My Rapala Crankbaits Won't Dive 4-6 Feet Like They Should? (Move/delete If Already Asked.)

[IamNewbie]

Hi guys, I'm a newbie bass fisherman and I have a shad colored Rapala Crankbait I got for maybe 4 dollars at the store, and it's supposed to dive 4-6 feet and it's staying right on top water and going only 2-3 feet deep or right below the surface. I am limited to using a snap since I don't have a fluoro leader (Gonna invest in one soon) and you guys might be like "Why not tie it on still?" and it's only because I'm cautious fishing any hard bass lures on the one lake I go to most of the time since it has a high pike population as well... so I have to use a steel leader wire with a snap and swivel on it for now, oh and the leader has to be connected by a snap/swivel.

 

Are my lures not working correctly because of the snap I have to use, or is it something else? Thanks!

[FinCulture]

just try it without the leader for a couple casts and see what happens

[F14A-B]

How far is your cast? What pound test line? Braid or mono? A lot of variables to your issue..

[Bluebasser86]

I'm going to guess it's the leader. A lot of Rapala baits are wood which is easy to effect the action and diving depth.

[Tim Kelly]

Have you tried winding it faster?

[SirSnookalot]

I wouldn't do a thing, sounds good the way it is.  If i did I would try a 1/8 oz torpedo trolling sinker, or split shot, even a steel leader will take you deeper, if you crimp it you don't need a snap, nothing really wrong with a premade wire leader and snap. Alter retrieve speed. 

This is a good newbie question.

[smalljaw67]

It is very hard to say what the problem is not knowing the exact bait and line type but I'll give an educated guess. I'm going to say the steel leader you're running is affecting your bait and in a big way. Most Rapala baits are balsa and they are sensitive to small weight changes and that is why they tell you every one is tank tested before it leaves the factory. There some that are plastic and not knowing which bait it is makes it tough because plastic is different than balsa and it could be something else causing the bait not to get to depth but right now I'm going to guess the leader is causing you the problem.

[Fishes in trees]

I don't have much experience fishing for fish with teeth.  However, I know some guys who have and I've chatted with them about toothy fish issues from time to time.  In my opinion, if you've got to fish a crank on a wire leader, you'd be better off purchasing wire leader materials and making your own wire leader rather than purchasing one that comes with swivel & snap.  If you need to get the bait deeper, a worm weight on the line ahead of the leader works ok.

  Some guys I know will go with 50 or 80 fluorocarbon leader and forego wire.   Have to experiment to find out what works for you.

[IamNewbie]

I will make sure to try things out next time! I for sure have splitshots and I have some bullet weights coming in tomorrow, but I'm not sure if they'd do good on a crankbait haha. I'll try just tying my lure with my line. I have 20 pound mono on right now. I am looking invest in some heavy fluorocarbon leader line, possibly 40 pounds. Hopefully next time I fish I won't hook up on a pike... oh God so worrying, haha. I can't remember what exactly my Rapala is called... I think it's the DT Series Crankbaits in the Shad/Silver color. 

 

Thanks everyone for being helpful to my newbie question! Haha.

[F14A-B]

#20 mono is your issue, heavy mono causes your bait to run much shallower than the specified depth.. ( it's a old trick of years gone by ) run those baits in #8 or 10 & you will hit you're mark.

How far of a cast you make also will affect depth. A 40' cast simply doesn't have time to make it whereas a 100' cast will.. Good luck.

[SirSnookalot]

I target teeth, don!t use wire because I get less srtrkes. 40# leader for bass? If you put on some kind weight, put it above a swivel or high on the leader. Sounds like the lure is ok in the irts place, best solution use a different lure.