Many times crankbaits right out of the package will not run straight and true. This can be from damage that occurred during shipping or a slight defect in the bait's formation at manufacture. Several things can cause a crankbait to run off to the side left or right, or run on its side. Either way, the defect will render the crankbait either useless or not up to par. A crankbait must run straight and true to reach its maximum depth potential.
Adjusting the Line-Tie Eye
Crankbaits problems can usually be corrected by simple tuning. Tuning simply means adjusting some crankbait hardware or shaving of the diving lip. Often, the line tie-eye will be bent to one side or the other. This causes the line to pull the bait off to the side during the retrieve resulting in a crankbait that runs left or right or on its side.
Needle-nose pliers are an angler's best friend and can be the best tool for making lure adjustments. The line-tie eye should be straight up and down and not bent to the right or left of center on the face of the lure. If the line- tie eye is askew gently straighten it and put it on dead center.
Straighten The Hook Hangers
Most crankbaits have two to three hook hangers. Each one is critical to the bait running in a straight line. If the hook hanger is bent or not perfectly aligned with the body of the lure, the bait will run off course. Again, the needle-nose pliers will do the job. Be sure the hanger runs parallel to the lure's body and not bent or twisted off to the side. Bent or twisted hook hangers throw the lure off balance and will pick up debris such as moss which fouls the lure. Adjust each hook hanger. Be sure that the treble hooks move freely on the hook hanger. Often, the split rings will open slightly grabbing a part of the hook shaft.
Shaving the Plastic Diving Lip
Nearly all modern crankbaits have plastic diving lips. The diving lip extends from the front of the lure forward from 1/4 inch in extreme shallow divers to as much as five inches on ultra-deep divers. On occasion, too much plastic is applied to one side of the center of the diving lip than on the other side during the manufacturing process. This is more common than it should be, but there is a cure for this factory mistake.
Shaving a crankbait is simple and reversible if you shave too much of the lip. All you need is a pocket knife or other scraping tool. Cast the bait a short distance away and retrieve it straight back to you. If the lure leans on its side and runs off to the right that means there is more plastic on the right side of the diving lip than the left. This imbalance won't let a crankbait run true.
Use a pocket knife or small file to scrape (not cut) a slight amount of plastic off the right side of the diving lip. You may need to do this a couple of times, keep casting and scraping until the bait runs straight. If you go too far and the bait starts to run to the left, scrape a miniscule amount off the left side of the lip.
By using all of the above tips for fine-tuning crankbaits, you'll never have to be disappointed in a new crankbait again. When making any adjustments do just a little at a time and check the bait often to see if there is improvement.
Johnnie Crain - Having grown up in the Ozark Mountains of Missouri, Johnnie Crain, has had great opportunities to fish massive lakes including, Bull ...
Join the Conversation