|
|
Posts: 87
Location: Brainerd,MN | I walked down the dock when I was up at Lake of the Woods last week and I saw quite a few crankbaits out in people's boats. I then went and checked my crankbait arsenal and realized that I only had just a few that I use for trolling. 10" Jakes, a couple Kraves and a Depthraider or 2. When we were loading up to head home I heard that a bunch of muskies were boated throwing and twitching cranks. Not trolling but pitchin'. Looks like I've been missing the boat for a long time not using cranks too much. Did some searching and there's a ton of different models out there. Thinking I'll need to add a few to the tackle box.
Question is... what's your favorite cranks to twitch or straight retrieve and why?
Thanks.
Jeff |
|
| |
|
Posts: 231
| For "Rip, twitch, twitch, pause, twitch, and rip"... I really like the Big Games. The 7" & 12" are my favorite. I've also had some good success with a 10" Jake in the late fall, doing the same thing.
I've also heard good things about the Muskie Train's MX 9 & MX 7.5. I will be trying those next. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 742
Location: Grand Rapids MN | I use cranks more than I should and have a ton of them (I also like to troll so I should to take that into account!) but for casting you will want a bouyant twitcher like a 9" Big Game or Crane 208 for over the weed, Slammers are really durable for touching rocks on occasion. Not many use them but I love the Salmo Whitefish for that 3-4' range; I use this a lot. Deeper stuff would be 9" Grandma, DDD, and DR's work just fine. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 78
Location: In the Weeds | Believer |
|
| |
|
Posts: 303
| Big Games all the way....Guest, if you want to bash the quality of a lure maker at least log in!
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 219
Location: Ohio | I like to twitch 8" jakes, mx6, and my twitch n troll cranks. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 142
| Triple D's are probably my favorite. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 743
| I've got a lot of Big Games and have caught numerous fish on em. Never had one destroyed and only one broken lip. Guest be a member. It's not too hard for you to register.
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 149
| Grandma and the Big Game are real close in shape. They both work well. I do like the redesigned lip on the Grandma lures from a few years ago. They seem to be tough. Otehr good crankbaits are the Super Cisco, Jake, Loke, Nokken, the J18 Rapala if you change the hooks out to slightly heavier ones and the list goes on. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 944
| If we are just talking casting: For early season I like the Big game 6" and 7" twitch the MF Shad and mx6 from muskie Train. For Straight cranking I like the Diesel from muskie train its good after dark also.
Summer I like twitching the 8" and 9" big game and the MX7.5" from Muskie train
Straight cranking I like the MX9 it takes alot of big fish especialy after dark
I also like to cast the 7.5" scuba diver on deep weed edges and for suspended fish.
Fall twitching if im shallow I like the 9" big game or Mx9 . deep weed edges i like 10" jakes. Straight cranking MX9 especialy after dark. and casting deep in the fall there is no better deep runner than the 7.5" scuba diver for me.
good luck,
Jeff Hanson
madisonmuskyguide.com |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1360
Location: Lake "y" cause lake"x" got over fished | I am a HUGE fan of a shallowinvader, but also like to use some of the norms, 10" jakes, grandmas, shallow and jointed depthraiders. I am also becoming more and more a fan of the storm flat stick and kriscos.
I hear a lot of good things about the big game cranks and may have to try them before the season is out |
|
| |
|
Posts: 189
Location: Barrington, Il | Slammers. Bill has been doing some great things with the whole line up. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 149
| FAT-SKI - 9/4/2012 10:49 AM
I am a HUGE fan of a shallowinvader, but also like to use some of the norms, 10" jakes, grandmas, shallow and jointed depthraiders. I am also becoming more and more a fan of the storm flat stick and kriscos.
I hear a lot of good things about the big game cranks and may have to try them before the season is out
The Storm Flatstick sure swims like it wants to be eaten. Anybody have any luck with these?
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 1169
Location: New Hope MN | FAT-SKI - 9/4/2012 10:49 AM
I am also becoming more and more a fan of the storm flat stick and kriscos.
Have you boated one on the flat stick yet? I have one and have given it a fair amount of trolling time. Not a sniff from anything! Not even a pike. I really like the action and sound, but I'm losing confidence...  |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1360
Location: Lake "y" cause lake"x" got over fished | dtaijo174 - 9/4/2012 12:01 PM
FAT-SKI - 9/4/2012 10:49 AM
I am also becoming more and more a fan of the storm flat stick and kriscos.
Have you boated one on the flat stick yet? I have one and have given it a fair amount of trolling time. Not a sniff from anything! Not even a pike. I really like the action and sound, but I'm losing confidence... : (
----
So far this year I have not had a hit on it, but I have also only given it about an hour total on the water. I got two last year on the black/chrome one. Both fish hit on the pause. Was out earlier this season with a buddy who missed two strikes on the orange UV one.... And again both fish hit on the pause.
I use them more as a twitch/jerk bait. I love the action, works wonders at the right time.... Has one of the louder rattles out there IMO. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 4266
| Anything made by Mike King. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 921
Location: Apollo, PA | Beaver - 9/5/2012 10:22 PM
Anything made by Mike King.
Yeah, so true |
|
| |
|
Posts: 727
| 12" big game, Lucky 13 by pearson plugs, and jointed depthraider. Stork flatstick has gotten eaten at night also. |
|
| |
|
Location: Ohio | I'll second the Pearson Plugs for casting or trolling. I let the fish tell me what size bait to use. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 281
| Custom X- Hands Down!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 504
Location: Ludington, MI | Size 16 Rapala Flat Rap. Cold front killer! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 720
| I like the Reef Diggers from Big Fork Tackle. I have done really well with them. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 512
Location: Appleton | I'd say you can't go wrong with stuff from Big Game, Custom X, Slammer, Pearson Plugs, and H20 Tackle. All of them will take care of you beyond what you would expect from a company. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1288
Location: WI | Wood baits can take a beating. Some people are harder on things than others. That said, here's a 12" Big Game that has a 34", 47.25", 49.5", and 1 or 2 smaller muskies and pike to it's credit. As you can see, it's in great shape.
Attachments
----------------
 big game 12inch.jpg (169KB - 274 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 26
| My favorites would have to be the 9" Grandma,The Depth Raider,Jointed Depth Raider,and Jake, and as far as Jerk baits i love the Squirrley Jake. The grandma i find to work particularally well in Fall. Work it nice and slow of the edges of weeds perhaps leading to a drop off and your golden! Thank ya fellas and happy hunting! |
|
| |
