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Crankbaits by depth #12784640 06/08/18 12:00 PM
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stapler101 Offline OP
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I hate throwing crankbaits!! I have no knowledge, confidence or success with them BUT I want to start using them more.
What are a few ideas on which crankbaits (brand and model) to use at different depths?
I know there are a lot of variables involving water clarity, feeding patterns, etc. but I am looking for some general ideas.
5-10 foot
10-15 foot
20-25 foot etc

One other question. Fishing in NE Texas, what is considered a maximum depth for success with a crankbait?


If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough! ------Mario Andretti
Moritz Chevrolet - 9101 Camp Bowie W Blvd, Fort Worth, TX - Monte Coon (817) 696-2003
Re: Crankbaits by depth [Re: stapler101] #12784653 06/08/18 12:10 PM
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Jpurdue Online Content
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Strike King KVD models. Fairly cheap but decent quality. I've caught a million fish on them. Start simple with sexy shad.

5-10 foot kvd 2.5
10-15 foot kvd 5xd
20-25 foot kvd 6xd or 10xd

The 6x and 10xd are going to struggle to get down beyond 20 feet. You'll have to use light flouro and very long casts. I think there *might* be a few other baits out there that might reach a little deeper, but I do not have experience with them. Remember also, at that depth you are going to have the bait in the strike zone for a very small period of time. You'll need to know exactly what your doing as 70% of the time your bait will be on the way down or up.


"Bragging may not bring happiness, but no man having caught a large fish goes home through an alley." -A.L.

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Re: Crankbaits by depth [Re: stapler101] #12784685 06/08/18 12:36 PM
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Jarrett Latta Offline
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6xd in 12-16ft
8xd in 15-20ft
10xd in 14-22ft

I also like a DD 22 for 10-15ft
Shallower stuff I've done well with Norman little N for the 4-6ft stuff. Don't get too caught up in actual diving depths of Crankbaits. They are effective outside their listed depths depending on line size. The larger the line diameter the shallower a crank will run.

Re: Crankbaits by depth [Re: stapler101] #12784751 06/08/18 01:26 PM
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I'll post an outdated, incomplete crankbait depth chart at the end of this post to give you some ballpark numbers on an average cast on 12lb line. You can get crankbaits deeper with small diameter braid and/or fluoro. You can get crankbaits significantly deeper with strolling, long lining, and trolling. For example: I can get a 6XD to 21 feet long line trolling from my kayak with 20lb braid and 12lb copoly leader.

I'd keep things simple and purchase a shad color, a blue gill color, and a chartreuse color in each of the following depths
This concise list is limited to widely available, cost effective lures that work (the more detailed list is at the end)

0-1ft (wake bait) Mann's One Minus
1-3ft: Luck E Strike RC series 2
3-5ft: KVD 1.5 Bandit 100
6-9ft: Bandit 200, Rapala DT 6, Norman Little N, 3XD
10-14ft: Bandit 300, 5XD, Rapala DT10, Rapala DT 14
15-17ft: 6XD Norman DD22
17-20ft: 8XD, Berkley Dredger 20.5
+21ft: 10XD, Luhr Jensen Hotlips, Manns E-Z 30+, Dredger 25.5




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Re: Crankbaits by depth [Re: stapler101] #12785249 06/08/18 08:21 PM
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Ian Fellenbaum Offline
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I have 3 different brands that I really enjoy using. Each one has different advantages and disadvantages, but really it's all personal preference. The strike king xd series and the rapala dt series are great baits and cover pretty much any depth. I also recently started using the Berkeley dredgers, they also cover almost every depth. They are also easy to cast and are smaller then other comparable baits. Buy a few and decided what you like best.


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Re: Crankbaits by depth [Re: stapler101] #12785374 06/08/18 10:09 PM
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Thad Rains Offline
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I fish a LOT of CBs. A LOT of custom made CBs, too. Caught the Lewisville lake record back in 1998 on $2 Walmart purchased Deep Little N. Cost mroe now, but still reasonable. I like what collincounttx said, it is really distinct. I still throw a LOT of CBs today. Mostly Bill Norman, Bandit and the DT series from Rapala. That coves MOST of the baits I throw. I DO have some hand made 20' baits, but they cost like $25 each. Focus on the shallower depths until you get a little more confidence. I have CONFIDENCE IN MYSELF to figure the fish out. I DO have some of the baits that David Fritts wouldn't sell for $1000, but those are few and far between. They just WORK RIGHT and dive deeper/faster/wiggle more, etc.. Try the shallower baits until you comfortable fishing them. I started with the Deep Little N, so it goes to 12' on 10 test line (they say) and you can throw it shallow and crank the bottom, where a LOT of fish hang out. PM me if you want me to give you some mroe tips. Hope this helps. Tight lines, keep safe and good luck. MOF I am coming down in early July and again in early October to help some guys out on Lewisville, including baits and patterns and locations.

Thad Rains


Tight lines, keep safe and good luck.

