what are the best crankbaits?
musky2424
Posted 9/15/2013 1:49 PM (#663281)
Subject: what are the best crankbaits?





Posts: 122


Location: Appleton Wi
Looking for the best crankbaits
jimi disco
Posted 9/15/2013 1:57 PM (#663284 - in reply to #663281)
Subject: Re: what are the best crankbaits?




Posts: 22


Location: Milwaukee, WI
bucher depth raiders in blk/gold or fire tiger
jonnysled
Posted 9/15/2013 2:03 PM (#663286 - in reply to #663281)
Subject: Re: what are the best crankbaits?





Posts: 13688


Location: minocqua, wi.
Raders
Grandmas
ddd's
... for me ...
wicked
Posted 9/15/2013 3:37 PM (#663310 - in reply to #663281)
Subject: Re: what are the best crankbaits?




Location: sneaking out to get on the water ;-)
Slammers
Jeff Hanson
Posted 9/15/2013 3:40 PM (#663312 - in reply to #663310)
Subject: Re: what are the best crankbaits?




Posts: 944


Muskie Train
Grandma's
Big Game 7.5" scubas
Jeff Hanson
madisonmuskyguide.com
The Mighty Oak Leaf
Posted 9/15/2013 3:43 PM (#663313 - in reply to #663281)
Subject: RE: what are the best crankbaits?




Posts: 295


Location: mad chain
Grandmas
Muskie train
ToddM
Posted 9/15/2013 3:46 PM (#663315 - in reply to #663281)
Subject: Re: what are the best crankbaits?





Posts: 20219


Location: oswego, il
All of them. They are tools for certain situations. What is the situation that you need a.crankbait for?
Cranker
Posted 9/15/2013 8:44 PM (#663367 - in reply to #663281)
Subject: Re: what are the best crankbaits?




Posts: 117


Location: Northern Illinois
1) Jakes
2) Bucher Shallow Raiders
3) Grandmas
Those are my top 3... Crank
fishpoop
Posted 9/15/2013 8:55 PM (#663370 - in reply to #663315)
Subject: Re: what are the best crankbaits?




Posts: 656


Location: Forest Lake, Mn.
ToddM - 9/15/2013 3:46 PM

All of them. They are tools for certain situations. What is the situation that you need a.crankbait for?


Exactly, right. All lures are tools.

Asking what is the best crankbait is very subjective. It depends upon the situation you're fishing. Are you fishing deep, shallow, cold water, spring, cover, weeds, suspended fish, rocks, fast, slow, dirty water, clear water, casting, trolling. forage base present in the waters being fished?

You kind of have to specify what conditions are being fished before you can determine the best crankbaits because all of these factors will influence your choice. And even taking those factors into consideration it's still subjective too because there can be many good crankbaits that will fish effectively in a given situation and then it boils down to personal preference.

Most all lures nowadays are well built. So if you're asking quality when you ask what's the best crankbait I'd say darn near all of them. Even some of the old time wooden cranks are good too.

But if you just want a list of brand name baits that I like in general terms without getting into specifics of usage then...

1 Believers, jointed and solid (I'm a believer in believers)
2. Jakes
3. Grandma's
4. Depth Raiders
5. Shallow Raiders
6. Dick Gries Phantom Ojibwa (if you can find them anymore)
7, Rapala's
8. Ernie's
9 Mann's Bait Co. makes some nice big cranks for muskies but I can't think of what they're called. And most muskie guys don't use them.
10. SPOONPLUGS
11. Slammer's

And there are many more good ones.

Joe Bucher published a book a few years back about crankbaits. Get your hands on a copy of that for in depth discussion of all things crank.


Edited by fishpoop 9/15/2013 8:56 PM
wisriverrat
Posted 9/15/2013 8:56 PM (#663371 - in reply to #663281)
Subject: RE: what are the best crankbaits?




Posts: 372


Location: On the River
- Depth Raider, Jake, Grandma
Shallow Invader, Big Fork Twitch Diver
esox69
Posted 9/15/2013 9:05 PM (#663373 - in reply to #663371)
Subject: RE: what are the best crankbaits?




