Stringjam

Lipless!! Awesome!

You can fish deep cranks in shallow water, and sometimes it works.....most of time I think it works better to use depth specific crankbaits. I've spent enough time throwing Bagley DB3's and Poe's 300's in shallow water to realize they can work very well, but both these baits are very lively and buoyant (and without large, elongated bills). FWIW, there isn't a single bait capable of hitting 20' that I would want to throw shallow, or even mid-depths. DD22's are not really a 20' plug......I usually don't try to get them much past 15-16'. Smashing a bait into bottom structure is a technique that isn't always going to work well. I've had more consistent success using a bait that ticks the bottom more than plows it. One problem with overpowering the depth too much is that the crankbait loses it's action......it's basically just careening along the bottom. Sometimes it works.....my personal experience is that I do better lightly deflecting and varying retrieve speeds (FWIW, so does David Fritts.....one of, if not the best deep crankers in life).

That bait doesn't get nearly that deep......20-22' is more like it. Deep cranking is an ART. 5BL brought up some good points and advice. I spend a lot of time deep cranking....my most productive time is actually late fall (around November). During this period I deep crank bass up from as deep as 25'. Good baits have already been mentioned. For mid-teens divers, the DT-16 is an excellent place to start, as well as the Poes Competition Cedars 4400. The Poe's is the more aggressive of the two, and the Rapala is better for when you need to burn. An experienced deep cranker can actually get closer to 18' out of both of these plugs. The Muscle Deep 15+ has also been mentioned and it's an excellent bait, but I like it better for low teens.....it doesn't dive like the Rapala or Poe's. For some reason smallies really like this bait. One thing I always bring up......if you're deep cranking areas that you KNOW fish are in and can't seem to get bit with a typical retrieve - BURN the bait through them. I can't tell you how many times I've caught a kicker doing this (actually a very typical pattern around here for post-spawners that move out to deeper water.......some of the biggest strings of the year fall to this method). I'm in the minority around here because I like to crank with braid. I use 20 lb. PowerPro, which has a very fine diameter for it's strength (I can get baits deeper with this than with 10 lb. mono). Some people don't like to crank with braid, but it's all I use - and I don't have any problems with it. For deeper than mid-teens (17'-20'+), I prefer a Poe's Comp Cedars 4500 LR or a Big M Custom. I've started messing with the LC Flat CB20 as well and it looks like a very promising bait.

They have a tight wiggle and will get from 20 to almost 22' given a long cast with fine diameter line. They also pull like an anchor so be prepared. If you want a bait that will get to around the same depth with about half as much resistance on the dive, get a Poe's Competition Cedars 4500 LR. It's like an extended lip, cedar DD22. I've caught a lot of bass on this bait. You can also burn it if you need to - - the Hot Lips, not so much. One of the forum members here (Big M) makes custom deep divers that will get you into that depth as well.

What is that top bait, Marty?

Berkley's Frenzy Flicker Shad has been a top walleye producer around here for some time....FWIW, they work just as well on the bass.

I wouldn't call baits that dive to 6' shallow (mid-divers).......but the Rapala DT6 is a murderous little bait - - you'll do well.

There's truth here. There are a lot of times around here (especially post spawn) when burning in a deep crank will bust big strings. Sometimes these fish won't even sniff a jig or C-Rig....but burn a big crank in front of them as fast as you can, and they inhale it.

The day that Ichiban actually stocks anything listed on their website is the day I'll do an Irish Jig - naked - in public. I don't think I ever have to worry about it happening.

Very interesting bait.....I'd love to try it if I could track one down. Notice the placement of the hooks (and the double in front).....apparently designed with heavy cover cranking in mind. Balsa construction - - probably very buoyant.....looks very good to me. If you ever track down any, please let me know.

Zoom WEC Hicky Flat-Shad Classic PT Storm Wiggle Wart Rapala DT6 and Shad Rap Cordell Super Spot / Air Viper Risebacker/ Jackall TN/70

Marty - LOVE the blue crank upper left. Reminds me of a murderous old Culprit spinnerbait I used to have......I've always thought about having a crank made in that color.

