Chalk Talk: Cranking east to west with Murray
Friday, April 16, 2021 (
Editor s note: The following is the latest installment in a series of fishing tips presented by
The Bass University. Check back each Friday for a new tip.)
After decades of traveling the country, western legend and longtime tour pro John Murray realized that if there was a hole in his game, it was deep cranking. My weakest link was TVA lakes, he recalled, and part of the reason for that is that one of the most effective baits for catching a bass anywhere is a crankbait, period.
Earlier in his career, it was possible to be a specialist, relying heavily on a flipping stick, a spinnerbait or a shaky-head, but now you have to do it all. His failure to maximize his cranking game was hurting his ability to compete. With that in mind, a few years ago he moved to Watts Barr Lake on the Tennessee River, just 15 minutes from Chickamauga. Since making that move, hes realized that the cranking ga