Posts: 802


nobody runs cisco kids?!?!?!?! geez, my #1...
fishpoop
Posted 9/15/2013 9:06 PM (#663374 - in reply to #663281)
Subject: Re: what are the best crankbaits?




Posts: 656


Location: Forest Lake, Mn.
To follow up I've had another thought about this subject.

Take 2 crankbaits that are identical to each other. Same size, make, model, color, everything. Sometimes one bait catches fish and it's identical, to us, twin doesn't catch fish. Why? I'm not really sure but it has to be something with the vibration of the lure that is different but we humans can't detect it. So there's additional food for thought when discussing what's the best crankbait.
IAJustin
Posted 9/15/2013 9:07 PM (#663375 - in reply to #663281)
Subject: Re: what are the best crankbaits?




Posts: 2015


if I'm casting a crank 90% of the time it will be a DDD.
nazercl
Posted 9/15/2013 9:12 PM (#663376 - in reply to #663375)
Subject: Re: what are the best crankbaits?





No doubt about it, Livid Fish!
sworrall
Posted 9/15/2013 9:28 PM (#663381 - in reply to #663281)
Subject: Re: what are the best crankbaits?





Posts: 32886


Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin
Hands down, no doubt about it, all other aside....crank baits.
CiscoKid
Posted 9/16/2013 6:34 AM (#663405 - in reply to #663315)
Subject: Re: what are the best crankbaits?





Posts: 1906


Location: Oconto Falls, WI
ToddM - 9/15/2013 3:46 PM

All of them. They are tools for certain situations. What is the situation that you need a.crankbait for?


Couldn't agree more!

esox69 - 9/15/2013 9:05 PM

nobody runs cisco kids?!?!?!?! geez, my #1...


Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Guest
Posted 9/16/2013 7:30 AM (#663416 - in reply to #663405)
Subject: Re: what are the best crankbaits?


There are lots of great crank baits and what ones are best is determined by many factors. I think the biggest factor is the body of water you are fishing and the depth you want to run your baits at. My best are Wileys, Tuff Shads, Boss Shads, and Legend Perchbaits.
The Swan
Posted 9/16/2013 7:37 AM (#663417 - in reply to #663281)
Subject: RE: what are the best crankbaits?


It surprises that no one has mentioned the Wiley. Look at the stats on both numbers and size. Hard to beat. Beyond that I vote for Jake 6" and 8", Grandma 7.5" and 9", Believer 6", 7", and 8", and Depthraider 6" and 8". At the moment can't think beyond that.
Zib
Posted 9/16/2013 8:01 AM (#663419 - in reply to #663417)
Subject: RE: what are the best crankbaits?





Posts: 1405


Location: Detroit River

The Swan - 9/16/2013 8:37 AM It surprises that no one has mentioned the Wiley. Look at the stats on both numbers and size. Hard to beat. Beyond that I vote for Jake 6" and 8", Grandma 7.5" and 9", Believer 6", 7", and 8", and Depthraider 6" and 8". At the moment can't think beyond that.

Wileys are good trolling baits but not one that I'd cast.

 

 

ToddM
Posted 9/16/2013 1:44 PM (#663482 - in reply to #663281)
Subject: Re: what are the best crankbaits?





Posts: 20219


Location: oswego, il
The straight 6" Wiley that is fatter with a deep lip when casted and retrieved slow does a nice tail wag drag on the surface.

since original poster never made any specifics, there is no wrong answer to this thread.

I bet if someone had some jointed odysee pig cranks, the lsc muskies would find them delightful.
CU301DSV
Posted 9/18/2013 7:28 AM (#663948 - in reply to #663281)
Subject: Re: what are the best crankbaits?





Posts: 906


Location: Canada
I cast my Wiley's

Wiley's
Baker Baits
Hosebaits
Lawrence Lures
curleytail
Posted 9/18/2013 8:54 AM (#663969 - in reply to #663281)
Subject: Re: what are the best crankbaits?




Posts: 2687


Location: Hayward, WI
Lots of them are more situational, especially the big trolling baits, but if I'm casting I am often casting a DDD. Lots of fish caught on them for me.