The rule of thumb has it that tight-wobbling crankbaits are better to use in the colder months and during prespawn. In my experience, that’s generally true, although I don’t have a bulletproof explanation for it. Maybe it has something to do with water temperature, color and depth.
A wide-wobbling crankbait like a Strike King Series 4 or a Fat Rap that moves a lot of water is preferred in the summer – the simple reason being that they just produce more fish overall. I have to think it’s because bass can track them better in all sorts of water conditions.
Then, when the water starts to cool down and clear up, fish gradually get into prespawn mode and want the more subtle, tighter-wobbling baits such as Rat-L-Traps and Bomber Flat As. Why is that? I think it’s probably because they more closely imitate the movement of shad at that time of the year.
There’s an exception to everything though. For instance, in the clear, deep Ozark lakes I fish, the wide-wobbling Storm Wiggle Wart is liable to produce fish during any season – winter or summer. I think it could be because the water conditions don’t really change much in the big highland lakes, except for the temperature.
—- 3M Scotch Tape and Peltor pro Ray Scheide, Dover, Ark.