I understand the concept of Deep Cranking (i.e. purposely making contact with bottom structure , deflecting off of objects , kicking up bottom debris, etc. with a deep diving crank bait) . The only problem I have is that I don't own a tecnique specific Deep Cranking outfit (5:4:1 baitcast reel , 7'6" crank bait rod . ) What I DO own are : Football / Wobble Head jig set ups , a C-Rig specific set up (7' jig rods with 7:1:1 baitcast reels) and lastly , a spinner bait set up (6'10" spinner bait  rod with 6:4:1 baitcast reel) . * Would any of the afore mentioned set ups I list be a reasonable alternate to Deep Cranking ? Funds are limited at this time for a specific Deep Cranking set up plus a move to South Central Florida is in the works in a year or two and I'm not sure the need for a Deep Cranking specific outfit for places like  Lake Toho , Stick Marsh , Blue Cypress Lake , etc. which are not all that deep ... Thanks in advance for the replies !

 

Tie a crank on one of your other rods and try it.

 

Either you will..................

 

a.  Like it

 

b.  Not like it

 

 

Pretend you are living in a time long long ago when techniques were not printed on the rods.    lol

 

Personally, I would lean towards the 7' jig rod.

Id try the spinnerbait rod .

 

 And you could try substituting other lures for deep cranks. I dont use deep cranking much because you have to use huge lures. Most of the time I prefer using  a sinking lure like a Rocket Shad , Rattle Trap, Little George , Gay Blade ...

Your jig rod will be fine, you don't need dedicated gear to occasionally

fish anything. If you decide to spend more time with a technique, that's

when the perfect gear becomes appealing.

 

 

 

 

Your jig rod will be fine, you don't need dedicated gear to occasionally

fish anything. If you decide to spend more time with a technique, that's

when the perfect gear becomes appealing. X2

Please allow me to clarify - I don't even own any large , deep diving crank baits , so my question is which one of the other techniques would substitute best for crashing into things on the bottom ? I'm thinking a 1/2oz.+ spinnerbait worked steady the bottom would work , followed by a C-Rig (weight is always on the bottom crashing into things / stirring up debris) then lastly a Football jig worked steady on the bottom causing a commotion . Perhaps a deep diving crankbait is more of a reaction strike - but I would think any of my suggested substitute techniques could be a close 2nd to deep cranking ?

If you have the "Bifflehead" style  football swing headed jigs, throw those and drag/swim them across the bottom with a Biffle bug, Rage Structure Bug, Menace Grub...etc. 

1/2 to 3/4 oz spinner baits worked along bottom structure works great. Just don't go mind numb and forget to change your retrieve up if slow and steady is not working.

Who says you have to crash into things with a deep crank? 

All of these would work well.. Slow rolling spinnerbaits, stroking jigs and big worms, all would work well. It really depends on the make up of the bottom. Crankbaits and Jigs excel in a hard bottom situation, while a Carolina style rig would work better in a softer bottom content, because they collect less vegetation IMO.

Bass will often strike several different type baits presented to the same place or school.

If you feel the catchable fish are deeper, rather than wishing for what you don't have, simply just fish them with what you do have & see what happens.

 

 But "replacing" one bait for another is a tough deal.

 

Think about it this way - when the football jig bite is on, you might be able to catch them on a crankbait, but then again, you might not.  The question is do you need to ?

 

If the waters you fish are not really that deep a squarebill crankbait might be a good choice.  And that's a bait you could fish on a couple of the rods you currently have.

 

A-Jay

Thanks A-Jay ... Saw a fishing show yesterday where one guy in a boat was deep cranking while his partner was slow rolling a paddle tail soft plastic swim bait deep ... Both guys were whacking 'em equally good ! ...I'm learning that if you don't have a deep cranking set up - there are other methods that will produce in similar circumstances.

I just read where pro Keith Combs deep cranks with a 7:1:1 reel !!

To heck with it , surely you can crank then with a modern 6:4:1 reel ??

I just read where pro Keith Combs deep cranks with a 7:1:1 reel !!

To heck with it , surely you can crank then with a modern 6:4:1 reel ??

 

You certainly can, but if you are going to do a lot of deep cranking you might want to consider

a sloer reel. Mine is a CTE200GT 5.0:1

 

 

Dress your football head with a 4"-5" curly tail grub and hop/swim it along bottom...

 

 

oe

I'd try the spinnerbait rod, some specific spinnerbait rods have more of a moderate fast taper. Buying a couple of deep cranks won't break the bank

I also deep crank with a 7.1

One of the ways I 'deep crank' when I want to use a small profile bait, is to C-rig a small shallow runner on an 18in. Leader. It's a slower presentation, but a killer under cold front conditions. The sinker stirs up the bottom and the crank follows irratically. Just use the Rod, not the reel to move it along or the bait will roll on you.

I also do this with a FatBoy when my forearms tire from cranking a deep diver.