Hey y’all,

 

Hope you’re well. I would like some recommendations on diving crankbaits that intersect the 6-8ft zone that deflect well off standing timber. If there are good options that run 12-15ft as well, I am intrigued to hear about those as well.

Have never used them, but apparently the Sebile Flat Shad Snagless work well in timber. I have been meaning to pick some up just haven't yet. 

37 minutes ago, LrgmouthShad said:

 If there are good options that run 12-15ft as well, I am intrigued to hear about those as well.

Quote

Jimmy Houston got me interested in Luck-E-Strike's Deep Smoothie. That thing works wonders in standing timber. Using Abrazx I've fished down to 13ft. with the 1/2oz.  Never tried the 3/8oz.

I fished with a guy throwing a KVD deep squarebill and it wouldn't get down that far, but he was using 12lb. big game. 

 

22 minutes ago, papajoe222 said:

 

I like it. Some nice colors in there too

2 minutes ago, LrgmouthShad said:

I like it. Some nice colors in there too

the new American series are made here in the USA at a cost that rivals imports.

6th Sense

Movement 80X

Movement L7 square 

Bill

Cloud Series 

I Iike a tight wiggle and a slow rise when I'm cranking deeper wood.  

 

You can fish targets a lot more efficiently than a crank that hunts a lot which I prefer for flats or rock.

 

Berkley Frittside has caught me some toads reeled slowly through some thick thick stuff.

 

 

When they get it, they get it good.

 If its emergent timber, I have never been able to throw deep diving baits in it. There are always limbs that the line lays over halting the bait from performing as desired.  I have my favorite square bill for emergent wood but they have not been made for decades and hard to find.

https://frabill.com/products/telescoping-lure-retriever-9865?variant=40020426522833

 

"The heavy-duty Cam-Lok™ design allows you to extend the handle up to 15 feet, then locks in place for a sturdy hold. Leave no lure left behind."

 

It doesn't take very many $6 spinnerbaits and $8 crankbaits to break even. 

Or just use heavy enough line and light enough hooks you can always bend it out.   That's what I do and it works most of the time 😂

Deps Evoke 2.0 and 3.0. I toss these around wood and timber all the time and somehow they magically don't get snagged. 

The rapala OG6 is one to consider.  The square circuit board bill will get it to 6' pretty consistently and its pretty good about popping through cover.  I swapped hooks to a little lighter and shorter shank (the originals were meathooks) and if I were in your shoes I'd swap the front to the next smaller size for added security.  Its a tighter wiggle flatside crank.  There is a brand new OG7 designed for 7' that I suspect will be similar but haven't fished myself.

Don't throw it if you are afraid to loose it.  They all will make it through if you are careful, and they will all snag no matter what you do.  Fishing crankbaits in thick trees is very effective, unbelievably addictive, and makes the Bait Monkey jump for joy. Start off with all the old crankbaits that you don't care if you loose.  You know, the ones you never catch any fish with.  Then, after an hour throwing them in the thickest trees imaginable without getting a single bite or a snag, tie on your favorite old Bagley's deep diver, the one that costs a fortune if you can find it on eBay.  That is what I did.  First cast I hooked a giant bass, lost the bass and the crankbait.  Not to be deterred I tied on my last old Bagley's and snagged.  I lost the crankbait, my lure retriever, broke a rod tip, and almost flipped my Kayak trying to get the crankbait back.

        After that I tied on a T rig.  I am a slow learner, but I do catch on eventually.  

4 minutes ago, king fisher said:

Don't throw it if you are afraid to loose it.

 

3 hours ago, Pat Brown said:

When they get it, they get it good.

Ya, I'd say so.  Too good in that photo.  The trebles are completely buried in that fish's stomach.

39 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Ya, I'd say so.  Too good in that photo.  The trebles are completely buried in that fish's stomach.

Nah that one was okay thankfully but she choked it.  Mostly she was hooked in the roof of the mouth.  Somehow the back treble was swinging freely back there.

 

I did nick a fishes gill with a jerkbait that was hooked outside the mouth and came in bleeding fiercely last week and that always makes me anxious.  She swam away okay though also.

 

The fish that go belly up when I accidentally kill them (which hasn't happened in a while that I know of) is when I let them have a plastic too long.  Always sad to see them go belly up.

Lots of options.  But mostly, I prefer to use cheap or found squarebill and coffin bill cranks.  Anything that I don't mind losing, because you will lose a few.  And if you're not afraid to lose it, you'll throw it tighter to cover and catch more bass.  As for brand and model, I don't know.  It seems one day one works best and the next it's something else.  Any can get hung up and lost.  Some are better at coming through than others, but none are significantly better at that than any others, in my experience.  

 

I'm more concerned about the line and rod for fishing standing timber.  I like thick braid and a sensitive rod because I can feel (actually, it's more like I'm hearing it than actually feeling it), the braided line rub against the wood.  That lets me know I'm about to run into a potential snag before it happens which increases my odds of getting the lure back.  

Wardon’s Timber Tiger lures work good, look on eBay.

Tom

I can’t seem to ever get bit around standing timber…