need some help with crankbaits..

[sirslurpee]

So I spent some money on a couple of XR8s (gold and silver) and shad raps (white/w red lip and hooks and perch) and I've got some others.. I think a HJ5 and a couple of floating 3's.. I got a countdown 3 too.. Now I've got all this tackle, I'm not really 100% sure on how to catch fish on it. Any tips on retrieves or what to look for to fish these things?

[42vj42]

The xraps, husky's and floating rapalas will give you a ton of options and versatility. On any given day you'll have to let the fish tell you what they're looking for. The X's and husky's will suspend, so you can crank them down to the depth you want and pause them there. I always start with a straight steady retrieve, then same only faster, then try stop and go, and then get into aggressive jerks and twitches. With these baits, the most aggressive action will come from putting a little slack in your line and then snapping the slack to impart action in the bait. I would suggest finding some clear water and taking some time to see what each bait is doing. You can really make the xraps dance. The huskies are more subtle, but I love them.

The original floater can be fished a million ways. Everything from above can be done, plus with a high rod tip, they can almost go as a topwater also. Good luck, you'll get a lot of miles out of these bait.

[mattm]

I like fishing floaters at evening when bass are rising, retrieve for a second or two then let it sit on the surface for a few more and give it a jerk once in a while, Ive caught lots of pike and bass this way.

[FishermanJohn]

Rapalas catch everything! A straight retrieve or a start-stop retrieve are what I usually use, and have produced some nice 'eyes. I just got a few X-Raps myself, so I haven't figured them quite out yet. I've hit a few bass with them by cranking them down and then pause then a couple twitches, then pause again before I reel it in some more. The action on them looks really cool.

[BassFisher91]

Ahh, crankbaits, my favorite. Fishing them on dropoffs work for me probably the best. And a stop-and-go retrieve nevers fails me!

[Flash]

My success has come from original floaters with a cast, side jerk with the tip low (near the water surface), then retreive 3-4 handle turns, side jerk (twitch) 2 times, retrieve, jerk, retreive, jerk etc.

As mentioned elsewhere, each day is another lesson in tactics.