Crankbait Order Finally

[Masaccio]

My head has been stuck on crankbaits for over a year now.  Everything else is, yeah, I wouldn't mind having that, BUT.  My area isn't the best for cranks during the main season.  Weedy northern NJ.  But in case there are winter breaks in the weather (warmer and warmer these days) and maybe pre-spawn and late fall....., or deep-diving anytime. 

I honed in on either the River2Sea Tactical DD Cranks, or the Megabass Deep-Six.  Ended up going with a wide range of the Megabass.  More expensive!  But an interesting application of moving weight technology that converts even when the crank doesn't reach bottom contact.

Also despite the hoopla of the Tactical DD cranks, the comparable Megabass are only larger and heavier by a very slim margin, and are supposed to go deeper.  NIce selection of colors too.  I think I ordered 7 or 8 of them.  My only other DDs are two very fat, unwieldy looking Strike Kings, that have basically been gathering dust for three hears.  I have a mess of lighter ones that will be fun to sport a little later in the year.       

[LrgmouthShad]

Sweet deal. I posted up a small purchase of some rapala cranks on the bait monkey thread short while back. Don't like cranks generally and hate trebles but like you, excited to throw them. Let us know how they work for you!

[AlabamaSpothunter]

I can't catch a darn thing on the Tactical Crank by R2R I bought for "Speed Cranking in the winter time" (thanks Tim and Matt?), and it's as hard to work as any other typical deep diving CB.  

 

I hear the MB ones are much are easier to retrieve, and they dive at a much steeper plane.  

 

I've turned into a huge MB fanboy over the last several months.    Most of the stuff I buy from them is exceptional quality, and seemingly justifies the high price tag.     

[Masaccio]

7 minutes ago, LrgmouthShad said:

Sweet deal. I posted up a small purchase of some rapala cranks on the bait monkey thread short while back. Don't like cranks generally and hate trebles but like you, excited to throw them. Let us know how they work for you!

Yeh, I looked for that thread - I know it exists - but just wanted to get a post up.  Figured it would find its place.  I am excited.  I hate having an unexpected good day for fishing but not having what I want to throw.  

3 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

I can't catch a darn thing on the Tactical Crank by R2R I bought for "Speed Cranking in the winter time" (thanks Tim and Matt?), and it's as hard to work as any other typical deep diving CB.  

 

I hear the MB ones are much are easier to retrieve, and they dive at a much steeper plane.  

 

I've turned into a huge MB fanboy over the last several months.    Most of the stuff I buy from them is exceptional quality, and seemingly justifies the high price tag.     

Yeah, and the TB Bassin' group is way into speed cranking.  Are you?  I'm happy with my crank rods, but I don't have a slow crank reel.  Wondering if I need one.  

6 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

I can't catch a darn thing on the Tactical Crank by R2R I bought for "Speed Cranking in the winter time" (thanks Tim and Matt?), and it's as hard to work as any other typical deep diving CB.  

 

I hear the MB ones are much are easier to retrieve, and they dive at a much steeper plane.  

 

I've turned into a huge MB fanboy over the last several months.    Most of the stuff I buy from them is exceptional quality, and seemingly justifies the high price tag.     

Really helpful that you said that about the R2S TC.  Much appreciated.  Perspective is golden.  I love fishing, but no background.  I'm having to build the knowledge-base myself.  Which also is fun.   

[AlabamaSpothunter]

8 minutes ago, Masaccio said:

Yeh, I looked for that thread - I know it exists - but just wanted to get a post up.  Figured it would find its place.  I am excited.  I hate having an unexpected good day for fishing but not having what I want to throw.  

Yeah, and the TB Bassin' group is way into speed cranking.  Are you?  I'm happy with my crank rods, but I don't have a slow crank reel.  Wondering if I need one.  

Really helpful that you said that about the R2S TC.  Much appreciated.  Perspective is golden.  I love fishing, but no background.  I'm having to build the knowledge-base myself.  Which also is fun.   

Same here brother, I took a decade + off, and only started back last year. 

 

I've had a lot of success thus far from the hours of TB I've watched, but I just can't seem to get this speed cranking thing to work.      I love crankbait fishing, but I never throw these deep diving ones much until I tried this whole speed cranking deal starting about 6 weeks ago.    

 

Good thing is that your fishery is totally different than mine, so you might have a ton of success with it.   I'm not going to give up, but I'm going to get a MB deep six to try instead of the R2R Tactical Crank.      It's a real chore to work that Tactical Crank after awhile especially when you have no confidence in the bait since you haven't caught a fish on it yet.  

