Gear

5 Elites pick their go-to crankbaits

Elite Series pros reveal the crankbaits that consistently put bass in their livewells.

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<p>Every Bassmaster Elite Series pro has several tackle boxes stuffed with crankbaits to cover a wide variety of fishing situations. Here, five Elite pros reveal the crankbaits that consistently put bass in their livewells.</p>
Every Bassmaster Elite Series pro has several tackle boxes stuffed with crankbaits to cover a wide variety of fishing situations. Here, five Elite pros reveal the crankbaits that consistently put bass in their livewells.
<p>California's Chris Zaldain stays in touch with bass with Strike King’s Series 6XD, KVD 1.5 and the KVD 1.0.</p>
California’s Chris Zaldain stays in touch with bass with Strike King’s Series 6XD, KVD 1.5 and the KVD 1.0.
<p>“Cranking the KVD 1.5 is like motoring in 4-wheel drive,” Zaldain says. “I throw it into the nastiest cover on 15-pound Seaugar Tatsu fluorocarbon. It’s an excellent search tool.</p>
“Cranking the KVD 1.5 is like motoring in 4-wheel drive,” Zaldain says. “I throw it into the nastiest cover on 15-pound Seaugar Tatsu fluorocarbon. It’s an excellent search tool.
<p>Zaldain dotes on Strike King’s deep diving 6XD in the Citrus Shad color. “It has accounted for more wins than any other deep crankbait,” Zaldain claims. He fishes it on 12-pound Seaguar InvizX fluorocarbon.</p>
Zaldain dotes on Strike King’s deep diving 6XD in the Citrus Shad color. “It has accounted for more wins than any other deep crankbait,” Zaldain claims. He fishes it on 12-pound Seaguar InvizX fluorocarbon.
<p>When bass are keying on small baitfish, or have been hammered by fishing pressure, Zaldain coaxes strikes with Strike King’s little KVD 1.0.</p>
When bass are keying on small baitfish, or have been hammered by fishing pressure, Zaldain coaxes strikes with Strike King’s little KVD 1.0.
<p>Rapala crankbaits do the heavy lifting for Davy Hite. Three of his most reliable models are the DT-6, DT-10 and the new Scatter Rap.</p>
Rapala crankbaits do the heavy lifting for Davy Hite. Three of his most reliable models are the DT-6, DT-10 and the new Scatter Rap.
<p>“The DT-10 in Pearl Gray Shiner is the Rapala crankbait I use the most,” Hite says. “I do a lot of cranking in 7 to 10 feet of water. This bait catches bass all over the country.”</p>
“The DT-10 in Pearl Gray Shiner is the Rapala crankbait I use the most,” Hite says. “I do a lot of cranking in 7 to 10 feet of water. This bait catches bass all over the country.”
<p>“The DT 6 runs 4 to 6 feet deep and comes over rocks, wood and even through the top of submerged grass,” Hite says. “The Olive Green Craw color is a good one."</p>
“The DT 6 runs 4 to 6 feet deep and comes over rocks, wood and even through the top of submerged grass,” Hite says. “The Olive Green Craw color is a good one.”
<p>“The Scatter Rap is my new deal,” Hite says. “It has a No. 7 Shad Rap body with a Scatter bill. It still has the traditional tight wobble of a Shad Rap, but it throws in an erratic darting action. It’s a great clear-water bait."</p>
“The Scatter Rap is my new deal,” Hite says. “It has a No. 7 Shad Rap body with a Scatter bill. It still has the traditional tight wobble of a Shad Rap, but it throws in an erratic darting action. It’s a great clear-water bait.”
<p>Bradley Roy fishes proven crankbaits from several different companies. Three of his most dependable are Spro’s Little John, the 6A Bomber and Norman’s Deep Little N.</p>
Bradley Roy fishes proven crankbaits from several different companies. Three of his most dependable are Spro’s Little John, the 6A Bomber and Norman’s Deep Little N.
<p>“The square billed Little John gets down 2 to 4 feet,” says Roy. “It’s great around any kind of shallow cover. The Nasty Shad color catches bass in clear and stained water.” Roy casts the Little John on 15-pound Trilene 100% Fluorcarbon line.</p>
