Entry 40-4
Chad Brauer's Unique Fishing Techniques
The Key To Crankbait Fishing
Editor's Note: Thirty-year-old Chad Brauer of Osage Beach, Missouri, doesn't know what life without bass fishing would be like. He grew up in the shadow of his father, professional bass fisherman Denny Brauer. But Chad has begun to cast his own shadow in the world of bass fishing. He is one of the most-respected young fishermen on the tournament circuit trail and is definitely part of the future of bass fishing.
Question: Do you have another unusual bass-fishing technique?
Brauer: I've heard of other guys occasionally using this tactic, but I tend to use it pretty often. What I feel is the key to crankbait fishing is getting a crankbait that will go the correct depth where I feel the fish hold. Often, I'll use a crankbait that is geared to go much deeper than where AI think the bass are holding. But rather than cranking that thing along the bottom, I will up-size my line and hope the bait floats and will kind of interfere with its diving capabilities I guess.
I try to fish in 4 feet of water. Traditionally, most guys use a lure that dives to 4 or 5 feet. I will tie on a crankbait, like a Strike King Series 4, which is designed to dive 8 feet rather than tying it on a 12-pound line like a lot of people will. I'll tie it on a 25-pound line. In that situation of course, I would want the water to be dirty enough to allow for that. It will give the bass a different profile bait and something they don't see very often. It'll still go to that same depth, but since you have up-sized the line, the line will keep the lure from diving to its potential, and it will work in the correct depth that you want it to.
Contents:
- Part 1: Chad Brauer's Odd Tournament Tactics
- Part 2: Brauer's Unusual Grass-Fishing Technique
- Part 3: Brauer's Fall Shallow-Water Tactics
- Part 4: The Key To Crankbait Fishing
- Part 5: Brauer's Method For Fun Fishing
