Lee don't throw that chartreuse/blue d22 in shallow water. It doesn't work especially on stained lakes. Hahaha

Yeah, right! I saw, was with Branden Hollingshead (sp) when he pulled up a 11/12lb hybrid the one Saturday he was showing me some places and some baits to use on EM.
I got a lot more excited about it than he did.. Biggest fish I'd seen out of EM. He was pre-fishing for the Kings of Cowtown Tourney. I think it was a really deep diver, like a DD22, shad coloration....anyway..was what I thought was nice fish
Know your kidding ....you've been a lot of help since I got on here...
thanks shipmate

Lee I was typing this when the previous post hit. Chartreuse and blue is good right now on EM,to funny. Throw the 5x in water 8 ft or less, they were good around points with docks this morning. Smokey Joe cranks are my favorite of all time hands down especially at Fork

I agree with Mark & Thad,
On my lake i start the day( first light) with Mann's 20+ or DD22 in Fire Tiger.
Sun rise Smoky Jo,Alabama shad. Grind the bottom 8' or less.
By 10;ooAM Work tree tops in 20' or more.
If you learn that feel that big lip will pop right over the limbs then BANG !!

I love throwing them. Just wish I had the right rod

Are you using P-Line CXX?

Are you using 15 pound test McCoys?

Lee these are the big bass "go to" bait for sure. I threw DD22's, Mann's 20+'s, and Poe's Super Cedar 400 series I believe. I don't think I ever caught a bass under 5 pounds on these monster deep divers. The main thing is to get the right rod for them. I have a Diawa David Fritts Crankin' Rod @ 7 feet built for these. Also I have a 3.8:1 ratio reel sitting on top of the rod. That ratio allows me to throw these baits all day without fatigue. I tried it with a 5:1 and about 20 to 30 minutes of casting these is all I can stand at one stretch.
I tried to throw these on a rod that was to light for them and wound up wearing one of these crankbaits home buried up in the middle of my back. I had to go to my dad's house and have him remove it. Make sure you get a rod weighted for these cranks.......

OUCH!! Your right, I don't have a 'Cranking Rod' now but, I will soon new/used. Reel ratio that low huh 3.8:1 ? Wow, thanks for telling me that....believe all of mine are higher. Sounds like it won't work well at all with my really good rod & reel (Ducket White Ice MH 7' and Diawa Tartula 8.1:1 ratio or something

Lee I haven't seen a reel in this ratio manufactured in a long time, though I'm sure someone has got to be making one somewhere. You'd probably be better off looking for a used one. Mine is a Quantum Crankin' Reel. I believe it is based on the 1310MG frame. Also what ever you throw these on be sure and keep the spool filled to the max with line. It will make casting a lot easier and you'll be able to cast these things some insane distances......

I use one reel 3.8 ratio and one 5.1 I can't tell much difference in the numbers I'm catching. I have been trying higher gears lately too 6.3 and 7.1 still catching about the same numbers but my average size has gone down with the high gear ratio. the lower gears make cranking them for a long time easier. a good cranking rod will help, but if you have a 7ft or longer flipping stick you can make due for a little while with it, to see if its something you want to do before spending money on a rod. you can get some decent ones like bps cranking stick, kvd crankbait rod, winch crank, skeet Reese magnum crank all these are around 100 and will get the job done. I like 6xd better than dd22's most of the time, but sometimes they like the dd22 better also bomber fat free shad bds7 and bds8 are good for the price.

I use the 13 crankenstein for my deep divers and a 7:1 gear ratio. I burn the crank to get a reaction strike. 12 lb copolymer. Caught several fish today, biggest was a 7lber.

I prefer to crank with a 4.7:1 or a 5.1:1 reel. The 3.8:1 was too slow for my liking. I have the guts of the Shimano Curado B series in a 3.8:1, but still prefer the 5.1:1 gear ratio. Some people burn the CB back, but that Is a VERY tuff way to fish, but Keith Combs did it on Fork to the tune of 110+ lbs in 3 days. He is tuffer than I am, I guess. Hope this helps. Tight lines, keep safe and good luck.

Thad Rains

Quantum made some back in the day in a 4.4-1 gear ratio. They were the quality ones made in Japan.