|
|
Posts: 265
Location: McGuire AFB, NJ | Hey guys, whats your go to crank bait???
Don't think I spend enough time expoloring the depths. Caught a few on an ernie and had some decent luck on a jointed depth raider. But was wondering whats your go to crankbait????
Chris |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1906
Location: Oconto Falls, WI | I wish I had just one as then I wouldn't have the dozens of different cranks I have. Each year it tends to be a different crank that is hot for me. Last year 10" Jakes and Warners were hot, and later in the year the old Reef Diggers went to the top. The the two years prior Ernies were smokin. For several years after the Triple D came out that bait was king as well as ciscokids.
You can't look for just one go to crank. You have to let the conditions and fish tell you which one is best. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 292
Location: SW MI | I usually throw DDD's, DD's, Depthraiders and Shallowraiders, both jointed. |
|
| |
|
| slammer 8 and 10 inch |
|
| |
|
Posts: 684
Location: Sycamore, IL | Here are some of my favorites in order:
8"perch Believer
Depthraider in night shiner
8" jake clown pattern
DDD
cisco kid |
|
| |
|
Posts: 619
Location: Verona, WI | Really depends on the situation so that's a hard question. I don't throw a lot of crankbaits as I troll them. However I have done well in the past in early fall casting DDs over deep weeds.
Shane |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1758
Location: Mt. Zion, IL | for presentations below 12 to 15' :rapala x rap mag 30. (lost a 50"+ fish boatside trolling down by the dam on Kinkaid)
6 to 12': Jointed depth raider or DDD
1 to 6': shallow invader/DD |
|
| |
|
Posts: 529
Location: Not Where I Want To Be | Depthraider for me |
|
| |
|
| jointed baby depth raiders |
|
| |
|
Posts: 502
Location: Lincoln UK | I can't believe no one has mentioned Big Games, hot as hell. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 145
| 10" jakes in a variety of colors have been my best trolling crankbait. There are some really cool new colors they came out with too.
Matt |
|
| |
|
| I've had success with a headlock and a
John Trollvolta from supernatural bigbaits.
I'll try to post some pics. |
|
| |
|
Location: Ohio | Pearson Plugs 8 and 10 inch. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 717
Location: Grand Rapids, MI | I guess I'm going to have to say a Salmo Skinner, since it put my PB in the boat. That being said, I'm always reaching for a Big Game or Grandma. 9" Grandmas have always consitently produced for me. |
|
| |
|
| chico - 2/15/2010 4:26 AM
I can't believe no one has mentioned Big Games, hot as hell.
maybe thats because there is a lot of onther cranks that dont break,when you caught a fish or you hit a rock |
|
| |
|
| The top producer in my boat, by far, is the Slammer 10" Deep Minnow.
Edited by Schlagel 2/17/2010 4:33 PM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 2686
Location: Hayward, WI | pepsiboy - 2/16/2010 9:18 PM
chico - 2/15/2010 4:26 AM
I can't believe no one has mentioned Big Games, hot as hell.
maybe thats because there is a lot of onther cranks that dont break,when you caught a fish or you hit a rock
Are you talking about the balsa (wood) ones? I think those weren't the most durable baits in the world.
I'm pretty sure Tony is now making them out of plastic and they should last a lot, lot, longer.
I never fished crankbaits a whole lot. Last year I did pretty well on a DDD. I'm sure there's plenty of other must have crankbaits, but I would definitely want a DDD or two in my box.
curleytail |
|
| |
|
| yeah balsa,sometimes dawgs are more durable................. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 9
| DDD for casting. Jointed Depthraider for trolling. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1663
Location: Kodiak, AK | I like 10" Jakes, but I'm on LSC so my "depths" are different that most of y'alls "depths." |
|
| |
|
Location: Grand Rapids, MI | CiscoKid - 2/14/2010 10:46 AM
I wish I had just one as then I wouldn't have the dozens of different cranks I have. Each year it tends to be a different crank that is hot for me. Last year 10" Jakes and Warners were hot, and later in the year the old Reef Diggers went to the top. The the two years prior Ernies were smokin. For several years after the Triple D came out that bait was king as well as ciscokids.
You can't look for just one go to crank. You have to let the conditions and fish tell you which one is best.
Ditto!
I'm starting to think TK and I share the same brian. Then again, maybe it's just that our fishing styles are very similar. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1906
Location: Oconto Falls, WI | Well I feel sorry for you Will if we share the same brain!
To be serious about fishing with cranks you need to have a lot of them. Main reason is to cover a range of running depths. Now that you have the column covered from top to bottom, you need to have an array of actions. Some days they want the tighter wiggle of a Ciscokid, and on other they want the slower, wider wobble of a Jake. Some days they want a near neutral bait like a DDD, and then the next they may want an Ernie. Speaking of neautral bouyancy some days they want an 8" cranks that hangs, and then on others they want a 10-12" bait that hangs in their face. Did I mention size? I guess I did in a round about way. I have a pattern early in the year that you better be throwing 10", wide wobbling cranks that only run down about 4'. Later in the year those same fish are wanting an 8" bait running 8-10' down. So you say big deal between 4' and 8', The fish will move up for it. It is a big deal, and will make or break your day. Some days they will move, others they will not. Be it the other way around (8' runner when the fish are at 4')and you are better off throwing a flying lure for bluegills in the shallows. Size will sometimes dictate what bait runs where. Take an 8" Jake vs a 10" Jake. Gotta have both. 8" will run deeper than the 10" so if the fish want that action, but want a bait 6-8' down you better have an 8" Jake. Action often times dictates running depth as well. Wider woblers usually run shallow than tighter wigglers. However if the fish want wide, but deep you need to have a bait for that scenario. If one isn't made you modify an existing bait to get there, but now you need to have at least two of that bait as you don't want to sacrafice your hot bait.
