There are a myriad of different lure fishing techniques that can all be very effective in the right place at the right time.
But if I had to choose my favourite type of lure to fish year-round on rivers for perch, I’d be hard-pushed not to go with a crankbait.
Traditionally known as a ‘plug’, crankbaits are one of the oldest types of lures, and there is even a chapter in Bernard Venables’ classic book Mr Crabtree Goes Fishing about how to fish them!
Here's my top five tips for using them...
GO GEARED UP
I always use a wire trace of around 15lb when targeting perch, as pike love crankbaits too. With both species in mind, make sure you always carry long-nosed pliers, a big net, and an unhooking mat.
CHECK THE BILL
Diving depth of a crankbait depends on the angle, shape, and length of the bill – the longer it is, the deeper it will dive. You want the crankbait to be fishing close to the bottom or lightly tapping it.
TRY A RATTLER
Some crankbaits have built-in rattles. I particularly like these for fishing in coloured water, or when I feel that the fish need waking up, so experiment with both rattling and non-rattling crankbaits.
SHARPEN YOUR HOOKS
Fishing crankbaits close to the bottom means hooks can easily become blunted. They can also be dulled after catching a fish, so keep a check on them, and give them a quick sharpen when needed.
COLOUR IS IMPORTANT
When choosing crankbaits, in general I prefer dull colours in clear water and bright or bold ones in muddy water, or in very low light.
