How Do You Judge Crankbait Depth?

The first thing you will notice about crankbaits is the lip or bill on the front of each one designed to plane through the water and get the lure down in the water column. The diving depth of the lure can be roughly determined by the size of the bill; the bigger and longer, the deeper it will dive.

How do you determine lure depth?

There are two ways you can determine the exact depth/lure/speed relationship of a specific rig. The first is to deploy it to a specific distance, then troll up a gradual shelf or edge until it starts dragging bottom. Note the depth, and try to crank it in before it snags.

How do you know what depth to fish?

Attach a float to your line and a weight where you would normally put the hook. Let it sink and the bobber will give you an idea of how deep the water is. If it’s too deep, it will pull the bobber under and you will need to put more line between the float and the weight.

How deep does a crank bait go?

Crankbaits with square bills are best for running in the shallows from 1 to 4 feet, while a plug with a 1-inch bill will dive to about 10 feet deep. Crankbaits featuring longer bills have the potential to reach depths down to 30 feet. Time of year is a key in determining which style of crankbait to select.

How fast should I reel in a crankbait?

The correct speed of any crankbait reel is 21 inches of line pick-up per turn of the reel handle. Most of that information is on the internet or on the packaging. If it isn’t, measure what your reel is doing with a ruler. It’s that important.

Are glass rods better for crankbaits?

Since the glass rod is more flexible, it naturally gives causing the fish to get the bait in his mouth instead of ripping the hooks out. They also improve casting distance due to their slingshot like ability. This allows for further casts and is crucial when throwing larger crankbaits.

How far behind the boat should I troll?

Every boat is different and you should make your boat your own study. Proper distance for most boats will be anywhere from 20 feet to 150 feet behind your boat. Whether you have inboard diesel or outboard gas engines, your power dictates the distance you troll your baits and lures.

How fast do you troll with a Rapala?

Troll worm harnesses behind bottom bouncers or floating Rapalas on a three way rig as slow as 0.8 mph. These same tactics work on lethargic post spawn walleye as well. Trolling really kicks into high gear for summer walleye. Start trolling at speeds of 2.0 mph and adjust as necessary to encourage strikes.

What depth do fish feed at?

Fish at the proper depth.
Thermocline-level fish dwell approximately 20 to 35 feet below the surface, and include trout, walleye, and smallmouth bass. They are attracted to hot spots such as drop-offs and sunken reefs. Once you’ve found them, fish natural baits within inches of the bottom.

How do you find the deepest point in a lake?

The deepest point of a lake can be calculated by the distance from all the lakeshores to this inner point. Furthermore, from a mathematical point of view, the center point of its largest inscribed circle is the deepest point.

When should you throw crankbaits?

Crankbaits work best in the spring, summer, and fall, except during the few weeks a year fish are spawning. Use medium-diving crankbaits when waters are about 50-60 degrees. As the season moves along and the fish start moving from the banks toward deeper waters, use a shad-colored crankbait.

Do crankbaits have to hit bottom?

For professionals like Skeet Reese, Todd Faircloth and Mark Menendez, mismatching crankbaits to water depth — especially in the shallows — has become less an exception and more the rule. “As a general rule of thumb, you want a bait that will be in contact with the bottom at all times.

How do I make my crankbait deeper?

You can make a crankbait run deeper and even suspend by simply adding larger and heavier hooks. Mustad’s KVD Elite Trebles with heavier gauge wire are good examples. Another trick is to stick Storm SuspenStrips or Dots to the underside of the crankbait lip.

Should I use a swivel with a crankbait?

Never use a swivel or angled snap when fishing crankbaits. This type of terminal hardware makes it more difficult to tune lures. Even worse, avoid tying crankbaits directly to the fishing line using common knots like the clinch.

What action is best for crankbaits?

A good crankbait rod should have a relatively slow action. In other words, the rod should start to bend down about half way down when moderate pressure is applied to the top section. Fast action means that just the top third will bend with the same pressure.

What is the best color crankbait?

Use white crankbait lures on cloudy or rainy days. When bass are eating crawfish, try a green or brownish colored crankbait. If the water is stained or muddy, use brightly colored crankbait with as orange or chartreuse to help the fish find the bait.

Are graphite rods good for crankbaits?

Graphite rods are more sensitive, stronger and lighter. Anglers who crawl baits through heavy cover use sensitive graphite rods to prevent hang-ups. And for ripping Traps out of grass there is nothing better than a graphite rod.

What kind of rod is best for crankbaits?

7 Best Crankbait Rods 2022

• St. Croix Rods Legend Glass Rod.
• St. Croix Rods Mojo Bass Glass Casting Rod.
• G. Loomis E6X Inshore Rod.
• Shimano SLX Baitcasting Rods. Best Rod for Beginners.
• Ugly Stik GX2 Fishing Rods.
• Abu Garcia IKE Signature Power Casting Rod.
• Dobyns Rod Fury Series 6’6” Casting Rod.
• Power.

What is a cranking rod used for?

A 7’6″ crankin rod is good for cranks that you want to throw a long way and cover water with, like a lipless crank or deep diving crank. It will also allow you to get a good long distance hookset. It can be used really for any crank, but short, pinpoint casting is obviously harder w/ such a long rod.

Is mono or braid better for trolling?

Mono holds knots better and costs less than braid. It also works better on smaller bait-casting reels because light braid can dig into itself. Florida sailfish and dolphin anglers still use a lot of mono on the troll, and some use it for kite lines because it runs through the clips better.

What is the best line for trolling?

Monofilament
Monofilament is the best line choice for trolling in most situations, but there are times when low stretch lines have the edge. Because low stretch lines are super thin, they enable trolling lures like crankbaits to pick up significantly more depth compared to monofilament lines of the same break strength.