[NorthernBasser]

What gear ratio are you guys throwing the deep cranks on? I know Matt recommends 8 speed, but to that I say 'no thanks!'. 

 

To the OP, have you dabbled into lipless cranks yet? I always have one tied on, no matter the time of year. 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

23 minutes ago, NorthernBasser said:

What gear ratio are you guys throwing the deep cranks on? I know Matt recommends 8 speed, but to that I say 'no thanks!'. 

 

To the OP, have you dabbled into lipless cranks yet? I always have one tied on, no matter the time of year. 

Yeah I don't own a 8 speed, but have been using it on a 7.1 Zillion HD.    I was learning last night how fast a Bass can swim......basically 4-5x faster than the fastest reel you can buy.   You can't outwind a Bass.   With that in mind, does the fish notice the bait traveling that much faster b/t a 7 and 8 speed reel?

 

I watch the videos of them actually "speed cranking", and they aren't really turning the handle that fast it seems.    When I try to crank that Tactical Crank as fast as I can, I'm good for about 5 casts before I'm like Nope ?

[Woody B]

I probably use cranks too much.  Most of my reels are 7ish to 1.   One day I was lost several fish, then finally got one in the boat that was barely hooked on the rear treble.   I decided my retrieve was too fast.  I have a hard time slowing down a bunch so I switched to a 6 to 1 reel and finally ended up with several in the boat that day.   

 

If I'm fishing cranks deeper than 15' or so I have a "special" reel I use.   Bass fishing purist will gasp, but I use my 50 horse Mercury.   I can get really deep that way.  Last Winter there were some bass on the bottom in 50 feet of water.   I tied on a Dredger 25.5 on, with a 6XD tied behind it another 15 feet.  I caught 4 that way.   Sometime this winter I'm going to try trolling an Alabama rig behind a deep crank.  

 

 

@NorthernBasser mentioned lipless cranks.   My favorite bait for skipping under docks is a Red Eyed Shad.   

[NorthernBasser]

3 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Yeah I don't own a 8 speed, but have been using it on a 7.1 Zillion HD.    I was learning last night how fast a Bass can swim......basically 4-5x faster than the fastest reel you can buy.   You can't outwind a Bass.   With that in mind, does the fish notice the bait traveling that much faster b/t a 7 and 8 speed reel?

 

I watch the videos of them actually "speed cranking", and they aren't really turning the handle that fast it seems.    When I try to crank that Tactical Crank as fast as I can, I'm good for about 5 casts before I'm like Nope ?

With most deep divers, I'll use a 5 speed, or a 6.3. Just so much easier dealing with the drag from those big bills. I can still burn them fast if I want if I just reel really fast. 

[Masaccio]

All of my reels are n the 7 or high 6 range. Never been convinced that I  need 8 anything, but feeling the need for a lower ratio despite the hoopla of high speed cranking. 8s seem very specialized and specific to me. Not a good approach for me, or run of the mill enthusiasts. With all due respect. 

[GetFishorDieTryin]

You dont have to wait for breaks in the weather, you can catch them right now on shallow water, so I would be more then willing to bet catching them deep wouldnt be terribly hard, as long as you can find them.

[Mbirdsley]

I love the mega bass deep diving cranks. As far as I am concerned MB offers the most realistic looking finished when I am fishing clear water. I love fishing all cranks cranks.

 

However, Im in Northern bassers camp and I use an abu Garcia rocket which, is a round reel in the 5.2.1 gear ratio to throw deep cranks. 

[Bankbeater]

All of my reels are around 6.3 to 1.  Most of the places I fish are between 4 and 20 feet deep.  Early in the season I will start off deep, and then change over to the shallow crankbaits as the vegetation grows.

[BrianMDTX]

I’m not a big crankbait angler. But I’ll admit it’s fun as heck catching bass on cranks. I should probably expand my horizons. 

[Masaccio]

18 hours ago, NorthernBasser said:

What gear ratio are you guys throwing the deep cranks on? I know Matt recommends 8 speed, but to that I say 'no thanks!'. 

 

To the OP, have you dabbled into lipless cranks yet? I always have one tied on, no matter the time of year. 

I'm Curious.  Why 'no thanks'?  Is it the approach that you don't believe in, or is it just too much work to move the bait that fast?  I'm thinking if you have a XHG reel with a nice oversized handle, it kinda makes sense after all.  No?  

