Northwest Fishing Reports

What crankbaits do you guys use for Lake Washington? I've thrown different patterns and depths and come up empty handed. Any hints would be most appreciated.

I think the cranks would not change if you fish them in lake washington oder in another lake.
regards
Merit

Anything perch will work, crawfish are also a producer. What have you tried so far? I really like x-raps and suspending jerk baits.

I'm not much of a crank guy, but I've caught bass in lk WA on a shad/silver pattern lipless crank, a firetiger bomber A shallow runner, jointed perch rapala, LC pointer...
Got a few hits on a perch x-rap and others as well.
They do work!

I've used crayfish and fire tiger patterns from bagley and strike king. I've also used silver patterns with a purple back from some local company here. And I've used perch pattern husky jerks. I must not be using them in the right areas or wrong depths, are you scraping the bottom for rocks? What was discouraging I tried using them in the prespawn and spawn and didn't get a strike.

Yeah, rocks and docks. If you can retrieve it next to a metal piling so that it bounces off it on the way in, that can be deadly. And I've found that a slow, or slow and spastic retrieve works best. It's tough to find areas where weeds aren't an issue though. And I feel your frustration, I have definitely had days this year where cranks just don't work. That's when I put the jig on. :bounce:

I like using the shallow runners over riprap so they dont get caught up in it but run near the top of the rocks. Jerkbaits for calling them from the depths. I've not really put together any sort of pattern on the lipless cranks however.

crawfish, perch, and sometimes shad/minnow colors work good. almost all medium-deep diving cranks work, my personal favorites are jointed shapraps and hot lips. and if you are getting to much weeds on your crank either A.) go shallower or B.) put on a spinnerbait.

Yup craw patterns for those smallies. You probably just arent locating the fish because they will hit just about any pattern right now.

Thanks everyone for the tips. This is an awsome website!

Had some luck with a firetiger colored rat-l-trap as well as tennesse shad lucky craft pointer

Fire Tiger with bleeding front hook!!!!! (Norman little lures)

somewhat on topic- how do u guys use lipless cranks on WA?

I usually throw lipless crankbaits in the prespawn on warm windy days, I've just never had any luck on Lake Washington. I've tried crayfish, firetiger, and the traditional chrome with blueback patterns and caught NUTHIN here.

Perch and Shad Rapala crankbaits are the way to go. I would go with the perch crankbait tho.