04 Lures / Hard Baits / Crankbait
02 · Crankbait
Crankbait
クランクベイト · Also called Pangzi (“fatty”), Crank
A short, chunky hard bait with a wide lip. It dives as soon as you reel and has a strong wobble; the longer the lip, the deeper it runs. Most float and rise on the pause.
Typical depth
0.3–6m
Typical weight
5–30 g
Typical size
4–8 cm
Beginner-friendly
●●●●●
Snag resistance
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Depth zone
Mid · Bottom
Square bills run 0.3–1.5 m, medium divers 1.5–3 m, deep divers 3–6 m or more.
AMotion
Action Demo
FIG.1Crankbait · Stop & GoCrank · crank · crank · stop · crank · crank
BHow it works
How It Works
- The lip keeps digging into the water, so on the retrieve the bait wobbles down in an arc, then swims level once it reaches its max depth.
- What affects actual depth: lip length and angle, line diameter (thinner line runs deeper), cast distance (longer casts give it room to dive), and rod tip position (lower is deeper).
- The wide lip hits rocks, branches and other cover before the hooks do, so the bait flips, bounces off and keeps swimming. This “deflection” is key to triggering strikes, and it also makes the bait snag less than it looks like it would.
Main Types
| Type | Notes |
|---|---|
| Square bill | A squared-off lip that runs shallow, deflects hard off cover and rarely gets stuck; great around shallow wood and rock piles. |
| Medium / deep diver (MR / DR) | A long lip for slopes, deep flats and offshore structure. Deep divers are very sensitive to line diameter and cast distance. |
| Flat side | Flat-sided body with a tight, subtle wobble; good in cold water and clear water. |
CRetrieve
Techniques
- A steady retrieve is the main method; keep the bait bumping the bottom or cover.
- After bumping cover, pause briefly so a floating crank backs up and away, then keep reeling.
- Pause or speed up mid-retrieve to change the rhythm.
DWhen & Where
When & Where
● Good for
- Fish are fairly active and you need to cover a lot of water fast
- Hard structure like rocky banks, gravel slopes, fallen trees and dock pilings
- Overcast, windy, slightly stained water (wide-wobbling baits stand out more)
- Transitional periods in spring and fall
○ Not ideal for
- Thick weeds (the lip fouls on weeds and needs frequent cleaning)
ETackle
Recommended Tackle
FTarget & Tips
Target Species & Tips
- A softer-action rod delays your hookset, gives the trebles more time to get in, and cushions the fight so fewer fish come off.
- When a fish bites, keep reeling and sweep the rod sideways; you don't need the hard hookset used with single-hook plastics.
- If the bait runs off to one side, use needle-nose pliers to bend the line tie (eye) slightly the other way to tune it.