When To Throw Chrome Crankbaits 2025

cjam93 reply :

Hey guys so I was wondering what conditions you look for when throwing chrome crankbaits. I mainly am asking in reference to lipped ones, but I supposed it would be the same answer for lipped or lipless. I would assume sunny days are better for the added reflection, but I wanted to ask anyways. On a cloudy day would you choose a chrome crankbait or a white matte color?

Bluebasser86 reply :

I throw chrome lipless baits when it's sunny like you said. Of all the lipped cranks I own, not a single one is chrome. I do have metallic gold that I fish when the water is dirty and it's sunny out, but that would be the closest thing.

Montanaro reply :

Sunny to reflect light. Otherwise it blends into water

WIGuide reply :

They can be good at any time. I'll throw a black and chrome if it's cloudy and a blue and chrome if it's sunny. I'll also throw a black and gold (chrome) in stained water.

scaleface reply :

Personally , I think chrome works better on cloudy days . Bomber makes lures with the silver flash insert and even though the sun is not shining it still flashes realistically .

roadwarrior reply :

XCalibur Xr50 Blue Chrome has been my #1 lipless crankbait for many years.

smalljaw67 reply :

When the sun is out and the water has a little color to it and the fish aren't moving, a chrome/black back Cotton Cordell Big-O is a killer!!!!! I also have a stash of of old Rapala Fat Raps in a color called silver blue which is chrome/blue back and when the sun is shinning it is tough to beat. For me it is a matter of how stained the water is, light stain or cleat I like the chrome/blue back, if the water has light to moderate stain I like the chrome/black back but the one element that is common is there has to be sun.

cgolf reply :

This year I had my eyes opened, with chrome cranks. I threw a chrome sexy SK 100 on a river with around 6" of visibility give or take and I caught fish like crazy on it regardless of sun or shade. It was one of my better baits until I lost the only 2 I had.

Crankinstein reply :

I throw chrome cranks a lot when other people are throwing spinnerbaits and can go right behind them and clean house. Conditions are typically stained/murky water with either sunny or partly cloudy skies. The chrome can have that same flash a spinnerbait has but the crankbait action can often trigger a few strikes that the spinnerbait misses. Another color I've found to work with these conditions is chartreuse black back so give that one a try too.

Raul reply :

Anytime is good time to throw chrome crankbaits. Half of the time I throw a crank it´s going to be chrome/black back.

cjam93 reply :

Thanks for the answers guys!

spartyon8 reply :

My most productive bait this summer was a sexy shad pattern with a chrome belly. Other than black back chartreuse, it is all I throw any more in cranks.

Crankinstein reply :

I just now saw you have Randleman lake listed as your favorite lake, I have had great luck there using fire tiger cranks so try those as well. I used to load the boat there going back and forth between a rapala dt6 and dt4 in fire tiger. That's probably the best lake in the area, if I didn't live right next to Oak Hollow lake I would go there much more often. Good luck!

buzzed bait reply :

Nice thread! I don't think i have more than a couple chrome colored anythings.... may have to think about that!

clh121787 reply :

Chrome will reflect sunlight making it appear shiny until it gets to a depth where sun doesn't penetrate. Making it appear the same color as the water. Chrome blue back rattle trap is my best all time crank

Choporoz reply :

In July and August when the thermometer is bumping up against 100, there's no clouds in the sky and the bite is tough....I've had the day saved by blue-chrome lipless crankbaits more than once.

Brnnoser6983 reply :

I throw them year round, Sun or clouds. But you should use light colors in bright times, and dark when dark. Chrome works as sunny, but in a murky situation I find they help being located with some extra flash.

Brnnoser6983 reply :

On 12/15/2015 at 5:20 AM, Choporoz said:
In July and August when the thermometer is bumping up against 100, there's no clouds in the sky and the bite is tough....I've had the day saved by blue-chrome lipless crankbaits more than once.

1/2oz blue chrome CC Super Spot is my go to. It has saved me from a skunk most days.

Ratherbfishing reply :

Chrome SEEMS to work best for me when the water is clear(ish) and the sun is shining-especially in spring. But I always say-let the fish tell you what they want.

desmobob reply :

Anytime! Do you really need anything other than chrome/blue back? Oh yeah... red. Done.

(Actually, I have a lot of good luck with a fire tiger/red back pattern in the muddy water I usually fish.)

Tight lines,

Bob

Bankbeater reply :

You just have to try them and see what happens.

chadmack282 reply :

On 12/15/2015 at 12:32 AM, Raul said:
Anytime is good time to throw chrome crankbaits. Half of the time I throw a crank it´s going to be chrome/black back.

Jaw1 reply :

Chrome blue back red eye shad or Excalibur one knocker and chrome black back #5 shad rap are fish catchers during any condition be it sunny or cloudy for me. Throw in a chartreuse root beer bandit and the occasional white crankbait and I'm covered.

papajoe222 reply :

The old Strike King Diamond Shad was my favorite chrome crank. Similar to a hammered blade on a spinnerbait, it would reflect the light in multiple directions and outshone any of my current baits.

jbw252 reply :

Anytime works for me. Chrome variants or sexy shad are proven producers.

Ozark_Basser reply :

Anytime the water isn't super clear and calm are the conditions I look for at the start of the day.

CarlF reply :

Its interesting to see how people from different areas will fish a lure differently. Ive seen a lot of people mentioning clear water bright day applications for chrome lures. In this situation, I normally turn to a finesse approach with more realistic, imitative finishes being the emphasis. Im going to experiment this year with a chrome LV-500 on clear sunny days when im trying to cover water.

.ghoti. reply :

Really clear water with bright sunny dats are about the only time I will toss a chrome lure. Being so reflective, they blend into the water column at whatever depth you're fishing.

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When To Throw Chrome Crankbaits 2025

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