Do they make crank baits the same size as the KVD 1.5 but heavier than 3/8?

[Ohioguy25]

So I’ve entered the world of crank baits, and I’m having success with the KVD Hard Knock 1.5 squarebill (3-5) but finding it difficult to cast on my baitcasting setup. Using a Curado 200XGK and a 7’ Mojo MHMF. 

 

How do people throw these light baits on casting setups, or do they typically go heavier than 3/8? I would like to keep the smaller profile of the 1.5, but it seems like everything I’ve found is over 3”. Isn’t that a bit large for river smallmouth?

[Bass Rutten]

If by "they" you mean lucky craft then yes, their 1.5 squarebill weighs 1/2oz.

[Catt]

Bill Lewis ATV 1.5

Length 2 1/4"

Weight 1/2 oz

Depth 3-6'

 

Bill Lewis Echo 1.75

Length 2 1/2"

Weight 2/3 oz

Depth 3-5'

[Reel]

Shimano Macbeth 63 = 5/8 oz.

[Ohioguy25]

9 hours ago, Ohioguy25 said:

So I’ve entered the world of crank baits, and I’m having success with the KVD Hard Knock 1.5 squarebill (3-5) but finding it difficult to cast on my baitcasting setup. Using a Curado 200XGK and a 7’ Mojo MHMF. 

 

How do people throw these light baits on casting setups, or do they typically go heavier than 3/8? I would like to keep the smaller profile of the 1.5, but it seems like everything I’ve found is over 3”. Isn’t that a bit large for river smallmouth?

 

1 hour ago, Reel said:

Shimano Macbeth 63 = 5/8 oz.

Thanks! Are these relatively similar in all around size to the KVD 1.5 or are they short and fat?

[Reel]

Yes, short and fat

[Ohioguy25]

51 minutes ago, Reel said:

Yes, short and fat

Ahh. So perhaps I’m better off with a 3+” if I want a 1/2 oz crank that isn’t too chunky?

[Bankbeater]

The Egg by BPS is 2" to 2-1/2", and is 7/16 to 3/4 oz.

[Kirtley Howe]

I wish Poes' was still in business. Their cedar crankbaits were great. Heavy for their size, but very buoyant. Cast like bullets. Very durable, and very consistent in action. Not cheap, but worth every penny. I lost my last one early this year.

[Team9nine]

5 minutes ago, Kirtley Howe said:

I wish Poes' was still in business. Their cedar crankbaits were great. Heavy for their size, but very buoyant. Cast like bullets. Very durable, and very consistent in action. Not cheap, but worth every penny. I lost my last one early this year.

I’m still sitting on a stash of 3-4 dozen left. Haven’t lost near as many since buying and using a plug knocker after years of just breaking them off ?

[WRB]

They do make crank bait rods like St Croix LG72MM, 1/4- 3/4 oz. Dobyns DC 705 and 735, 1/4-1 oz crank baits.

Major Craft Zoner Hunter is 2 1/2” 7/16 oz.

Tom

 

[Ohioguy25]

28 minutes ago, WRB said:

They do make crank bait rods like St Croix LG72MM, 1/4- 3/4 oz. Dobyns DC 705 and 735, 1/4-1 oz crank baits.

Major Craft Zoner Hunter is 2 1/2” 7/16 oz.

Tom

 

So I just found out I do in fact have what I’m looking for, a 1/2 oz 3-5’ crank with the same form factor/size as a KVD 1.5.  The only problem is it kept snagging bottom today where the KVD 1.5 did not. Does that extra 1/8 oz push it down more or are the depth ratings just not consistent?

[WRB]

Diving depth is usually a Bill design thing not weight specifically. You can go up in line diameter to change depth a foot or so, smaller diameter the lure dives deeper, larger diameter shallower. Mono is better then FC to control depth?

Tom

[GReb]

Ditch the Curado K. It’s a fine real for heavier baits but not for a 1.5.  The MGL Shimanos perform much better. 

[garroyo130]

48 minutes ago, GReb said:

Ditch the Curado K. It’s a fine real for heavier baits but not for a 1.5.  The MGL Shimanos perform much better. 

