Hey everyone. Going to start putting some more cranks in my tacklebag. Right now I have a Bandit 100 series in Baby Bass and the rest are just lipless rattletraps. So I'm looking for lipped crankbaits for this situation.

One small 80 acre lake with a man made dam. Around 18 foot around the dam. Shoreline drops from 4-8 foot in most spots. Shore lines are mostly weeds with some brush. Fish this small lake in my raft. Some rocky structure as well. Bluegill, pumpkinseed and some small white perch and yellow perch are the smaller fish in the lake. With some brook trout scattered through out.  Not sure if there are crayfish in there or not.

Catt Creek for smallies: shale and rock structure....nothing for weeds....fish the current and calm waters.

Minnows, crayfish, and creek chubs are the main food source.

Any baits that you have in mind that could help me out here? I want it to be known that I'm not going to be buying expensive cranks. Especially if I take them down to the Catt where hangups do occur. Something in the price range of 6 dollars max.

I have heard great thigns from the guys on this forum about Rapala DT's. They have version that dive to and stay at depths of 4, 6, 10, and 16. Since you said shorelines are around 4-8 ft. The DT 4 and DT 6 will probably work. and Use the DT 16 around the dam. I am a big fan of rapala for my hardbaits. I also like Strike King pro Model cranks. The come in models that go to 2-5 ft, 8 ft, 10-12 ft. and 16 ft. I would suggest these two since I have caught any bass on the Strike King Cranks, and have heard guys caught a lot on DT's, and I have had nothing but good experiences with other Rapala and strike king products. Except I got a husky jerk once that didn;t suspend like it was suppose to. The Strike king cranks have a perch color(firetiger) a chartuese and blue(blue gill) and a few different white colors(white perch). Try em out, they work for me. Strike king is a trusted name in Bass fishing, it sponsers big names like KVD and Shaw Grigsby.

Norman Fat Boy, Bomber Square A, Mann's 1-Minus, Bagley B2

Shad Rap (shallow and deep), Bomber Square A, Norman Mad N, Rapala DT series.

Falcon

Bomber , lurhs, rapala DTs, Bagley,norman are all good choices for your price range

Sisson Slim Willie (both diving and shallow versions)

Rapala Shad Raps (!) - - they don't navigate wood cover very well, but they'll kill in the rocky stuff.        

Rapala DT6

Frenzy Flicker Shad

Bomber Flat A (both diving and shallow ver.)

Norman's Crappie Crankbait

Luhr-Jensen Speed Trap

Storm Wiggle Wart

Poe's 200, 1100, and RC3

all great choices Stringjam, if i had to pick two it would be rapala shad rap and lurhs speed trap

One small 80 acre lake with a man made dam. Around 18 foot around the dam. Shoreline drops from 4-8 foot in most spots. Shore lines are mostly weeds with some brush. Fish this small lake in my raft. Some rocky structure as well. Bluegill, pumpkinseed and some small white perch and yellow perch are the smaller fish in the lake. With some brook trout scattered through out. Not sure if there are crayfish in there or not.

I'd figure out how deep the weed tops are and fish a Rapala DT that dives down deep enough to hit the tops of the weeds.  Colors would be bluegill, bass, perch if clear water and any of the chart colors (parrot, hot mustard, etc) if water is stained.  You can also fish the brush/wood too, but you really want to get in there and have the bait knock around the wood.  I'd use the same colors.

Next figure out how deep those rocks are and get something that dives down deep enough to hit them.  The DT's with the coffin bills are good in the rocks (better deflection with this bill than the rounded one).  Colors would be similar but add in crawfish.

Catt Creek for smallies: shale and rock structure....nothing for weeds....fish the current and calm waters.

Minnows, crayfish, and creek chubs are the main food source.

I got nothing here.  I've never fished in a river in my life.

Learning to fish a crank is very important.  You need a rod that will pick up the baits vibrations and let these vibrations tell you when your line is hitting rocks, wood, weeds, or a bass has engulfed your lure.

As you've probably noticed I like the Rapala's, but just as an FYI I don't have lot of experience with the other crank makers so they could be better.

Don't forget the LC RC 1.5. The copper green shad color is a bass killer.  

Don't forget the LC RC 1.5. The copper green shad color is a bass killer.

Thanks but to expensive for my blood.

I usually hate fishing cranks. Only fished them a couple of times in my life.

BUT I want to learn as much as I can. So that's why I want to stay cheaper for now.

If I start having success than I may move up in the price range when it's worth it to me.

Thanks for everyones advice. Going to pick up some Norman Mad Ns and some Rapala DT 6s.

I actually forgot that I do have a Shad Rap in the xrap version. So that's a plus.