long, lethargic cold water conditions that lie ahead!

As most bass anglers realize, the two most common menu items available to bass across the country… either baitfish such as shad, perch & shiners or the bottom dwelling crayfish!

One type of lure designed to mimic both of these forage types … the crankbait!

Take a moment and listen to crankbait fishing expert, David Fritts explain his thoughts on fishing crankbaits during this highly transitional period…

Great tips from a crankbait fishing guru!

Cranking Shallow Pockets in the Fall

As bass follow baitfish like shad around throughout the fall, there are many days bass will chase and corral baitfish at the backs of small pockets and coves…

Crankbaits, especially shallow-running squarebill crankbaits are a great tool for rooting out these bait-chasing bass cruising the pockets and coves in search of their prey…

Take a moment and listen to what Bass Pro Stephen Browning has to say about his approach to cranking shallow pockets in the fall…

As the bass chase baitfish into the backs of coves and pockets, is there really any better bait to throw other than a crankbait?

I think not