Deep crankbaits?

[.ghoti.]

I've been trying to decide, over the last few weeks, if I want to get into swimbaits or deep crankbaits for next year. Flechero made up my mind for me when he put that sweet custom crankbait rod up for sale.

So now I'd like some suggestions for some deep cranks. I have a few old DD22's and a handful of other older baits. Maybe a dozen in all. I don't remember what colors I have. They are all in one old 3700 box that hasn't seen the light of day for quite a while. They're probably all rusted up by now, and mostly useless, so I need to start over. I may be able to salvage some, maybe not.

So, what are your productive deep cranks?

I'm open to any suggestions, but I may as well tell you I probably won't be buying any baits that are much over 7 or 8 bucks apiece. I know I'll have some DD22's and some Rapala DT's in my cart the next time I go to BPS, but what else should I be looking at?

Thanks,

GK

[KevO]

I've had some success with the fat free shads, and the strike king pro model series 6 crankbaits.  They work and won't break the bank.

[jimmieO]

Strike King series 5 and series 6 are my favorite, but I'm not too particular. I do however prefer the suspending type stuff.

[Stringjam]

You'll be hard-pressed to find a better bait than the DT16 in that price range - and even out of it.

Poe's Comp Cedars 4400 is another great bait - - a couple bucks more but still under the $10 mark.  More kick than the DT - good bait to use in a little more off-colored water.  

 

[fathom]

at that price, the dt10's and 16's are hard to beat...as well as the fat free's.

if you shop (not talking ebay here), there is always a mom and pop store on the way to the lake that's got a poe's somewhere on the rack.

[T-rig]

The Deps DC-400 Cascabel is expensive but a great deep crank!

[mike bat]

for the money its hard to beat a fat free shad ... also the nice part about the fat free is they catch fish ...  

[TrippyJai]

With 90% fat free shad cranks in my tackle box, go with the 7F fat free shad. It works works great. It's such an easy bait to fish and even has a great action at slow speeds.

They are 5-6 bucks with nice finishes and sharp hooks. I like the strike king sexy shad, but now since bomber came out with the foxy shad. I don't buy any strike king cranks, only spinnerbaits.

[Primus]

I have to agree with the others, for the price range the DT series & the Fat Free cranks are both good choices. If your budget allows pick up a few of each.

[Sam]

Ghoti,

Remember that you can throw deep diving crankbaits into shallow water to stir up the bottom.

I throw the DD's toward the shore to make them look like a crazy crawfish digging into the bottom and stirring up the dirt and rock.

Favorite colors?  Right now, I am throwing Sexy Shad to see how it will perform and will continue my experiment into next year. Otherwise I use shad colors most of the time.

Caught one on a DD Sexy Shad in about 6 feet off water in a local lake last month.

Too cold to go back out until tournament season next March when I will try them again.

Just make them look like a crawfish or a baitfish stirring up the bottom and you will catch something.  

Be sure to use the correct line test based on your reel and rod specifications and check the line for nicks and scrapes after every ten (10) casts and retie your knot after each fish.  I lost a nice one on the trip last month as I got lazy and did not check the line and it snapped.

Try various DDs and sooner or later you will find the one you like best.

Send pics of what you catch.  

[mrbassky]

I have several in my arsenal. In no particular order.

DB3s and a few other Bagleys-Wide action, very boyant, special big fish baits but dont dive very deep compared to others. If you arent fishing very deep they are my favorite for big fish.

Strike King series 6-Tighter action, more baitfish like. Great burned.

Hot Lips Express-Never been crazy about the action. But can get deeper than any other and great for the deepest fishing.

Poes 300, 400-Classic wooden bait, tigher action than Bagley, great in early spring for some reason.

Fat Free Shad-Good workhorse, Wider action, (new version has tighter action that T.Horton made himself) Good depth and nice warm weather bait

Rapala  DT series-Good workhores, You know what depth you getting, nice baits

Risto Rap-discontinued  I think, uniqe tight action for a round bait, Another good cold weather bait

DD22-Classic still puts fish in boat, Another good summer bait

No9 shad rap-Doesnt dive real deep but overlooked as deep crankbait

Thats about it I havent used the LC craft deep divers yet but I plan to get a couple some day.

