robster80 Posted May 13, 2014 Posted May 13, 2014 never fished much with crankbaits but just recently picked up a powell diesel crankbait rod and a few rapala crankbaits and gonna start trying it out. any good recommendations on brands of crankbaits,best colors,etc? Quote
Super User roadwarrior Posted May 13, 2014 Super User Posted May 13, 2014 Norman Fat Boy (redear), Bandit 200, DT6, LC 1.5 & 2.5, Red Eye Shad, Fat Free Shad, DD22 Quote
Super User Raul Posted May 13, 2014 Super User Posted May 13, 2014 Rapala Shad Rap in all it´s sizes and variations. Quote
Super User RoLo Posted May 13, 2014 Super User Posted May 13, 2014 Brands and colors are the caboose, mastering depth and speed is where crankbaiting begins Roger 2 Quote
Super User iceintheveins Posted May 13, 2014 Super User Posted May 13, 2014 Shallow Cranks - Bomber Square A, Rapala DT - 4, Rapala Crankin' Rap 3, SK KVD Squarebills, Rapala Shad Rap 5, Norman Mad N, Norman Fat Boy, Rapala Fat Rap, X - Calibur XCS Squarebills, SK Series One, Bandit 100, Rapala Scatter Rap and Shallow Scatter Rap Medium - Bomber Model 5A, 6A, and 7A, Excalibur Fat Free Fry, Bandit Series 200, Storm Wiggle Wart, Rapala DT - 6, Rapala Crankin' Rap 8, Spro Fat Papa 55, SK KVD Flat side crank, Norman Middle N Deep - Excalibur Fat Free Shad and Fat Free Shad Jr., Spro Little John DD and Baby Little John DD, Damiki DC Series 300 and 400, Rapala DT 10 and higher, Rapala Crankin' Rap 10 and 14, SK Series 3 XD, SK Series 5 XD, SK Series 6 XD, Bandit Series 300 and ledgebuster 250, Koppers Live Target Deep Crawfish, ABT Lures Mini X2, Norman DD series, Norman XCS, Rapala Scatter Rap Deep, Luhr Jensen Hot Lips 2 Quote
Super User iceintheveins Posted May 13, 2014 Super User Posted May 13, 2014 For colors, you need natural crayfish, brighter crayfish, firetiger, chartreuse, bluegill/sunfish, and shad colors. Natural forage colors are best in clear water, brighter colors in heavily stained or murky. Quote
TorqueConverter Posted May 13, 2014 Posted May 13, 2014 DT-4 through the DT-20 is a good place to start. The DT Fat 3, DT-Thug and DT Flat are also good. Start off with a couple of DTs and them fish them normally. If you start to break bills off the baits then your idea of "normally" is not the same as Rapala's and you should probably stop buying the baits or fix whatever it is you are doing wrong. Strike king, Basspro's XPS and Norman baits are good reliable performers. Durable too. Quote
Global Moderator Mike L Posted May 13, 2014 Global Moderator Posted May 13, 2014 Shallow Cranks - Bomber Square A, Rapala DT - 4, Rapala Crankin' Rap 3, SK KVD Squarebills, Rapala Shad Rap 5, Norman Mad N, Norman Fat Boy, Rapala Fat Rap, X - Calibur XCS Squarebills, SK Series One, Bandit 100, Rapala Scatter Rap and Shallow Scatter Rap Medium - Bomber Model 5A, 6A, and 7A, Excalibur Fat Free Fry, Bandit Series 200, Storm Wiggle Wart, Rapala DT - 6, Rapala Crankin' Rap 8, Spro Fat Papa 55, SK KVD Flat side crank, Norman Middle N Deep - Excalibur Fat Free Shad and Fat Free Shad Jr., Spro Little John DD and Baby Little John DD, Damiki DC Series 300 and 400, Rapala DT 10 and higher, Rapala Crankin' Rap 10 and 14, SK Series 3 XD, SK Series 5 XD, SK Series 6 XD, Bandit Series 300 and ledgebuster 250, Koppers Live Target Deep Crawfish, ABT Lures Mini X2, Norman DD series, Norman XCS, Rapala Scatter Rap Deep, Luhr Jensen Hot Lips This pretty much covers it Mike Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted May 13, 2014 Super User Posted May 13, 2014 Shallow Cranks - Bomber Square A, Rapala DT - 4, Rapala Crankin' Rap 3, SK KVD Squarebills, Rapala Shad Rap 5, Norman Mad N, Norman Fat Boy, Rapala Fat Rap, X - Calibur XCS Squarebills, SK Series One, Bandit 100, Rapala Scatter Rap and Shallow Scatter Rap Medium - Bomber Model 5A, 6A, and 7A, Excalibur Fat Free Fry, Bandit Series 200, Storm Wiggle Wart, Rapala DT - 6, Rapala Crankin' Rap 8, Spro Fat Papa 55, SK KVD Flat side crank, Norman Middle N Deep - Excalibur Fat Free Shad and Fat Free Shad Jr., Spro Little John DD and Baby Little John DD, Damiki DC Series 300 and 400, Rapala DT 10 and higher, Rapala Crankin' Rap 10 and 14, SK Series 3 XD, SK Series 5 XD, SK Series 6 XD, Bandit Series 300 and ledgebuster 250, Koppers Live Target Deep Crawfish, ABT Lures Mini X2, Norman DD series, Norman XCS, Rapala Scatter Rap Deep, Luhr Jensen Hot Lips Good Stuff right here. In addition, check out the 6th Sense line of Crank Baits ~ Nice Quality, Killer Colors, & Reasonably Priced. Best thing is ~ they Flat Out Catch. A-Jay Quote
Kevin Beachy Posted May 13, 2014 Posted May 13, 2014 The rapala xrap can be a killer in the clown color. Quote
