I have been trying to up my crank bait game lately and have some questions. Normally when I get around heavy structure (timber and vegetation especially) I throw jigs/t-rigs and anything else I can make weed less. I see a lot of guys cranking these areas and I'm trying to figure out how you don't get hung up. I spend more time trying to unhook myself and scaring the fish away than I do actual fishing.

Any tips? I love cranking rocks but timber and vegetation has me stumped (pun intended)

Thanks

B

Sensitive rod, and really pay attention. You will learn to be able to feel when your line is over a limb and you just have to slow down and crawl the crankbait through it, or let it float up a bit to clear it. You will still get hung up a lot, but it will happen less as you get better

And for what its worth, I have caught some of my biggest fish (including two 10s) immediately after a CB has popped free of whatever I was hung on (twice rocks, rest timber). I get a little tickle every time it gets hung now.

Feel line contact then pull with the rod and take up slack while moving the rod back toward the lure repeatedly until it clears (or doesn't). Get one of the collapsable snag poles for the stubborn ones.

all of the above. Also invest in a Hortons money pole or something like it. Maybe even make your own. when you are fishing timber, don't set the hook when the lure stops....only set the hook when you feel the bounce of the fish. It is definitely different and you will have to learn it.
Biggest thing about cranking in timber is "where" in timber you throw it. General rules of thumb guide me. Channel swings, humps, points, etc....

If you want to learn the differences in a bit and a snag/stump/branch, take the hooks off and fish it. You will quickly learn the differences in the feel without the issue of snagging a branch with hooks.

I love throwing cranks in the timber!
In this video you pay attention to the tip of the rod and how I reel when I come in contact with the trees.
There is also a way of getting your bait unstuck by disengaging the reel, pull on the line and letting it snap back.

When the rod LOADS up, and gets heavier to reel, you are probably over a limb or stump, if on bottom. I throw a CB where some would not throw a jig/t-rig, but I am a nut. I worry about getting the bite, THEN worry about getting them out. Yes, I do get hump up quite a bit, but I use the bow and arrow method, pocket rock and even an extendable pole to get the lures back. If you do not set the hook, many time the lure will float up and over the limb, but that defeats the purpose of throwing it there in the first place. Hope this helps. Tight lines, keep safe and good luck.

Thad Rains

Nice video James.

I was on fork one night in the summer. Was fishing a stump filled point and moving slow with a big jig and or Carolina rig. It was thick. I felt the line get heavy like it was on a stick or grass so I reeled really slow in case it was a fish. It just felt mushy so I was really getting ready to set hook. As I pulled the Carolina rig up it had a giant crawfish on my line. I pulled it n the boat and marveled at it because of its size and it was the first one I had ever seen that was so red and green. So... I grabbed a crawfish deep diver and though I hadn't caught much I proceeded to slay them. I figured out real quick what was a stump and what was a fish and the action was so fast that I actually had fish attack the bait when it stuck on a tree and rip it loose. Crank baits in timber was something I didn't understand, but now I consider cb the tool for the job in timber. Don't be intimidated keep chunking!

Thanks for all the tips. Seems like I need to just put in some time and get the hang of it.

Honestly I think that's the right mindset. I HATED fishing dense cover for years - I didn't understand that getting hung was part of it, regardless of how good you are. Now I'll throw anything in the nasty stuff.

One of the things that helped me with cranking heavy cover was throwing a spinnerbait thru the same stuff. That way you get an idea of how a moving bait should feel when moving thru trees. You can learn how it feels when your line is over a branch or when your bait is about to make contact with a stick.

Over time you'll learn to finesse a bait thru the trees, there really is no way to learn it other than putting in the time. Go to academy and buy a bunch of $3 cranks so the sting isn't so bad and go to town.

The bait manufacturers must be creaming their jeans to hear we will throw into the junk!

Best tip i can give is to not be afraid to lose a bait. Yeah it sucks losing a custom the first day you go and try it out but thats just part of the game. When throwing into vegetation don't jerk into structure...slowly crank and when you feel the slightest pull stop and allow the bait to float back up. usually a strike is near by. Like stated above practice practice practice.....

Cover not structure.

Best way to learn for me was finding vertical limbs to learn, stuff it came through more naturally like mesquite trees as you develope feel. Squaw Creek is great for this and so rewarding it really builds confidence in a new technique. The hardestpart of learning new techniques is often producing of course.

All the wisdom above is good..Love bouncing stumps..Some cranks are better,of course square bills,Coffin bills, And a unusual one..Grappler shads that are two part..They have a tendency to work around the cover when contact is made....

One thing I will do is pull the bait thru the brush, wood, instead of reel it..slow with hand on line..Feel is very important..

The best advice on crankin in wood is, what was said earlier, worry about getting bit, not getting stuck..They bitem cause few have the stones to throw em in there..