Weighting Crankbaits

[markphoward54]

  I recently started adding weight strips to various crankbaits, to where they either suspend or slowly sink.  If I weight a crank that normally runs 4 to 5 feet enough to make it sink, and let it fall to, say, 20 feet, will it remain near that depth during retrieve, or will it quickly return to the manufacturer's designed depth range?

  Responses appreciated.

[Choporoz]

I say experiment.  There's been a lot written about weighting down crankbaits.  I've never done it.  I figure the best thing about floating cranksbaits is that they float.  When I bump timber, ninety nine times out of a hundred, the bill deflects, the bait rises and the hooks aren't buried in wood.  I have no doubt that the first time I add metal to a crank, I'd lose it in first cast or two.

[A-Jay]

I've been adding weight to baits for a while.  

 

My experience shows that extra depth attained may depend on a combination of the length of your cast, the diameter of and type of line, along with the speed of your retrieve.

 

When I've added weight to a bait (Strip or Dots) - especially deeper diving baits, when using tackle that allows maximum performance of the bait and making a cast that is of sufficient length / distance to do the same  - the bait usually will run a little deeper than without the added weight.  Also, seems that the bait may acquire the max depth a little faster and even stay deeper a little longer.  How deep & how much longer often depends on the same factors  I mentioned above. 

 

Finally, there seems to be a fine line between adding just enough weight to get the bait down a bit without over powering or dampening the baits original & or designed action and completely flattening it out where it simply comes back to the boat without doing much of anything; most noticeably getting bit.

 

When I need to get a bait super deep, there is often more effective / better options than an over weighted crank bait.

 

Good Luck

 

A-Jay

[Dwight Hottle]

You posted this same question at 11:30 am.

[markphoward54]

 Forgive me, Dwight.  I wasn't sure it went through.  Hope it didn't upset you.  I earlier received message from Strike King customer service, and was told the bait will in fact run at the deeper depth, rising of course as it returns to its origin.  AJ covered that in earlier thread, and very informatively at that.   Thank you very much.

[smalljaw67]

A-Jay is spot on, and I'll tell you now that if you take a bait that runs 4' to 5' and weight it so it sinks or runs in the 20' zone, it will be flat with very little if any action. I'm saying this because I think anyone who has been seriously pursuing bass for more than a few years has tried the very thing you're talking about. I found I can take a bait that dives in the 4' to 5' range and get 7' to 8' while keeping the same action, as A-Jay already mentioned, there is a fine line to getting the bait to run a little deeper and affecting the action.

[SirSnookalot]

If I don't like the depth my lure runs,I'll change lures.  Not going to fiddle around with them.

[BobP]

The short answer is yes, it will run at the sink depth. Of course, if you snag it and break it off, you'll never see it again. And it's action will be reduced due to the added weight of the body.

[J Francho]

Add weight to the line IN FRONT OF THE BAIT. See what that gets you.