crank bait?

[Splinter]

how do u use a crank bait the correct way? ???

[WoodChuck]

 ;D   :o  WOW ??  now you asked one heck of a question there ! and it is going to be a hard one to answer ??  with a solid bait or a jointed , i like to use a fast snap to hookup to my line. and as far as trolling with a crank bait i will usually start by a slow retrieve .and with trollin add a weight to take it to deeper depths as need to "get in the fish zone " . the best way though to start is to pull the bait through the water at dock or boat side to see how the action is for each bait as each is differant. so your question is still a hard one to answer ??   :-\

                         woodchuck

[eelpout]

There's a correct way?  I rarely find 2 days in a row where the same presentation and retrieval works. 

[eelpout]

I just noticed this is in ice fishing, so are you talking jigging rap or chubby darter style?  The way I learned to jig them was with using an underwater camera and then just trial and error.  If you don't have a camera, find a nice clear lake and a dark fish house and drop the lure down deep enough where you have a good field of view, but can still see it clear and jig with it that way. 
Spear holes and bath tubs make excellent practice areas for learning how to use new jigs. 

[Woody]

He was referring to softwater fishing and mistakingly put it in the Ice fishing section.  I know this because Splinter is my son.  And we discussed this the other night. Neither of us truely know how to fish with crankbaits.  I don't know if I could feel the difference between it dragging in weeds or a sharp bite.  (I'm kinda slow-bare with me) 

Good question buddy-this'll get them all thinking! 

[buckrub]

YOU CRANK IT HARD!    NO SERIOUSLY THE CRANKBAIT COMES IN SO MANY DIFFERNT TYPES AND STYLES. IT IS ONE OF THE MOST UNIVERSAL BAITS OUT THERE. ONCE YOU CAST IT OUT, YOU CAN STEADY RETRIEVE IT, FAST OR SLOW, TWITCH IT, TROLL WITH IT. IT ALL DEPENDS ON A LOT OF THINGS. JUST EXPERIMENT AS FISH,ONCE YOU CATCH A FISH TRY DUPLICATING THE SAME THING.   THERES NO REAL ANSWER, JUST ENJOY THE TIME OUT ON THE WATER.

[CentralFishingClub]

 Do what you feel comfortable with, it is the very best way to do anything.   And you usually have fun.
   Confidence is the key!!

[The_new_guy]

I do a variety of things the best I found for me is to reel a bit then give your pole a rip and then give the line back to the bait for a sec or two then continue to reel and repeat!  But how ever EVERY crank bait has different running depths and actions. the best thing to do is trial and error!!!