Crankbait Depth, How To Tell By Looking?

[coots]

My dad bought some Crankbaits at a yard sale and I was wondering how to tell how deep they dive? This is a crazy mixed bag of cranks, just wondering how I would know what depth they'll dive so I know I can get bottom contact etc

[A-Jay]

On the most basic level - It's all about the lip; the longer the lip - the deeper it dives but not always.

 

Line size and casting distance will effect the running depth as well.

 

Best way  to know is to take them out for a test drive -

 

A-Jay

[Dwight Hottle]

After you have found out the depths by hitting bottom over a known depth mark them so you remember how deep they run.

[Marty]

While you can't tell the actual depth, all other things being equal, a bill that's straight, i.e., parallel to the body, will run the deepest. The more the bill angles downward the shallower it will run.

[papajoe222]

The overall length and angle of the lip is a general guideline to help determine the approximate diving angle and depth, but the placement of the line tie and the width of the lip also come into play.  Like A-Jay said, take 'em out and check them. I break my baits down into three catagories for storage purposes (shallow, medium and deep), but I also mark the lips with the exact running depth if I know it.