snag proof alternative to crankbait

[cward1234]

The lake I normally fish doesn't have much structure that I can reach from shore with the exception of a drainage pipe that seems to always hold quite a few bass. The only problem is that this drainage pipe has claimed quite a few of my crankbaits including my spring craw bandit 200, which was my new favorite. I think the pipe is facing away from the shore and it has some sort of cover over it that snags everything that tries to cross it. My question is, what is a good alternative to a crankbait for fishing this type of structure. I've had some luck on a Senko, but right now they're active and chasing shad so I don't really like to fish slower baits. Thanks.

[scumfrog]

If there chasing shad, try a spinnerbait or a fluke. I have had luck with a weightless fluke from shore, But the profile and flash of a spinnerbait is normally dynomite especially if you can bang it into that pipe and the weedless nature of a spinnerbait should get it from getting hung up alot better than crank baits do.

[tepponogu]

My first thought is a hollow belly swimbait t-rigged with a weighted hook.

[Creel Limit Zero]

If a crankbait is what is needed to get the bites, you can always use a Square-bill crankbait.  These seem to go over cover like laydowns, drainage pipes, and other hard cover better than a normal crankbait lip.   

[tsmith35]

...The only problem is that this drainage pipe has claimed quite a few of my crankbaits including my spring craw bandit 200, which was my new favorite. I think the pipe is facing away from the shore and it has some sort of cover over it that snags everything that tries to cross it.

This would be a good one for sidescan sonar... anyway, I had a similar problem at a (formerly) local lake just 12-15 ft from shore. I got hot one day after losing a couple brand new Rat-l-traps, so I tied a couple very heavy trebles and a heavy sinker onto 4 strands of 50lb braid and cast them out. Got snagged, got my gloves on, pulled like crazy and up comes a couple pieces of wood fencepost with chicken wire, branches and a bunch of hooks/lures/mud stuck to it. I couldn't help but laugh. Got my Rat-l-traps back plus a handful of usable lures (some were mine from earlier trips), and was glad to get rid of the lure-eater. I rolled the whole mess up as best I could and left it by the trashcan at the park.

For your situation, if you want to go with cranks, you might try swapping the hooks out with either weedless trebles or set your hooks up with 2 facing back and 1 facing forward, then cut off the forward-facing hook. You might need to turn the eye on the bait to get the proper orientation, but it works good for me when fishing around debris.