I use a 5.2 to 1 Johnny Morris  for the deepest divers with a lot  of resistance but I could get by with about any gear ratio . 

I'm a 5.7:1 for most all my cranking kind of guy.

A-Jay

I wish I could find something in a lower gear ratio.. but I'm a lefty and it seems like 6.4:1 is usually the lowest that's available, especially in my price range $150-$200.. 

 

What do you usually use for line? Mono or fluro? 

Might like the daiwa cv-z.  They have a ize reel that is boss and an ITO if pink is your thing.  I like the green and gold cv-z.

7 hours ago, Adam.love05 said:

What do you usually use for line? Mono or fluro? 

I use 12 lb Berkely Big Game .

The only 'customizing' I do is changing out the line tie split ring to an oval one and that's only on baits where I've had my line slip in between the original ring.  Around here, bluegill are a big part of the bass' diet, so I add a splash of orange to the belly of many of my cranks.

For all but my really deep diving baits, I use a 6.3:1 reel spooled with 10lb. copoly or 12lb. mono.  I use a different combo for lipless cranks spooled with 30lb. braid, no leader.  As mentioned before, this goes for whatever depth you're fishing, unless you'll be bumping cover, pick a bait that runs deeper than the depth you're targeting.  You can fine tune how often it contacts the bottom with your rod position and how fast you crank.

I keep my cranking setup super simple. 12lb flouro, 7’ medium action Abu Garcia rod, and a 6:4.1 Abu reel. Covers all my bases, lipless or lipped. I’ve never thrown deep divers and I’ve only thrown cranks going deeper than 6’ one or two days, but I’ve never had issues. I will switch to a 7’ medium-heavy with 30lb braid if I’m fishing cover though. 

On December 15, 2017 at 6:36 PM, Adam.love05 said:

I wish I could find something in a lower gear ratio.. but I'm a lefty and it seems like 6.4:1 is usually the lowest that's available, especially in my price range $150-$200.. 

 

What do you usually use for line? Mono or fluro? 

Daiwa JDM Zillion 1516 is low profile LH with 5.5:1 at $160 TW sale.

 

 Tom

22 minutes ago, WRB said:

Daiwa JDM Zillion 1516 is low profile LH with 5.5:1 at $160 TW sale.

 

 Tom

Thanks Tom. I'll check it out.

On 12/16/2017 at 10:20 PM, papajoe222 said:

The only 'customizing' I do is changing out the line tie split ring to an oval one and that's only on baits where I've had my line slip in between the original ring.  Around here, bluegill are a big part of the bass' diet, so I add a splash of orange to the belly of many of my cranks.

For all but my really deep diving baits, I use a 6.3:1 reel spooled with 10lb. copoly or 12lb. mono.  I use a different combo for lipless cranks spooled with 30lb. braid, no leader.  As mentioned before, this goes for whatever depth you're fishing, unless you'll be bumping cover, pick a bait that runs deeper than the depth you're targeting.  You can fine tune how often it contacts the bottom with your rod position and how fast you crank.

Yea I usually always change out my split ring that my snap or line connect too.. exactly for the same reason. I don't often change out hooks unless the stock hooks are garbage.. I usually run most of my cranking on 10-12# fluro, on a M or MH crankbait rod.. running on a Lew's 6.4:1 for squarebills and cranks running 6' or less and everything deeper I have a Lew's in 7.1:1.. but I tend to fish too fast sometimes, so I'm considering dropping down some gear ratio..  idk.. the wife says it's just an excuse to get another set up! She's good! Haha

Monkey, in lieu of worrying about your crankbait hooks, here is a pro secret to consider.

 

Go to Wal-Mart, Target, etc. and buy a bottle of Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Ware nail polish in bright orange.

 

Then follow up with a bottle of clear Hard as Nails.

 

Put an orange dot on each side of your crankbait by the eyes.

 

Cover the orange dot, when it is totally dry, with the clear polish.

 

And don't worry about your hooks.

 

Have fun!!!