Maximizing Crankbait Catches

If your bait is designed to run dead straight, it needs to run dead straight. If its out of tune and you’re fishing it you are wasting your time. I can tell you with 100% assurance – tuned cranks – ones that run straight, catch a lot more fish. Also once tuned doesn’t mean always tuned. Normal fishing usage and especially un-snaging lures can move the line tie and make lures run off center.

Tuning cranks is touchy to say the least and most anglers, even pro’s, often apply too much pressure while tuning baits and make matters worse. So there is a new tool sold by Off Shore Tackle that applies a set amount of pressure and this greatly reduces “over tuning.” I’ve ruined baits by over tuning and when they are your favorite its not fun.

Off Shore Tackle calls it the EZ Tuner pliers, I liken it to this: it does what the torque setting on your screw gun does. You know, the torque setting on the screw gun is there so you don’t over tighten nuts and strip screws. These pliers do the same thing but on cranks! Really cool.

The EZ has pressure setting features, so when the prescribed pressure is reached it “slips,” visibly the short plier jaw pops up and audibly a CLICK noise is heard. This is the second year they are selling it, I’ve used it a lot and it works very well for me.

Turk

Cool, do you find a difference between using a snap and tying direct? I tie direct but not with a loop knot. Do you think a loop makes a difference?

Dutchboy,

For tuning purposes using a snap, direct tie, or loop knot makes no difference for being in tune or out of tune.

I believe the direct tie or loop knot question that is raised for cranks is about action and not straight tracking (being in tune). i.e. original floating Rapala Minnows.

The vast majority of the time it is the line tie that is off of center thats the issue.

The line tie is the molded in wire in the plastic bill.

Potentially hook hangers can be off center and causing it to not track straight.

Potentially the metal split ring opening (where you open the split ring) is touching the line tie and causing the split ring not be fitting properly against the line tie and thus not track straight.

But 97% of the time if a lure was once tracking dead straight and is now not tracking straight it is the line tie that moved off of center either left or right.

I watched the YouTube video on these. I like the idea. Now if I wanted to tune mine and had it adjusted incorrectly it would tweak it to far Correct? How do you know how much adjustment and tension on the spring to have? Same trial and error as if using a needle nose.
I’m honestly asking because I’m interested in this product

I understand tuning cranks, I was just wondering if in your opinion the action was enhanced or limited by how you attach the lure.

Thanks anyway.

Dutchboy wrote:

I understand tuning cranks, I was just wondering if in your opinion the action was enhanced or limited by how you attach the lure.

Thanks anyway.

From my reply – I believe the direct tie or loop knot question that is raised for cranks is about action and not straight tracking (being in tune). i.e. original floating Rapala Minnows.

Bearcat89 wrote:

I watched the YouTube video on these. I like the idea. Now if I wanted to tune mine and had it adjusted incorrectly it would tweak it to far Correct? How do you know how much adjustment and tension on the spring to have? Same trial and error as if using a needle nose.
I’m honestly asking because I’m interested in this product

Bearcat,

You are correct trial and error – its a tool like a needle nose.

So set it light, apply a tune, see if the pressure you applied brought it back in line. Often once is all thats needed, and you avoid the dreaded – overtune.

If not back in line turn the knob about a 1/3 full turn clockwise, apply a tune, and see if its running straight again. its a tool and it honestly doesn’t take long to figure out.

After you do it a few time you get the hang of it.

I will give it a try. Thanks for the input

Interesting idea, but line ties come in many thicknesses and the softness of the metal is also a concern. Might be a lot of fiddling to get it right and then it needs readjusting for a different bait.

rmartin wrote:

Interesting idea, but line ties come in many thicknesses and the softness of the metal is also a concern. Might be a lot of fiddling to get it right and then it needs readjusting for a different bait.

Tuning lures is the most fiddling around thing there is in fishing.

I can now tune baits 3x faster than before and not wreck every fourth bait when I over tune.

Interesting product. Terrible promotional video by the manufacturer. It shows about a combined 1 1/2 second of the product in use.

LOL, Don’t blink that’s for sure.
This precision trolling video goes over it a bit more. About the 15 minute mark.

BoatsHateMe wrote:

Interesting product. Terrible promotional video by the manufacturer. It shows about a combined 1 1/2 second of the product in use.

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Thanks for putting those videos on here. I agree not the clearest explanation. I remember it took me three years to figure out side scan and what I was seeing! lol.

Here is what I found:

Years ago I found that my lures that tracked dead straight caught the most fish. Therefore I became extremely focused on lures being in tune.

I found i could tune them to run straight again (like other anglers) when they were off.

I found tuning to be difficult because the pressure needed to adjust was so slight I over tuned a lot (wasted time and created play between the line tie and the plastic bill), in time I got slightly better, but still over tuned especially in a moving boat.

I have used this tool a lot, and this pliers for 19 bucks has reduced my overtuning down to almost nothing and normally one “tune” brings it back in line. works very well for me.

Turk