Crankbaits

[KevO]

This year I have two goals get better with jigs and crankbaits.  So I bought two rods and reels for each tactic.  Tomorrow I am going fishing and I want to focus on cranking after the morning topwater bite dies down.  It is going to be hot here in Nashville and I am wondering where I should I start cranking shallow or deep?  

I have a good place in mind where I want to it's a rock shelf that comes up from 30-40ft to about 2 ft, it is also a channel wall and a main lake point on the channel.  I have always caught some good stripers here trolling but have never really tried cranking here.  So should I throw shallow cranks on the flat or throw deep cranks along and over the wall?

[.dsaavedra.]

THROW EM EVERYWHERE!

throw DT3's and 4's along the flats, DT6's, 7's, and 10's along the drop off, and DT16's at the bottom of the drop off.

use the cranks like a search tool and locate the fish, and then fish at the depth the fish are biting.

[The_Natural]

I'll suggest you start throwing those cranks right away...first light is generally when the fish are most active, and can catch them on that crankbait and build confidence.  Get yourself a Fat CB BDS in Rootbeer or Ghost Sunfish and you will be in business.

[KevO]

Should I start with the shallow early then move deeper?  Who makes the fat CB BDS?  Lucky Craft?

[Mottfia]

My approach is probably way over simplified but I think it could be helpful for you. When fishing crankbaits I try to stay shallower than 20ft. I look hardest for structure in the 6-12ft area. I use a deep little N (10-12ft diver) in a shad pattern for most of my cranking but have no problem throwing those tank sized crankbaits. They are dynomite for big fish. I usually throw as shallow as I can and work it back to deeper waters. The bait digs into the bottom pretty good and acts wild. I reel pretty slow just to hold contact with bottom and feel the wobble . Any deep diver can do for this but I've grown a liking for the DLN. You can use a crankbait to catch fish in nearly any condition and situation ( heavy cover and super deep water would be the expections but you know that   ;D). Paul Elias is known for saying that if you fish points all day then you will consisently good. I can;t think of a better place for a crankbait.  Buddy I don't think it will take long before you fall in love with this lure. They are fire!!

[Hookemdown.]

There's still plenty of fish shallow right now. I'd start in about 8ft of water near main and secondary points in the mornings. ( I like using a bandit 200)

The fish are starting to move to deeper structure as the temps start rising. A GREAT summer tactic is bouncing big cranks off of structure in 15-20 foot water. A DD22 will suffice.