The O.S.P. stuff is killer. Both the Blitz and HPF. A lot of the Japanese stuff I've purchased has not really been that impressive to me. Injection molded plastic with a fancy finish. I think where they really shine is with jerkbait design. Some baits I've done very well with.....the Imakatsu IK divers are good - and also about the best casting deep crank out there (IK-400). None of this stuff is really very hard to find. There's a lot of great eBay retailers and I don't think I've ever had a negative experience with any of them. The shipping is usually pretty quick and reasonable (or even cheaper than shipping charges from U.S. retailers). If you want "hard to find" crankbaits from Japan, try to track down these: T.H. FD Custom Nakamura Kaihatsu Flutter Woodream Some of the best custom cranks in Japan.....but the only way I know of to get them is to know somebody over there who will buy them for you and ship them to the U.S. >

I don't trip over repeated topics......it's the nature of discussion forums. Although the same questions get asked over many times, there are new experiences or members that might have relevant info to add to the topic that may not have been around the last time it came up. If we only posted about things that have never been talked about, then this place (and most every discussion forum) would have to be shut down.

Simply....a large weight (in various shapes and forms) that slides down your line to "knock" a hung lure off whatever it's hung on. I prefer a telescoping pole. I have had both for years, and I just don't like messing with plug knockers. A pole gives you direct manipulation of your bait, and IMO, is a lot less of a hassle. As always, YMMV.

I see you picked up some TN/70's, Micro. Hopefully you'll find them as righteous as I have...they're among my favorite vibes in life.

This forum's own Marty Burns. He makes flatsided cranks that go up to almost 20'. I have plenty of 'em, and they're killer! Some other really good deep flat cranks.... Catching Concepts DC2 (good for low/mid teens) Flat-Shad Model B The Tapp copies are also good at times (I like to burn them). Zoom WEC makes a really good one. Love flat deep cranks!

Allen, That is a "Shakeyman," made by Richard Manley (aka RAM Cranks).....Richard has ceased production for awhile, but indicated to me that he would be getting back into it sometime in the future. I hope sooner than later....Richard was carrying on "Ron-E-Bee" designs (he was his apprentice). His baits are murder.

Super Spots rock.

Flat-Shad: I believe this is called "Yum" Neon Shad Ghost Neon "Bubblegum Pearl" from FD has been VERY good to me. And this one from FD, which is a dark purple back, black base with abalone shell sides is hands down the coolest finish I've ever seen on a crank. It's the coolest thing coming through the water...when the sun hits the abalone it flashes a lot of green - - it really reminds me a large metallic insect or something. For some reason, this bait attracts a lot of different species......I caught a walleye, a cat, and a largemouth off the same point with it one day. "Plemmons" is a standard (a RAM Pig Dawg in this pic) This is a RAM original......"Ohio River Special". It's foiled with a black back, and a translucent chartreuse over the foiling. It's a subtle effect....the bait appears very silver, but when it flashes (as flatsided baits are soo good at) it throws off a yellow glow. Awesome. Marty (Big M) has a killer take on "Chartreuse Shad".....and ANYTHING involving purples! Marty doesn't have a name for this, but it is a gorgeous spinoff of a "Lavender Shad" I forgot what Craig Cole (BlackJack, or Nomad Lures) calls this, but it's gorgeous in clear water. A bait from Bobby Kelly in "Shellcracker" "Mellow Yellow" ranks in my top favorites in life Pretty much every custom crank maker offers their take on the classic Mellow Yellow......I think Zoom WEC is probably my favorite version. It's subtle, yet very visible.....I throw it in absolutely ANY water condition. I love pretty much any thing from Zoom... "Classic" "Chartreuse Classic"

Wow.....that thing is huge! :o

Table Rock Shad doesn't resemble anything to an even greater degree than firetiger, but when Hughes came out with this color on Rogues they MURDERED down at Table Rock (super-clear) and other lakes around here. If you guys haven't seen the original Table Rock Shad, it isn't subtle and nice like Lucky Craft's take, it's pretty loud and obnoxiously bright. You can't have a closed mind in bass fishing......I fish clear water 90% of the time, and I've found that many times natural just ain't where it's at. What's one of my best producing colors for clear water, winter jerkbaits? Now what in the heck does that resemble? Doesn't matter.....it triggers bass.

Great work.......the Tapp-style bait looks killer!

I haven't tried the 83, but I tried the smaller one: I didn't like it at all....it just didn't have much of an action.

Isn't it obvious? A tiger that has caught on fire. Jungle bass are far more vulnerable to the color, as they're more likely to see flaming tigers fall into the water. Seriously, though...you can't go wrong with FT in any water color......you can tone down the hues a bit and it's a killer in clear water as well. I have an old faded Bagley B-Flat in FT that kills in the clear stuff.