 

I agree and I'd also fish that on a MM rod instead

[Woody B]

I fish with 1/4 ounce baits on casting gear all the time. (Rapala OG4,  Bandit 100,200,300,  Strike King 3's ect) You've got to have a rod with a soft enough tip to "whip" the bait.  My favorite light crank rod is a Lews MACH MAPC.   It's 7 feet, medium/medium.    It also helps to set the brakes really loose on your reel, but you'll have to use your thumb a bunch.   All of my brakes are set light enough to backlash threading the line through the guides.   It can be difficult in the wind.  If I want a fairly shallow crank on a windy day I'll use a Spro Little John.  They're 1/2 ounce.   

[Ohioguy25]

22 hours ago, GReb said:

Ditch the Curado K. It’s a fine real for heavier baits but not for a 1.5.  The MGL Shimanos perform much better. 

 

21 hours ago, garroyo130 said:

 

I agree and I'd also fish that on a MM rod instead

What about 1/2 oz 3-5’ diving sauarebills?

[Scott804]

Bagley B1, 7/16oz and 2". Comes through cover like a dream and hunts like a hound dog. 

 

For smallmouth, Spro Rkcrwlr 50 is my favorite outside of a my out of production bagleys. 5/16 and 2", truly tiny and perfect size for a smallmouth. 

 

I like cranking on a glass rod, tip is soft so I can throw the more difficult to cast ones and it feels like for me it hangs up less because there is some bend that happens before you end up hung up. One of those MGL reels will make casting the lighter baits a dream compared to the 200k though, I made that jump this spring and it has been so nice. SLX MGL 70 can toss 1/4oz baits like they're 1/2oz. 

 

My smallmouth cranking set up for those smaller kayak/raft rivers is a Shimano Zodias ML Glass 7'0 with a Shimano SLX MGL 70, 14lb fluoro. It is awesome for the 1/4 to 5/16th size crankbaits. I use it on some largemouth fisheries too. 

[Ohioguy25]

32 minutes ago, Scott804 said:

Bagley B1, 7/16oz and 2". Comes through cover like a dream and hunts like a hound dog. 

 

For smallmouth, Spro Rkcrwlr 50 is my favorite outside of a my out of production bagleys. 5/16 and 2", truly tiny and perfect size for a smallmouth. 

 

I like cranking on a glass rod, tip is soft so I can throw the more difficult to cast ones and it feels like for me it hangs up less because there is some bend that happens before you end up hung up. One of those MGL reels will make casting the lighter baits a dream compared to the 200k though, I made that jump this spring and it has been so nice. SLX MGL 70 can toss 1/4oz baits like they're 1/2oz. 

 

My smallmouth cranking set up for those smaller kayak/raft rivers is a Shimano Zodias ML Glass 7'0 with a Shimano SLX MGL 70, 14lb fluoro. It is awesome for the 1/4 to 5/16th size crankbaits. I use it on some largemouth fisheries too. 

What about 1/2 oz cranks?

[GetFishorDieTryin]

Lucky Craft 1.5s are a little heavier then the KVDs at 1/2 and the profile is really similar.  I like a 7' Med Fast for the KVD 1.5s and other shallow squarebills.  

[Ohioguy25]

On 8/21/2023 at 8:56 PM, GetFishorDieTryin said:

Lucky Craft 1.5s are a little heavier then the KVDs at 1/2 and the profile is really similar.  I like a 7' Med Fast for the KVD 1.5s and other shallow squarebills.  

 

On 8/17/2023 at 11:50 PM, Bass Rutten said:

If by "they" you mean lucky craft then yes, their 1.5 squarebill weighs 1/2oz.

 

On 8/18/2023 at 5:56 AM, Catt said:

Bill Lewis ATV 1.5

Length 2 1/4"

Weight 1/2 oz

Depth 3-6'

 

Bill Lewis Echo 1.75

Length 2 1/2"

Weight 2/3 oz

Depth 3-5'

 

On 8/18/2023 at 9:46 AM, Reel said:

Yes, short and fat

 

On 8/20/2023 at 12:50 PM, Bankbeater said:

The Egg by BPS is 2" to 2-1/2", and is 7/16 to 3/4 oz.

