Medium Crank Discussion

[dam0007]

Numerous threads I've been in about bills breaking on several brands. Not going to get in that discussion though.

I have a gift card to BPS. So was looking at grabbing some different medium runners 8-12ft range to try. What do you guys like?

These Ima Beast Hunters look solid for $10, idk how the bills hold up. I do throw the Ima Flits and haven't had any issue with them.

Edit* just stumbled across Ima pin jack 8ft diver....

[A-Jay]

That a look at the Crush 250MD from 6th Sense Lures.

 

 It has a tapered tail design that creates a sweet action.

 

At 5/8 ounce, it casts great and runs at 7-12 feet with very little drag.

 

Like all the 6th sense baits, it comes with quality & sharp VMC black nickel hooks and  top of the line paint schemes with realistic 3D gill plates, 3D eyes, and 3D scales.

 

This really differentiates the CRUSH 250MD from all mid-range diving crankbaits on the market.

 

A-Jay

 

edit ~ just checked and BPS doesn't carry any of the 6th Sense line - too bad.

 

[iabass8]

Spro Little John MD

Hard to beat a DT10/14

[dam0007]

Spro Little John MD

Hard to beat a DT10/14

gonna give it a try thanks. Any color you prefer? Have alewives and perch up here as primary forage.

[Fishes in trees]

Timber Tigers & Brush babies.  If you want a slightly smaller profile go with a wiggle wart.   Want to go lighter with a more "fishy" profile - go with a shad rap.

[smalljaw67]

I can't really help with brands but if you are concerned with bills breaking, look for cranks that have circuit board bills as they will hold up better. I will also add some food for thought, the only times I ever had bills break from banging rocks or the bottom has happened in cold water, I had it happen to a LC Pointer and I was told that the cold water makes the Lexan, that is used to make the bill, very brittle, and I was told this by a rep from Lucky Craft and they did replace my bait. So now when it comes to jerkbaits I try not to hit rocks and with cranks I look for heavier billed models or circuit board bills.

[iabass8]

gonna give it a try thanks. Any color you prefer? Have alewives and perch up here as primary forage.

In the Spro line up Chart/Black back is always a mainstay. Cell mate and Old Glory are great alewife/shad colors. I just saw there are a few Euro Spros available that offer a perch color. Those look killer. Spros are just a great MD. 

 

In the DT series, Helinski Shad, Yellow Perch, Fire Tiger and Silver and hard to beat. Their Red Crawdad is one of my favorite spring time colors as well. I like how "muted" the rapala colors are. Look more natural. 

[dam0007]

I can't really help with brands but if you are concerned with bills breaking, look for cranks that have circuit board bills as they will hold up better. I will also add some food for thought, the only times I ever had bills break from banging rocks or the bottom has happened in cold water, I had it happen to a LC Pointer and I was told that the cold water makes the Lexan, that is used to make the bill, very brittle, and I was told this by a rep from Lucky Craft and they did replace my bait. So now when it comes to jerkbaits I try not to hit rocks and with cranks I look for heavier billed models or circuit board bills.

looks like the Ima bills are way thicker than other brands.

[thebillsman]

5xd, 14dd, Little John Baby and Fat Free Shads in a 6.

[MassBass]

fat rap.

[dam0007]

5xd, 14dd, Little John Baby and Fat Free Shads in a 6.

I have so many bombers, fingerlings, shads, etc never caught anything on them. I have some 5xds those are nice too

[DaleGribble]

Rapala dt10. "Smash" color and the green craw are awesome.

[scaleface]

8 to 12 foot , the Norman Deep Little N has been around for decades because they catch fish .

[desmobob]

8 to 12 foot , the Norman Deep Little N has been around for decades because they catch fish .

 

I'll second this.  I like the Medium N also (7'-9').  They're available in big selection of colors, they're inexpensive, and made in the USA.   I like Firetiger, Sunfish, and Perch.

 

Tight lines,

Bob

[dam0007]

Rapala dt10. "Smash" color and the green craw are awesome.

Dt10 has been my favorite for years unfortunately I can't seem to cast one lately without breaking the bill. Dt6,14,16 no problems just the 10s....

[dam0007]

8 to 12 foot , the Norman Deep Little N has been around for decades because they catch fish .

oh hell yeah I'm gonna order a couple. $5 too. Are they durable?

Ended up using my bps card for a bunch of IMA baits. They're walking baits look real cool too. Different presentation to try when Sammy bite starts fading.

[WRB]

Norman DD14 and Bomber 7A, good price for a proven lure that catches bass everywhere.

Tom

[Montanaro]

Spro are good to fish straight from package.

Small body but dives deceptively deep.

[Crankinstein]

Another vote for Spro here and in addition to the little john MD you have to check out the Rock Crawler 55 its been my number 1 bait this year. I caught every bass over 4lb this year on the Rock Crawler with the biggest being 6.5. I've got a video on youtube of it in action with several quality fish being caught including the 6.5lber. Search my name "Kevin Weber" on youtube and you'll see it on my channel. The rock crawler can dive to 12 but I really like using it in the 6-8ft range and let it really nail the bottom, it has a nice hunting action as well.

[bigbill]

I'm using bomber model A I have a selection of all the depths. Rebel BIGCLAW dives 10'. I use the Norman thin n for shallow and the deeper Norman cranks.

[Turkey sandwich]

I put a lot of fish in the boat this year fishing Fat Free and DT series baits. In fact, I remember going nuts trying to replace a sexy (foxy, whatever term they use) shad colored fat free fry. I have quite a few others, but I really like throwing those. Also, don't overlook Shad raps when the water cools off or if you're fishing for smallmouth. Smallmouth and walleye especially love Shad raps.

I fish mostly waters where perch, alewife, sunfish and crayfish make up the forage, so colors like sexy Shad/green shad/silver black (alewife), perch/fire tiger (perch), bluegill/clown/chartreuse/black (sunfish/bluegill), and a variety of craw patterns are all really effective.

[dam0007]

I put a lot of fish in the boat this year fishing Fat Free and DT series baits. In fact, I remember going nuts trying to replace a sexy (foxy, whatever term they use) shad colored fat free fry. I have quite a few others, but I really like throwing those. Also, don't overlook Shad raps when the water cools off or if you're fishing for smallmouth. Smallmouth and walleye especially love Shad raps.

I fish mostly waters where perch, alewife, sunfish and crayfish make up the forage, so colors like sexy Shad/green shad/silver black (alewife), perch/fire tiger (perch), bluegill/clown/chartreuse/black (sunfish/bluegill), and a variety of craw patterns are all really effective.

Here the main bait fish are alewives and blue back herring. Perch and bluegill as well. Never have good luck on the shad patterns with the chartreuse stripe. Baits with purple, pink and green, work great for me. Wouldn't mind seeing a company make a exclusive alewife pattern.

[Zach P]

already been noted but Spro Little John MD and 6th Sense Crush 250MD are both great med diving cranks. 

[fishballer06]

DT10 is probably the thoroughbred of the medium diver range. However, those bills will break if you smack them on the water to remove weeds. 

[Turkey sandwich]

Here the main bait fish are alewives and blue back herring. Perch and bluegill as well. Never have good luck on the shad patterns with the chartreuse stripe. Baits with purple, pink and green, work great for me. Wouldn't mind seeing a company make a exclusive alewife pattern.

I kinda feel the same way sometimes, and others I'm cool with silver/black and shad patterns. The way I look at it, crankbaits just need to be "close enough" most of the time since I'm looking for fast reaction strikes. I think action and profile can be more important than subtle color variations.