Can anyone point me in the direction of a good small bodied deep diving crankbait (12'-20')? I picked up a couple SK 3XDs the other day, but I've never been a a huge fan of their cranks. Thanks in advance for any help.

Look at the Luhr Jensen Hot Lips in 1/4 and 1/2 ounce and the Yo Zuri Hard Core. Both have been excellent producers for me, especially for smallies. The Hot Lips looks a little wierd but it flat out works.

I second that on the Hot Lips. Smallies love them in summer when fished on the sides of humps!

Bandit 300's will get to about 12' on a long cast with the right line. Same small body as the 100 and 200's, I have always caught fish on them.

I agree with ww2farmer, the bandit 300 is an awesome crankbait!

Hot lip's as well but my fav is always going to be the Fat Free shad.

wtrwsel

Norman Deep Little N

Norman Deep Little N

x2

Norman Deep Little N

x3

Thanks guys. Completly forgot about Bandits and I a thousand of the 200's.

Thanks guys. Completly forgot about Bandits and I a thousand of the 200's.

The bandit 200's are a good little bait, but I don't think they are capable of reaching the depths that you mentioned in your original post. I believe the 200 series have a rating of about 8ft max they also only weight 1/4 oz.

I prefer the Norman Deep Little N it will get you much closer to the desired depth range at 10-12ft and the baits weights 3/8 oz, helping with casting distance, which is important to help get the baits down to max depth.

At any rate, both good baits, IMHO the Norman comes closer to matching your requirements.

Do you guys find more success with the suspending or floating Norman Deep Little N?

Do you guys find more success with the suspending or floating Norman Deep Little N?

I tend to throw suspending in the colder water conditions or when I have figured out where they are at and I want my bait in the strike zone for a longer period of time. All other times I am throwing a floating.

The bandit 200's are a good little bait, but I don't think they are capable of reaching the depths that you mentioned in your original post. I believe the 200 series have a rating of about 8ft max they also only weight 1/4 oz.

I prefer the Norman Deep Little N it will get you much closer to the desired depth range at 10-12ft and the baits weights 3/8 oz, helping with casting distance, which is important to help get the baits down to max depth.

At any rate, both good baits, IMHO the Norman comes closer to matching your requirements.

Yeah. I was just smacking myself because I was looking at all my 200's and dint think of thier deeper diving crankbaits. I was looking at the Normans. Do they have a wide wobble or a tighter action? The smallies in the Ohio don't seem to respond to a wide rolling action any time of year in my experience.

Bandit also just came out with a ledge 250 size that dives 12-14 I believe. I'm going to pick up a few next time I'm at BPS.