 

On 8/20/2023 at 2:24 PM, Team9nine said:

I’m still sitting on a stash of 3-4 dozen left. Haven’t lost near as many since buying and using a plug knocker after years of just breaking them off ?

 

On 8/20/2023 at 4:10 PM, WRB said:

They do make crank bait rods like St Croix LG72MM, 1/4- 3/4 oz. Dobyns DC 705 and 735, 1/4-1 oz crank baits.

Major Craft Zoner Hunter is 2 1/2” 7/16 oz.

Tom

 

 

On 8/20/2023 at 7:00 PM, Woody B said:

I fish with 1/4 ounce baits on casting gear all the time. (Rapala OG4,  Bandit 100,200,300,  Strike King 3's ect) You've got to have a rod with a soft enough tip to "whip" the bait.  My favorite light crank rod is a Lews MACH MAPC.   It's 7 feet, medium/medium.    It also helps to set the brakes really loose on your reel, but you'll have to use your thumb a bunch.   All of my brakes are set light enough to backlash threading the line through the guides.   It can be difficult in the wind.  If I want a fairly shallow crank on a windy day I'll use a Spro Little John.  They're 1/2 ounce.   

Do you find the profile of big, bulbous cranks like 6th Sense and KVD 2.5 are a bit large and that 1.5 will be more productive?

 

I ask because the only 1/2 oz crankbaits with a rattle I seem to be able to find are larger like this, such as the Spro Hunter.

[GetFishorDieTryin]

Cranks are such a rabbit hole when you first get into them.  Silent cranks consistently outproduce rattles in my area.  Getting the crank to the right depth is more important  IMO then having the right crank shape.  2 inexpensive cranks I use and do really well with are the KVD shallow 1.5 and the LC silent 1.5 when the fish or cover is a little deeper.  After you fish those 2 for a while and get a little more familiar with the kind of performance you want out of a bait, then get a little deeper into shapes and actions.  

[king fisher]

I own way to many square bill crankbaits l have some made by almost every brand.  My favorite in the 1.5 size is also the least expensive in my box.  The Academy Sports H20 Express CRS.   They are 3/8 oz. cast well on bait casting gear, and flat out catches bass.  I get them when they are on sale for 3.99, but would gladly pay three times that if I had to.  Normal price is $4.49 and in my opinion, the best bang for your buck in bass fishing.

      My favorite in a larger size are some old Bagely's Basla b's.  They come through wood better than any I have used, but I cry every time I snag one.

      I use 6th. Sense most of the time, but only in the larger sizes.  The H20 is by far my favorite in the smaller size.

[Ohioguy25]

38 minutes ago, king fisher said:

I own way to many square bill crankbaits l have some made by almost every brand.  My favorite in the 1.5 size is also the least expensive in my box.  The Academy Sports H20 Express CRS.   They are 3/8 oz. cast well on bait casting gear, and flat out catches bass.  I get them when they are on sale for 3.99, but would gladly pay three times that if I had to.  Normal price is $4.49 and in my opinion, the best bang for your buck in bass fishing.

      My favorite in a larger size are some old Bagely's Basla b's.  They come through wood better than any I have used, but I cry every time I snag one.

      I use 6th. Sense most of the time, but only in the larger sizes.  The H20 is by far my favorite in the smaller size.

So you don’t find the larger profile deters bites?

[king fisher]

1 hour ago, Ohioguy25 said:

So you don’t find the larger profile deters bites?

Many times the larger sizes get more bites.  Depends on the lake, size of bait, and many other factors.  I live in Mexico, and the bass seem to like bigger baits on average than in other places.  The bass are less pressured, on most days a variety of baits and sizes will work.  Bass where you are may be more picky, and a small size change might make a big difference.  Even here there are days when the bass are very selective, and they like the 1.5 size best, when they do I throw the H20.  It casts well for me, and might weight more than the 3/8 oz. listed on the the package.