Of all the aspects of crankbait fishing, few elements are as crucial as retrieve speeds.

Much of this has to do with water temperature. Bass, being a cold-blooded creature, are greatly affected by water temperatures in regards to its metabolism.

While there are no “in-stone” rules about retrieve speeds, one of the most proven methods of summertime cranking is what I call “burning” a crankbait.

Burning a crankbait at a high retrieve speed is crucial to triggering reaction strikes in summer-time bass. Metabolic factors are part of the issue, as warm water will speed up a bass’ metabolism.

But just as important, is oxygen levels.

Low oxygen level can act like cold water to bass….it makes them sluggish and inactive. When the water temperatures reach around 80 degrees, these oxygen levels can vary greatly, depending upon water depth, current, wind, and rain.

Speed cranking  is the key when dealing with high fish metabolisms and low oxygen levels. Burning a crankbait…regardless of the water depth… is a big key in triggering inactive bass in the summer.

My two favorite burning crankbaits is the Megabass Deep X 100, and the Megabass MR Griffon. Both of these crankbaits are so finely tuned, that they can be burned at a high retrieve rate, without rolling to one side.

This rare, non-rolling quality in a crankbait is crucial to burning. In the summer, I will have the Deep X 100 and the MR Griffon on my rods most of the summer.

Regardless if I am fishing a point, drop off, rocks, or shallow wood, I make my cast, point the rod-tip right at the lure, and reel fast, with a 6.3 ratio Megabass Retgraph reel, and a 7 foot Megabass Tomahawk fiberglass rod.

The key to triggering strikes while burning, is to burn with a stop and go retrieve. The stop and go motion is a triggering element, as well as the burning. When the two are combined, it offers the ultimate in getting inactive bass to bite.

Pointing the rod-tip right at the lure is also critical. Doing this allows the angler to control the stop and go retrieve much easier that when the rod is held at a right angle.

So don’t get discouraged on your next summertime outing. Tie on the Megabass Deep X 100, and start burning!