I have a few lipless, but since I haven't done much winter fishing yet, they're always picking up weeds in the warmer weather.  Sounds like a great option in colder weather!  

10 hours ago, GetFishorDieTryin said:

You dont have to wait for breaks in the weather, you can catch them right now on shallow water, so I would be more then willing to bet catching them deep wouldnt be terribly hard, as long as you can find them.

Thanks!  By a "break in the weather" I mean in case the lake ice happens to thaw out during winter.  This year has been very mild so currently no ice.  

 

18 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

I watch the videos of them actually "speed cranking", and they aren't really turning the handle that fast it seems.    When I try to crank that Tactical Crank as fast as I can, I'm good for about 5 casts before I'm like Nope ?

Isn't that the point of an XHG.  You don't have to turn so quick for the bait to burn in.  So you use less energy.  A 10cm handle, or above, would also help.    Hm.  I seem to be talking myself into at least one good XHG reel!  

[softwateronly]

I've thrown the MB deep 6 and r2s dd crank in "cold water speed cranking" conditions and caught fish.  I don't crank much so I throw it on a mod fast heavy graphite with a 7:1 reel.  Without electronics, I never really know if I'm on a school, but in the cold I anchor up and fancast the crank first, usually doing 2-3 passes along breaklines and up/down breaks with slightly different angles.  Usually, I move to a blade bait, small swimbait, or hair jig.  

 

I can understand losing confidence in this technique, with how infrequent I get bit and the wear and tear throwing it.  I barely have confidence in it and it has given me 2 of my heaviest 5 bass ever, including a northern strain pb.  I definitely have not dialed it in, but I also have to keep trying because of my past luck.

 

scott

[AlabamaSpothunter]

40 minutes ago, Masaccio said:

I'm Curious.  Why 'no thanks'?  Is it the approach that you don't believe in, or is it just too much work to move the bait that fast?  I'm thinking if you have a XHG reel with a nice oversized handle, it kinda makes sense after all.  No?  

I have a few lipless, but since I haven't done much winter fishing yet, they're always picking up weeds in the warmer weather.  Sounds like a great option in colder weather!  

Thanks!  By a "break in the weather" I mean in case the lake ice happens to thaw out during winter.  This year has been very mild so currently no ice.  

 

Isn't that the point of an XHG.  You don't have to turn so quick for the bait to burn in.  So you use less energy.  A 10cm handle, or above, would also help.    Hm.  I seem to be talking myself into at least one good XHG reel!  

Perhaps so, but since I don't own a 8 speed I can't say how much easier to wind it would be. 

[Masaccio]

I re-checked the specs on my Tatula 200.  7.3 ratio and 100mm handle.  Close enough. Heavy-ish, though.  

[Bankc]

On 1/13/2023 at 6:59 PM, Woody B said:

I probably use cranks too much.  Most of my reels are 7ish to 1.   One day I was lost several fish, then finally got one in the boat that was barely hooked on the rear treble.   I decided my retrieve was too fast.  I have a hard time slowing down a bunch so I switched to a 6 to 1 reel and finally ended up with several in the boat that day.   

 

If I'm fishing cranks deeper than 15' or so I have a "special" reel I use.   Bass fishing purist will gasp, but I use my 50 horse Mercury.   I can get really deep that way.  Last Winter there were some bass on the bottom in 50 feet of water.   I tied on a Dredger 25.5 on, with a 6XD tied behind it another 15 feet.  I caught 4 that way.   Sometime this winter I'm going to try trolling an Alabama rig behind a deep crank.  

 

 

@NorthernBasser mentioned lipless cranks.   My favorite bait for skipping under docks is a Red Eyed Shad.   

In the heat of summer, when the bass are down 35 feet or more, that's often what I'll be doing as well.  I rarely have much luck with it, but that time of year, even a little luck is better than no luck!  

[Masaccio]

On 1/13/2023 at 7:59 PM, Woody B said:

If I'm fishing cranks deeper than 15' or so I have a "special" reel I use.   Bass fishing purist will gasp, but I use my 50 horse Mercury.   I can get really deep that way.  Last Winter there were some bass on the bottom in 50 feet of water.   I tied on a Dredger 25.5 on, with a 6XD tied behind it another 15 feet.  I caught 4 that way.   Sometime this winter I'm going to try trolling an Alabama rig behind a deep crank.  

 

 

@NorthernBasser mentioned lipless cranks.   My favorite bait for skipping under docks is a Red Eyed Shad.   

I've been wondering how deep bass go.  Didn't know that they'd be on the bottom that deep. Thanks.