[MALTESE FALCON]

This summer I tried Fat Free Shads, and DD22's and DD14's for the first time............I'm wondering why I waited so long. They all produced well in 12'-14' of water.

Falcon

[Bass Dude]

I like the DT-16's, Fat Free.  I really like the Bandit 700's.  Good bait, good price and not many guys use them (at least they don't say they do!)

[.ghoti.]

Thanks guys. I did a little prospecting in the archives; that pile of stuff in the corner of the garage, and found a few baits.

Found some Risto Raps, still in the packages.

Found some old Poe's 400's still in the packages.

Found some DD-22's still in the packages.

Found some DT-14's that I do not remember buying, and look too new to have been there very long.

I have a better head start on this than I thought. Looks like I need to add a few Fat Free Shads, some DT-16's, DT-20's, Strike King Series 6, a few new hooks, and I'm ready to go.

Stringjam, I looked at the 4400's and I think I'll add a few of those also. Only a little outside of my comfort zone, but they look gooooood.

Thanks again guys.

GK

[flippin]

bandit700 chart shad dd22 sxy shad

[DADto4]

I have to agree with the others, for the price range the DT series & the Fat Free cranks are both good choices. If your budget allows pick up a few of each.

I love the DT series for sure, I often suggest them here and will stand by that statement. They just produce!

[Dan:]

those poe's do look good. What are their most productive colors?

[djmax22]

I suggest the DD22. They are by far my biggest producer in the summer and I do a lot of deep cranking. A close second is the Fat Free shad (couple of patterns: foxy shad and sparkle shad) Not a big fan of the Rapalas DT16 although their new DT20 series looks promising.

[Catt]

While I'm not noted for my expertise with a crank bait here is a few I do throw  

Arbogast Mud-Bug: Model No. G22

Heddon Magnum Hellbender: Model No. WO800

Mann's 20+: Ole Homer

Bagley Original Diving B: Model No. DB-3 or DB-3M

[Stringjam]

While I'm not noted for my expertise with a crank bait here is a few I do throw

Arbogast Mud-Bug: Model No. G22

Heddon Magnum Hellbender: Model No. WO800

Mann's 20+: Ole Homer

Bagley Original Diving B: Model No. DB-3 or DB-3M

Have a handful of the original 70's straight-lip angle DB3's. People would be surprised at how tight the original design's action was....very tight wiggling bait.  Sometime around the early 80's(?) they gave the baits more lip angle (and a thicker lip) which gave the baits a wider tail kick.  Not quite as lively as the old ones - but I like them for dirty water.    

I still throw those old metal baits (Mud Bugs) every now and then, too. They're not much for "deep diving" though....despite the large lips it's hard to get any of them past 10'.  

[Infidel.]

This year I narrowed down my deep crank box to just DD22's, Fat Free Shads, and DT-16's and have had my best cranking year to date.

[FD.]

Series 6 in sexy shad, DD22 in yellow/blue

[basser89]

Found some Risto Raps, still in the packages.

I'd leave them there. I went through the Risto Rap craze when they came out, I think I picked up every model they came out with in a 4 or 5 colors. To date, I've caught one fish on them, a 33 inch musky (and that wasn't even a keeper! LOL!).

While they don't run the deepest (12-15'), I've had a lot of luck with BPS XPS Laser Eye Nitro Extreme crank.

[Infidel.]

I'd leave them there. I went through the Risto Rap craze when they came out, I think I picked up every model they came out with in a 4 or 5 colors. To date, I've caught one fish on them, a 33 inch musky (and that wasn't even a keeper! LOL!).

While they don't run the deepest (12-15'), I've had a lot of luck with BPS XPS Laser Eye Nitro Extreme crank.

Wow, I find that hard to believe.  Risto Rap used to be one of my top producing cranks.  The only reason I don't fish them any more is because I am scared to loose the few I have left.  Kind of like my Coppernose Bluegill Fat Free Shad.