Speaking of altering cranks you have to have several. Ciscokids are a prime example. Have several (different colors) of the husky. Now throw in a couple more of the husky size, but these have a larger lip (like found on the countdown sharks). You now have a countdown ciscokid with a slightly different action than it's almost twin brother. Throw in a few more cranks that are custom weighted with either water, oil, or lead. Jakes and most wooden cranks are where this comes into play for me.
You also have to have cranks that kick out easy for the days you are slluggish/tired, and cranks that can be a pain to get to kick out but have the swimming action on the straight crank and right action when it does kick out. Some baits pivot almost in place when jerked, while others glide out on the jerk. Some will swim up a bit, and others will flip on there side and swim slightly off kilter for a bit after the jerk. Find the "good" ones and you'll have a bait that will swim straight up if jerked right when at boatside. No need for figure 8's in that case!
Of course you have to have color variations. Some for sunny days and some for cloudy. Some for clear water, and some for dirty.
Sure I am making it complex. Some days it is just that. Then of course there are days that it doesn't matter what the heck you are throwing as long as you are close. Those don't come along that often though.
Give me a crank, and that is my got to BAIT. Why stop short at a go to crank bait?
Edited by CiscoKid 2/19/2010 6:36 AM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 3242
Location: Racine, Wi | Travis hit that on the head for sure!!!! Well said dude.
A prime example of the depths making a huge difference was early this past season. Fish were eating baits from 4' up, but not touching deeper baits. I talked to a buddy of mine that was throwing dawgs and was fishing under the fish, while we were targeting the top 4' or so of the water, and getting lots of action.
Fast forward to this past summer. The fish were shallow deep and in between, but were eating rubber. So one person worked the deeper water, and the other kept a bait up high and both were getting bit. Goofy fish.
Great synopsis though Travis! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 618
Location: Michigan | CiscoKid - 2/18/2010 8:37 PM
Well I feel sorry for you Will if we share the same brain!
To be serious about fishing with cranks you need to have a lot of them. Main reason is to cover a range of running depths. Now that you have the coulmn covered from top to bottom, you need to have an array of actions. Some days they want the tighter wiggle of a Ciscokid, and on other they want the slower, wider wobble of a Jake. Some days they want a near neutral bait like a DDD, and then the next they may want an Ernie. Speaking of neautral bouyancy some days they want an 8" cranks that hangs, and then on others they want a 10-12" bait that hangs in their face. Did I mention size? I guess I did in a round about way. I have a pattern early in the year that you better be throwing 10", wide wobbling cranks that only run down about 4'. Later in the year those same fish are wanting an 8" bait running 8-10' down. So you say big deal between 4' and 8', The fish will move up for it. It is a big deal, and will make or break your day. Some days they will move, others they will not. Be it the other way around (8' runner when the fish are at 4')and you are better off throwing a flying lure for bluegills in the shallows. Size will sometimes dictate what bait runs where. Take an 8" Jake vs a 10" Jake. Gotta have both. 8" will run deeper than the 10" so if the fish want that action, but want a bait 6-8' down you better have an 8" Jake. Action often times dictates running depth as well. Wider woblers usually run shallow than tighter wigglers. However if the fish want wide, but deep you need to have a bait for that scenario. If one isn't made you modify an existing bait to get there, but now you need to have at least two of that bait as you don't want to sacrafice your hot bait.
Speaking of altering cranks you have to have several. Ciscokids are a prime example. Have several (different colors) of the husky. Now throw in a couple more of the husky size, but these have a larger lip (like found on the countdown sharks). You now have a countdown ciscokid with a slightly different action than it almost twin brother. Throw in a few more cranks that are custom weighted with either water, oil, or lead. Jakes and most wooden cranks are where this comes into play for me.
You also have to have cranks that kick out easy for the days you are slluggish/tired, and cranks that can be a pain to get to kick out but have the swimming action and right action when it does kick out. Some baits pivot almost in place when jerked, while others glide out on the jerk. Some will swim up a bit, and others will flip on there side and swim slightly off kilter for a bit after the jerk. Find the "good" ones and you'll have a bait that will swim straight up if jerked right when at boatside. No need for figure 8's in that case!
Of course you have to have color variations. Some for sunny days and some for cloudy. Some for clear water, and some for dirty.
Sure I am making it complex. Some days it is just that. Then of course there are days that it doesn't matter what the heck you are throwing as long as you are close. Those don't come along that often though.
Give me a crank, and that is my got to BAIT. Why stop short at a go to crank bait?
WOW, great post! |
|
| |
|
| CiscoKid do you know if its possible to cut a CiscoKid?
i would like to try one jointed |
|
| |
|
| This thread is going to cost me a lot of money... |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1906
Location: Oconto Falls, WI | I have not tried making a jointed Kid. They are pretty much hollow with the exception of where the screws hold the hook hangers on.
Even though I love cranks I don’t throw a lot of jointed ones. Really don’t care for them much, but on occasion will throw a jointed D-Raider or a jointed Reef Digger that I have leaded to make into a countdown. Converting jointed baits like the Reef Digger and Hi Fin Trophy Diver into countdowns is where they are best suited for applications I need. Gotta have a bait that will accept some hot lead, and have a metal lip to tweak the action since once you weight them the original action is deadend especially at slow speeds.
Edited by CiscoKid 2/19/2010 10:41 AM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 1906
Location: Oconto Falls, WI | However, if you want a countdown crank that can be run slowly yet is not jointed you would need one of H2O tackles custom Cranky Nitros. There has always been an issue with fishing countdowns with a slow crawl retrieve, but Roger has found a way. |
|
| |
Go to Crankbait???