Primus

I just picked up 3 this past weekend and personally I like the colors, good looking bait. Regarding the depth it's important to look at jerkbaits as tools and no one tool is ideal for every job. The deep depth appeals to me because I already have other great options to use when I need a bait that runs shallower. I am personally excited to add this bait to my line-up. I do agree with jig that they need to add a Perch color for us northern fisherman.

Lucky Craft Pointer 100 or Ima Flit which runs a little deeper. Longbill jerkbaits like the Lucky Craft Staysee or Jackall DD Squirrel can be excellent options when the fish are deep and won't come up for the regular jerkbaits. I just picked up a few Roque Perfect 10's to try when the ice melts, looks like a promising bait for deeper water and because of the size has excellent big fish potential.

Every season I routinely catch them in on trap style baits when the water temp is in the mid to upper 40's. Pick a bait that vibrates at low speeds and slow roll it with occasional pausees or use a Rapala Rippin' Rap and yo-yo with aggressive jerks on semi slack line. Drop shot rig can work as well. In our part of the country a blade bait like a Binsky Blade, Silver Buddy or Vibe " E" can be deadly.Cast, let it settle to the bottom and then lift until it barely vibrates and then pause. Sometimes they will hit when the bait is deadsticked. Their are times a heavier 3/4 oz blade worked a little more aggressively will be they want that day. Experiment. Try a Poor Boys Erie Darter on a light jighead or tube with an insert jighead. Slow roll a single blade spinnerbait is worth a try. it doesn't always work but when it does it can be killer for big fish. The best overall bait day in day out in clear water for me has been a jerkbait. I prefer a more subtle jerkbait like a Husky jerk, Rogue and especially a Lucky Craft Pointer 100 or Ima Flit. Need the bait to perfectly suspend or slooooowly sink.Sometimes wrapping a little lead wire around the shank of the hooks or sticking on a couple of Storm Suspend dots may be necessary to get the right action. There have been times when I have had to pause it as long as minute between twitches but normally 5-15 seconds will get the job done. Sometimes a longbill jerkbait like a Lucky Craft Staysee or a Jackall DD Squirrel may be better if the fish are deeper. With the longbills I tend to work the bait with short pulls and pauses. If they are on the bottom a slowly worked jig can be deadly and appealing to bigger fish.

Everything. That said swimbaits & crankbaits are my main obsessions.

It's probably matter of what you are comfortable with, that said I have a couple of swimbait rods with the longer handles so I can go either way. I guess I will find out soon as I plan on getting this rod as I'm stoked about fishing these baits and I've been interested in the KLX line when I first heard about it. I believe Kistler will also do customs as well but it's probably going to come with hefty price tag.

FYI for those interested in the SKT Magnums according to the guy I talked to today at Tackle Warehouse it sounds like the new Lucky Craft cranks are coming out the end of March and will sell for $ 19.99. Also, for anyone looking for a rod to sling it with Kistler has one listed on their website in the KLX line that is designed for the oversized cranks. http://www.kistlerrods.com/p/fishing-rod/c-deep-cranking-fishing-rods/KLXMRO711H.html

X2

I like them both, that said the 2.5 seems to attract the bigger bite.

Thanks guys. I'm also looking at oversize traps this year like the Lucky Craft LVR D 30 which is 4" and weighs app. 2 ozs. http://www.muskyshop.com/modules/cart/products.php/keys/lucky+craft/page/1/id/2897/name/LuckyCraftLVRD30

To the best of my knowledge there are no Hitch baits in Michigan but the 7" Rago Bvd Light Hitch has been one of my most productive soft swimbaits.

Are the SKT Magnums for sale yet ? I'm very interested in these as well.

Looks cool, is this a bait you make ? How has it done for you ? Thanks

Nice collection, I know what you mean regarding a few big baits impacting storage. That said it's too much fun not to throw the big stuff.

x3 on Hooligan's post. Good Stuff and on the money.

I don't fish with .... Elaztech plastics - they work, just don't care for them Matzuo Cranks - I tried a few some years back and they were awful At some point during the season I will utilize almost every technique out there, that said I prefer to fish Power techniques over trying to finesse them with weightless plastics or dropshots. I prefer bigger more aggressive lures in most situations. If I do fish stickworms I still like Senko's the best. I know they cost more but the others I've tried don't consistently produce as well as this bait. I'm probably as not concerned by the price because I don't fish that way very often but when I do I want the best. I avoid TV Gimmick lures, most are mediocre at best and even with the Banjo minnow I feel I can find better alternatives.

rockchalk06 I've been fishing them since the Lucky Craft RC series came out and haven't stopped, a big part of my shallow fishing technique. Since you are a shorebound fisherman add a few supershallow runners like the Mann's Baby 1 Minus or Jackall Cherry 56 zero crankbait if you don't already have them. Also, wake cranks that run on the surface will also make good additions to your arsenal such as the Deps Buzzjet or Lucky Craft LC Wake to name a few.

Good point Catt, this is one of the reasons I have a variety of these bait in my tackle box.

I prefer braid on spinning rods with a Florocarbon leader. I have not tried the high end Florocarbon's like Tatsu but I do well with BPS & Suffix which are in that mid priced category and use them on many of my baitcasting reels.

I like FLW the best, their articles seem more detailed than BassMaster.

On the money, the Rattletraps I've fished fall on their side. They are not my first choice in colder water because it takes a little faster retrieve for the bait to vibrate over a Red Eye Shad or a Sebile Flatt Shad and it's a poor choice for a yo-yo presentation. That said if you can get them for a 1 $ a piece it's a good deal and I agree with Roadwarrior regarding application. It's a good warm water trap for faster retrieves and grass rippin'.

Good post, I've done well on a variety of them and a lot of it has to do with the depth I need to fish and if they prefer a more erratic vs. subdued bait & presentation. Regarding the Ima 120 , this is probably the most underated bait out there in my opinion it's been one of my top baits since it's introduction.

Some more options for you... Power Team lures offers a lot of terrific baits and most of the baits in their line-up float. Check out Dichoso baits, he will pour you baits in a floating no salt formula in any color you can imagine. Last year I had some baits poured with a Senko type of profile with a no salt formula and had very good results fishing this on a football style shaky head or fished on a Carolina rig. Bulky profile seems to attract a larger average fish than your typical finesse worm.

For me I use various shades of Watermelon & Green Pumpkin. In addition to those colors I like Junebug & Smoke Purple. For the Super Fluke White Ice & Baby Bass have always produced well for me.

Thanks for posting the picture, waiting for my local shop to get some in.

The last few years cranks have played a prominent role in several wins on the national circuit. Many of my best fish and limits have been caught with these baits especially deep divers, referring to cranks as a dying art seems a little self serving when coming from the head of a company who doesn't make them. I can't speak for others but I frequently substitute cranks from waking models to squarebills in many situations where I would have in the past used wire baits and for me they typically are more productive in most situations. That said I still use spinnerbaits as like any lure class they have a time and a place.