Thad Rains
Re: Crankbaits by depth [Re: stapler101] #12785383 06/08/18 10:22 PM
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As a beginner. Dont over complicate it. Get a handful of sk 3,5,6 xd cbs and some dt 6,10, 14, & 16s. Id get a shad color and a chart. Blue back. Fish them until you figure it out. Good luck!

Re: Crankbaits by depth [Re: Jpurdue] #12785455 06/09/18 12:12 AM
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stringwise Offline
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Originally Posted By: Jpurdue
Strike King KVD models. Fairly cheap but decent quality. I've caught a million fish on them. Start simple with sexy shad.

5-10 foot kvd 2.5
10-15 foot kvd 5xd
20-25 foot kvd 6xd or 10xd

The 6x and 10xd are going to struggle to get down beyond 20 feet. You'll have to use light flouro and very long casts. I think there *might* be a few other baits out there that might reach a little deeper, but I do not have experience with them. Remember also, at that depth you are going to have the bait in the strike zone for a very small period of time. You'll need to know exactly what your doing as 70% of the time your bait will be on the way down or up.


I throw the 10XD on 30lb braid and it will get down to 25 all day. I use 17lb fluoro if I want it to run more shallow.

Re: Crankbaits by depth [Re: stapler101] #12785464 06/09/18 12:27 AM
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kevine80 Offline
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really like the spro lil john md 50 for shallower --citrus shad

Re: Crankbaits by depth [Re: stapler101] #12785565 06/09/18 02:24 AM
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stapler101 Offline OP
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Thanks for all the replies! That is much better and more understandable info than I have found in days of internet searching.
I bought a Lews 5.4:1 reel today and a 7'3 rod so all I lack is picking some line and then adding to my crankbait collection with some of the recommendations above.


If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough! ------Mario Andretti
Re: Crankbaits by depth [Re: stapler101] #12785640 06/09/18 03:48 AM
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Thad Rains Offline
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I didn't mention line, but I am a BIG believer in McCoys Mean Green. It has some stretch to it, stronger than rated, smaller diameter of most standard like test of mono and has almost no memory. But what do I know, I have only been using it since 2000. GREAT CRANKING LINNE. OH, it is a copolymer not flouro or mono or braid, but copolymer fishing. I use it for all my moving baits and as Crig leader material. Hope this helps.

Tight lines, keep safe and good luck.

Thad Rains

If you want, I have 5 published crank bait articles I can post again or send in PM. Let me know.

tr


Tight lines, keep safe and good luck.

Thad Rains
Re: Crankbaits by depth [Re: Jpurdue] #12785784 06/09/18 01:34 PM
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Ken A. Offline
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Originally Posted By: Jpurdue
Strike King KVD models. Fairly cheap but decent quality. I've caught a million fish on them. Start simple with sexy shad.

5-10 foot kvd 2.5
10-15 foot kvd 5xd
20-25 foot kvd 6xd or 10xd

The 6x and 10xd are going to struggle to get down beyond 20 feet. You'll have to use light flouro and very long casts. I think there *might* be a few other baits out there that might reach a little deeper, but I do not have experience with them. Remember also, at that depth you are going to have the bait in the strike zone for a very small period of time. You'll need to know exactly what your doing as 70% of the time your bait will be on the way down or up.


This is exactly correct. Your bait is only at its max depth for about 30% of your cast. The only way to remedy this is to do what the pros call "long-lining." I'll just call it what it is, "Trolling"

Don't know why so many folks have such an aversion to trolling. I have caught thousands of fish doing this including Dozens of fish between 8-9 pounds. Haven't caught a DD doing it yet but the DAY AIN'T OVER!!



Re: Crankbaits by depth [Re: Ken A.] #12785892 06/09/18 03:51 PM
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Originally Posted By: Ken A.
Originally Posted By: Jpurdue
Strike King KVD models. Fairly cheap but decent quality. I've caught a million fish on them. Start simple with sexy shad.

5-10 foot kvd 2.5
10-15 foot kvd 5xd
20-25 foot kvd 6xd or 10xd

The 6x and 10xd are going to struggle to get down beyond 20 feet. You'll have to use light flouro and very long casts. I think there *might* be a few other baits out there that might reach a little deeper, but I do not have experience with them. Remember also, at that depth you are going to have the bait in the strike zone for a very small period of time. You'll need to know exactly what your doing as 70% of the time your bait will be on the way down or up.


This is exactly correct. Your bait is only at its max depth for about 30% of your cast. The only way to remedy this is to do what the pros call "long-lining." I'll just call it what it is, "Trolling"

Don't know why so many folks have such an aversion to trolling. I have caught thousands of fish doing this including Dozens of fish between 8-9 pounds. Haven't caught a DD doing it yet but the DAY AIN'T OVER!!


We cant call that trolling Ken!, lets go with strolling. Make a long cast, get on your trolling motor, let all of the line youve got out, and reel it all back in. Rinse and repeat. Interesting loop-hole when youre out on the tour.

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