Crankbait Box Help

[justin apfel]

So over the winter I've been thinking a lot about what techniques I need to use more and what I need to do better and I realized I don't use cranks nearly enough. I probably have around 10 of them because I rarely use them, but I want to start using them a lot more and get good at cranking at various depths. I want to make a crankbait box starting out with about 3 different depths (0'-3',4'-6',10'-14') with 3 different colors for each depth (around 9 cranks to start out). I was thinking about making a box just with Norman cranks as I've read plenty of reviews and people love them. I have all different kinds right now (strike king, bomber, koppers) but I want to key in on one brand to make my cranking box a little more uniform I guess. I live in Virginia and fish a lot of muddy and murky water with low visibility. What are some brand and color suggestions you guys have? 

[MarkH024]

Strike King- Sexy Shad, Chili Craw (or alike), Bluegill

 

Red Eye Shad--- All depths.

1.5 Square bill 1-3 ft

4s- 6-9ft

3xd 10-12

6xd 15+

[roadwarrior]

Shallow

Bomber Square A, Norman Fat Boy, Red Eye Shad and Bandit 100

 

Mid-range

Bomber Fat Free Shad, Bandit 200, LC 2.5 & 3.5

 

Deep

LC Staysee, DD22, Rapala DT16

 

 

[Felix77]

I have a Strike King 3600 box with the following.  I need to use them more too!

 

KVD 1.5 (0-6 feet) - Chartreuse/Black back, Sexy Shad, Bluegill

Series 3 (5-8 feet) - Pumpkinseed, Bluegill, Sexy Sunfish

Series 4 (5-8 feet) - Chartreuse/Black back, Sexy Shad, Craw

Series 3xd (9-12 feet) - Bluegill, Sexy Shad

Series 5xd (13-16 feet) - Chartreuse/Black back, Sexy Shad

Series 6xd (16 - 20) - Sexy Shad, Caribbean Shad

 

I just picked Strike King because I believe that you need to get a feel for one brand across various depths.  Once you gain more experience you can branch out from there.

[RoachDad]

Man, I never use CBs either.  I cannot get them to run straight.  No matter how much I tune them, they still run sideways.  I like Rat-l-traps but that is about it.

 

BTW, Bassresource has a video about how to keep your CBs organized.  WHen you open the package, take a fine point Sharpie and write on the bottom what the swim depth is.  That way you won't be trying to read that itty-bitty writing on the bill 

 

[justin apfel]

Yeah I already do that method with my jigs (weight/color/style) and I plan to do the same with my CBs. But thank you for the suggestions everyone. I'm going to spend some time online tonight writing down different combinations for my CB box. It just sucks having a money limit haha

[MarkH024]

 It just sucks having a money limit haha

Fact of life. Get used to it young brother.

[Teal]

Yeah I already do that method with my jigs (weight/color/style) and I plan to do the same with my CBs. But thank you for the suggestions everyone. I'm going to spend some time online tonight writing down different combinations for my CB box. It just sucks having a money limit haha

Keep your eyes on the Flea Market here. Sometimes you can find small lots of CBs for much less than you would have to pay retail.

[rockchalk06]

Keep your eyes on the Flea Market here. Sometimes you can find small lots of CBs for much less than you would have to pay retail.

That and look for sales. I don't fish crankbaits but about 20-30% of the year so I only buy when there is a sale. At Bass Pro's classic sale, I got 15 Bomber Square bill A's for 2 bucks a pop. Found a bunch of various series 4 and 5 SK's for 1.29 a piece.

[TNBassin']

Gander has Rapala clackin' cranks for $4.99 right now. I'm kicking myself for not walking out with all of them.

[webertime]

If you have a dick's nearby use the $10 off $50 coupon when they run their buy 3 get 1 free sales. I've walked out with 16 Strike Kings for $40 something bucks (none were clearance) .

I like chartruese blue back, something "shad-like" and something dark, if I were going to do the 3 colors of one bait.

[justin apfel]

Alright, just placed my order on bass pro, this is what I went with. 

 

For 0'-4':

Strike king silent cranks:

black back chart.

Sexy shad

natural bream

 

For 4'-6':

SK rattle CB:

same colors as silent cranks 

 

And for 8'-10':

Rapala DT10:

bleeding olive shiner

blue gill

shad

 

I don't really fish much in deeper water (deeper than 10') besides my annual Smith Mountain Lake trip at the end of august (which I'll stock up on deep divers before that) so I don't need anything too deep right now. But as for the silent/rattle decision...I figure I can for the most part fish the silent and rattle around the same depths, just want to try some new things out

[Blues19]

I would look at Strike King or Bomber. I really like the Fat Free Shads and Square As from Bomber.  As for colors, I would look at a a sexy shad color, a brown craw color and either a chartreuse blue back or fire tiger color.

[Brian6428]

I agree with the posts above, bomber's have consistently produced for me. Now the fanciest paint job, but it just has flat out fish catching action, all for a good price. You chose very nice cranks, though.

[justin apfel]

yeah, again this is just what I'm starting out with. I have a DT16 already, a few bomber fat free's, some xcaliber cranks, and some strike kings already. Just want a uniform box pretty much. I can already tell this box is going to fill up fast over a few months...

[Blues19]

I really like the Bomber Square A's. Its a pretty nice little squarebill. I like its wobble more than the strike king squarebills. Its probably my go to squarebill. Since you said you fish murky water, I would go with Chartreuse blue back cranks as well as fire tiger. Firetiger is a really strong color in dirty water.

[justin apfel]

Already caved in and bought some others....

 

Rapala DT04

firetiger (I took your advice ataris41)

bleeding olive shiner

 

Rapala DT06

Firetiger

bleeding olive shiner

Hot mustard

bluegill

 

Had to do it. They were on sale for $5 on bass pro's website 

[wademaster1]

Rapala Shad Raps have been super good to me so far this spring......