I am trying to focus more on deep cranking this summer. Any tips or hints you can pass along would be great. One main question I have is once you find offshore structure, how do you stay on that area?

Some people like to use a marker buoy as a reference point, which can be pretty successful. Others probably just use their graph and way points they have set up while relating to a certain depth they want to be sitting in. My suggestion would be to graph the area and make sure there are some fish/activity so you arent casting at a potentially empty/non productive hump or point.

edit: I would also suggest having the correct gear for the depth you are wanting to fish, have a good long rod that has the desired parabolic bend if you are going to be throwing deep divers/oversized cranks. It will help make casting/reeling a lot easier if you are going to be doing it for extended periods of time

deep cranking isn't about cranking it's about you and your graph getting married! you need to know exactly where your fish are b4 u ever make a cast. u can crank a 6xd all day, u can crank a 10xd for 30 minutes without catching a fish and you will hurt for 2 days. so once u figure out your graph then find a comfortable cranking rod.

Make sure when using your graphs understand what depths the fish are suspended and how deep the cranks your using run on what line.

To know more sometimes just get in 10 ft see if you hit bottom on a long cast. Then try 12 ft then 14 ft,then 16 ft. Most baits that say they dive 20 ft dont unless you drag it behind a big outboard with 100 yds of line out or use 10 lb line. IMO.

Off shore structure can be humps,points, or creek channel bends or sometimes they suspend over nothing. I am a big crank bait guy so if you have any questions or need a few more tips just shoot me a email I would be glad to help.

Love crankin, Take him up on it !!

I throw markers out. I might suggest a fitness routine for you shoulders, back, forearms and hands. Deep cranking will flat beat you down. Stay away from a Mann's 30+. Throwing those is just cruel and unusual punishment.

Hotlips aren't very forgiving either

Hey Marc, I'm curious about this subject too. I've tried it a few times and I guessing that 1214 has hit the nail on the head in regards to deep water fishing and graphs. But I'd still like to know the kind of set up...rod, reel, and mainly line size/type you would use. Being that you fish Fork most of the time, would you say you deep crank the large percentage of your time in "open water"...no or very few trees? I would guess that a smaller line size 12lb to 14lb would be necessary to get them down deep. But what if you hook the fish of a lifetime on 12lb? Insight would be very helpful. Thanks to all you guys. I suck at deep water!

The Manns 30+EZ are alot easier to work. I use a 7'6" heavy custom crankbait rod with a Curado 200B38 reel. 3.8 to 1 gear ration. Really makes deep cranking easy.

What lake are you going to be deep cranking?

Don't know about hillcountry, but I'm primarily either at Fork,Ray Bob, or Joe Pool Brad.

MudBug on Toledo!!!

My set up is a 13 fishing 7'11 Crankenstein Rod with a 5/4/1 reel and 15 lb Copolyomer line.

I fish DD 22 mostly over deep water but a XD 10 can be deadly in the right places.The Rick Clunn Freak is a good one also.

I catch fish suspended over 30-50 ft, quite often, and it never seems to amaze me cause no one targets these fish and they are just out there chilling so to speak until my bait comes near them or over them.

It is a art for sure and takes time to perfect but once you understand it makes it a go to at times.

Hot summer days you can find them anywhere from 15-25 ft suspended over deeper water or structure or nothing sometimes, you just have to look for them and try throwing at them.

I use 3 rods for deep cranking. 2 custom built rods and then a dobyns 80 CB RM. All paired with the old Greenie Curado with 12, 15 and 17# McCoys Mean Green spooled on them. The Greenies are 200 B 5, so a 5.1:1 ratio. The 2 custom rods are built on Shikari P804 and a St. Croix Avid Musky blank. All GREAT rods, but I prefer the Dobyns rod the most. Once I get to an area that has deeper water structure, I turn my electronics off and fish with marker buoys. I consider 14' to be deep fishing, 12 ' to me is medium depth fishing. Hope this helps. Tight lines, keep safe and good luck.

Thad Rains

I run my med running cranks on a 7'6 MH 13 fishing Omen. 5/4/1 reel and 15 lb copolymer line. These baits include XD 8 and Deep diving little N's of series 5 cranks or Normans NSX crank baits are some of my favorite mid runners.