Super User RoLo Posted May 13, 2014 Super User Posted May 13, 2014 This pretty much covers it Yeah, that pretty much 'COVERS IT', but the original poster might be more interested in 'EXPOSING IT'. SHALLOW CRANKS > Bomber Square A > Rapala DT - 4 > Rapala Crankin' Rap 3 > SK KVD Squarebills > Rapala Shad Rap 5 > Norman Mad N > Norman Fat Boy > Rapala Fat Rap X > Calibur XCS Squarebills > SK Series One > Bandit 100 > Rapala Scatter Rap > Shallow Scatter Rap MEDIUM CRANKS > Bomber Model 5A > Bomber Model 6A > Bomber Model 7A > Excalibur Fat Free Fry > Bandit Series 200 > Storm Wiggle Wart > Rapala DT - 6 > Rapala Crankin' Rap 8 > Spro Fat Papa 55 > SK KVD Flat side crank > Norman Middle N DEEP CRANKS > Excalibur Fat Free Shad > Excalibur Fat Free Shad Jr. > Spro Little John DD > Baby Little John DD > Damiki DC Series 300 > Damiki DC Series 400 > Rapala DT 10 and higher > Rapala Crankin' Rap 10 > Rapala Crankin' Rap 14, > Strike King Series 3 XD > Strike King Series 5 XD > Strike King Series 6 XD > Bandit Series 300 > Ledgebuster 250 > Koppers Live Target Deep Crawfish > ABT Lures Mini X2 > Norman DD series > Norman XCS > Rapala Scatter Rap Deep > Luhr Jensen Hot Lips Is a 44-lure arsenal really necessary to motivate a novice crankbaiter ? ? ? Assuming he only purchases one lure of each, his entry-level outlay would range between $400 & $500. Can we cut him a break, and be a tad more specific? Roger Quote
Global Moderator Mike L Posted May 14, 2014 Global Moderator Posted May 14, 2014 Yeah, that pretty much 'COVERS IT', but the original poster might be more interested in 'EXPOSING IT'. SHALLOW CRANKS > Bomber Square A > Rapala DT - 4 > Rapala Crankin' Rap 3 > SK KVD Squarebills > Rapala Shad Rap 5 > Norman Mad N > Norman Fat Boy > Rapala Fat Rap X > Calibur XCS Squarebills > SK Series One > Bandit 100 > Rapala Scatter Rap > Shallow Scatter Rap MEDIUM CRANKS > Bomber Model 5A > Bomber Model 6A > Bomber Model 7A > Excalibur Fat Free Fry > Bandit Series 200 > Storm Wiggle Wart > Rapala DT - 6 > Rapala Crankin' Rap 8 > Spro Fat Papa 55 > SK KVD Flat side crank > Norman Middle N DEEP CRANKS > Excalibur Fat Free Shad > Excalibur Fat Free Shad Jr. > Spro Little John DD > Baby Little John DD > Damiki DC Series 300 > Damiki DC Series 400 > Rapala DT 10 and higher > Rapala Crankin' Rap 10 > Rapala Crankin' Rap 14, > Strike King Series 3 XD > Strike King Series 5 XD > Strike King Series 6 XD > Bandit Series 300 > Ledgebuster 250 > Koppers Live Target Deep Crawfish > ABT Lures Mini X2 > Norman DD series > Norman XCS > Rapala Scatter Rap Deep > Luhr Jensen Hot Lips Is a 44-lure arsenal really necessary to motivate a novice crankbaiter ? ? ? Assuming he only purchases one lure of each, his entry-level outlay would range between $400 & $500. Can we cut him a break, and be a tad more specific? Roger OP The list that Ice listed for you pretty much covers the whole spectrum of choices available with a few exceptions listed. I'm sure there's more... The only brands I have used are the Bombers, KVD Sq Bill's and Rapala's, and have confidence in them built up over the years. The others are equally good and of good quality I'm sure..Just don't have any expierence with them. Not knowing what depth, bottom cover, predominate bait etc. that's in the lakes you frequent... I'd start out by following the adage of "match the hatch" which essentially means throw the color and size of lure which most closely matches the bait fish in the waters you fish. Water clarity is also a consideration in what color to chose as others above has said. Even tho a crankbait can be effective in a straight cast and retrieve method, don't lock yourself into that. You can have great success also by varying your retrieve with short jerk's, a quick few turns of the reel periodically, or even a stop and go every once in while can entice a strike.. I'm sure you know you don't need a $400.00 - $500.00 arsenal of crankbaits to be successfull.. Just try to "Match the Hatch" and water color/clarity to your inventory and I'm sure you'll be pleased. OK? Good Luck Mike 1 Quote
Crankinstein Posted May 14, 2014 Posted May 14, 2014 some really great tips here on brands and colors. I'd also add some sort of chrome color to the list like a chrome sexy shad or something similar. I've had great luck using chrome colors in a lot of different conditions. Another thing to consider, especially for the shallow cranks, is whether the crank has a rattle or not. I'd recommend getting a few of each, brighter colors with rattle and natural colors without. Sometimes the rattle ,in addition to the brighter color, can help the fish locate the bait in murky water and in clear water its not always needed. KVD also has a vid where he talks about catching fish on a bait with a rattle and then switching to one without a rattle when the bite stops to get them going again. Good luck and stay with it, fishing a crankbait can be one of the most rewarding and effective ways to catch fish and its my absolute favorite technique. Quote
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