“The square billed Little John gets down 2 to 4 feet,” says Roy. “It’s great around any kind of shallow cover. The Nasty Shad color catches bass in clear and stained water.” Roy casts the Little John on 15-pound Trilene 100% Fluorcarbon line.
<p>Norman’s vintage Deep Little N in the Smokey Shad color hasn’t lost any of its bass appeal, Roy claims. “It’s one of my favorites,” he says. “It has a tight wobble and runs 10 to 12 feet deep.”</p>
Norman’s vintage Deep Little N in the Smokey Shad color hasn’t lost any of its bass appeal, Roy claims. “It’s one of my favorites,” he says. “It has a tight wobble and runs 10 to 12 feet deep.”
<p>The 6A Bomber in Firetiger is another vintage cranker that keeps on truckin’ for Roy. “That’s my dirty water crankbait,” he says. “That bright chartreuse color is easier for the bass to find.”</p>
The 6A Bomber in Firetiger is another vintage cranker that keeps on truckin’ for Roy. “That’s my dirty water crankbait,” he says. “That bright chartreuse color is easier for the bass to find.”
<p>Ott DeFoe is keen on Rapala’s Crankin’ Rap 03 and DT-6, and Storm’s new Arashi 3.</p>
Ott DeFoe is keen on Rapala’s Crankin’ Rap 03 and DT-6, and Storm’s new Arashi 3.
<p>“Most square bill crankbaits have a wide wobble,” DeFoe says. “The Rapala Crankin’ Rap 03 is a tight-wiggling square bill. It comes through cover really well and shows bass a different action.” DeFoe fishes all square billed crankbaits on Berkley Trilene 100% Fluorcoarbon line. </p>
“Most square bill crankbaits have a wide wobble,” DeFoe says. “The Rapala Crankin’ Rap 03 is a tight-wiggling square bill. It comes through cover really well and shows bass a different action.” DeFoe fishes all square billed crankbaits on Berkley Trilene 100% Fluorcoarbon line. 
<p>“The Rapala DT-6 is just a good all-around medium diving crankbait,” DeFoe says. “It runs 5 to 7 feet deep and catches bass in water 45 degrees and up. It runs true even when you burn it.” Berkley Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon in 10-pound test is DeFoe’s match for the DT-6.</p>
“The Rapala DT-6 is just a good all-around medium diving crankbait,” DeFoe says. “It runs 5 to 7 feet deep and catches bass in water 45 degrees and up. It runs true even when you burn it.” Berkley Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon in 10-pound test is DeFoe’s match for the DT-6.
<p>“The new Storm Arashi has a tough circuit board lip that automatically tunes itself,” DeFoe says. “It’s a silent bait, and it’s heavy so it casts really well.”</p>
“The new Storm Arashi has a tough circuit board lip that automatically tunes itself,” DeFoe says. “It’s a silent bait, and it’s heavy so it casts really well.”
<p>Kevin “Pink” Short has won three Bassmaster tournaments on a balsa WEC1 square bill crankbait made by Ed Chambers, president of Zoom Lures. His three favorite crankbaits are the WEC1, the WEC1 and the WEC1.</p>
Kevin “Pink” Short has won three Bassmaster tournaments on a balsa WEC1 square bill crankbait made by Ed Chambers, president of Zoom Lures. His three favorite crankbaits are the WEC1, the WEC1 and the WEC1.
<p>The Tennessee Shad WEC1 is the crankbait Short ties on when he’s cranking in clear or tannic colored water.</p>
The Tennessee Shad WEC1 is the crankbait Short ties on when he’s cranking in clear or tannic colored water.
<p>The Bull Bream color WEC1 draws strikes for Short in stained water and when bass are feeding on bluegills.</p>
The Bull Bream color WEC1 draws strikes for Short in stained water and when bass are feeding on bluegills.
<p>In dirty water, Short puts the hurt on bass with a chartreuse and black back WEC1.</p>
In dirty water, Short puts the hurt on bass with a chartreuse and black back WEC1.

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