A jerkbait typically comes to mind when considering prespawn smallmouth bass fishing, but subtle flatsided crankbaits are a unique alternative. Wired2fish's Kyle Peterson provides an indepth look at crankbaits' use when targeting smallmouth bass on rocky dropoffs and flats adjacent to their spawning grounds. Peterson details the unique benefits of a crankbait, key locations and conditions, and his preferred gear for the technique.

FEATURED TACKLE (retail links)
• CRANKBAIT Rapala OG Deep Tiny 7: Buy at Bass Pro Shops https://bassproshops.vzck.net/5gd3V1 | Buy at Tackle Warehouse https://bit.ly/3x4Cg6Z
• ROD 13 Fishing Meta Casting Rod, 7'3'' Medium Heavy Extra Fast: Buy at Bass Pro Shops https://bassproshops.vzck.net/Qy4z4z | Buy at Tackle Warehouse https://bit.ly/3uI4689
• REEL 13 Fishing Inception G2 Casting Reel, 7.3:1: Buy at Bass Pro Shops https://bassproshops.vzck.net/k0k7e3 | Buy at Tackle Warehouse https://bit.ly/47BXCpD
• LINE Sufix Advance Fluorocarbon, 12pound: Buy at Bass Pro Shops bassproshops.vzck.net/ZQrJn1 | Buy at Tackle Warehouse https://bit.ly/3s5w6RK

WHY USE A FLATSIDED CRANKBAIT
Peterson starts by showcasing the Rapala OG Deep Tiny crankbait, emphasizing its slower rise compared to beefier roundbodied balsa crankbaits such as squarebills. This feature allows anglers to pause the bait effectively, keeping it in the strike zone longer, similar to a suspending jerkbait. Add a few Suspend Strips to make it suspend or even slow sink. So why a crankbait over a jerkbait? A crankbait can effectively mimic a crawfish when fished across the bottom or baitfish when fished up. It's a singlelure solution to bass feeding down or up; adjust your rod angle, retrieve speed, or switch to a shallower diving model based on what the fish want.

TACTICAL APPROACH TO STRUCTURE
Peterson uses this technique on glacial lakes with abundant rock and bottom transition zones. Key locations include structures with bottoms primarily comprised of rock and gravel. Main lake humps, shoreline breaks, points, and expansive flats are all likely spots. On this day, Peterson located the largest concentrations of bass on the steep edges adjacent to main lake structures. Dense prespawn concentrations like this are gold, as the bass tend to get competitive and eat.

Peterson concludes with intriguing insights into the adaptability of smallmouth bass and how changing up tactics with a crankbait can yield impressive results, especially when traditional lures like jerkbaits become less effective. As with any bait, overuse leads to bass conditioning. This video is a mustwatch for anyone looking to add a practical and underutilized tactic to their arsenal.

BOAT SETUP
• BOAT Lund 1875 ProV Bass XS Bass Boat: Check out at Lund Boats https://wired2.fish/1875ProVBassBoat
• MOTOR Mercury Pro XS Outboard, 200hp: Check out at Mercury Marine https://rb.gy/ycd6r
• SHALLOW WATER ANCHOR PowerPole Blade 2.0 Shallow Water Anchor: Buy at Bass pro Shops https://bassproshops.vzck.net/an2Qeq
• TROLLING MOTOR Garmin Force Trolling Motor: Bass Pro Shops http://bassproshops.vzck.net/Aoq3X7 | Buy at Tackle Warehouse https://wired2.fish/3vGdiXo
• FISH FINDER Garmin ECHOMAP™ Ultra 126sv: Buy at Tackle Warehouse https://bit.ly/4436vpC | Buy at Bass Pro Shops https://bassproshops.vzck.net/JzVX6a
• FORWARDFACING SONAR Panoptix LiveScope™ Plus System w/ GLS10 & LVS34 Transducer: Buy at Tackle Warehouse https://bit.ly/3Yr2x98 | Buy at Bass Pro Shops https://bassproshops.vzck.net/x905Dv

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