Deep Cranking

[Fried Lemons]

Last weekend I was playing around with a deep cranking bait. I pretty much never fish deep cranks so I was throwing it around on the only setup I had with enough backbone to handle it which is mainly a frogging combo. I noticed the bait tended to want to swim on its side especially at around the halfway point.

 

Those of you who do this a lot, do these baits blow out more easily than shallow divers? I was using an 8:1 reel and even reeling as slow as possible the bait was turning slightly on its side.

[PourMyOwn]

I think you nailed it. I had that problem until I pulled one of my old 5.1 ratio reels out of retirement. 

[fishballer06]

I can't even imagine trying to crank a deep diver on an 8:1. That issue aside, your problem could be a slightly out of tune crankbait. This can be fixed by bending the eye of the bait. There's plenty of articles and videos online showing/explaining how to do this. 

[WRB]

Depends on the lure and line being used. A good deep diving crank should be able to run straight regardless how fast it’s retrieved using a reel of any gear ratio.

There is a speed point where the diver will roll over, using around 6-8 mph.

Tom

[Deleted account]

It either needs to be tuned or it's a Norman@. Some cranks will blow out at faster speeds more than others, but most can be made to run straight, or almost so. 8:1 is high for cranking, but if you slow down, while not ideal, is doable. 

[papajoe222]

If it is running on its side and not straight up and down there is something wrong with the bill, or the line tie. You can try a slight twist to the line tie and see if it makes a difference.  If it’s blowing out (you can feel when it does this) you’re reeling it too fast for the bill’s design. There is a lot of water moving over that lip, exerting pressure on it. There comes a point when the lip wants to take the path of least resistance. As soon as it does, the resistance/ pressure is reduced and it will resume its job. Sometimes you can fine tune a crank that does this, but the best remedy is to slow down your retrieve. 

 

[Bluebasser86]

Maybe it needed tuned? I've never really noticed them being more prone to running to the side than squarebills are, but maybe it's more noticeable when they do it.

[WRB]

If you tie direct it's possible to affect how a deep diver may run but with a light weight snap, not a snap swivel, today's lures run true unless damaged. Bending the line tie eye that iis molded into the bill to tune it is risky and not very effective.

Tom