Best method to get crankbait deep

What are the best methods for getting crank baits to dive deep (15 plus feet)?

River or lake?

What kind of bottom type?

How long of a trolling pass?

15 to 20 feet or 15 to 30 feet?

Do you have a specific crank bait you want to use or is any type on the table?

Line type differences also can change depths. Braid vs mono.

Best way is to use a deep diver. Let out a decent amount of line and start in deep water and work your way in until you hit bottom. Look at your locator and adjust from there. Speed & line also plays into it.

Ted wrote:

What are the best methods for getting crank baits to dive deep (15 plus feet)?

Lead core. Lake or river.

I use lead core and snap weights together when I can. I can’t say one method catches more than the other. If using just one method, snap weights are faster to get in and out and I’ll probably use them.

arcticm1000 wrote:

River or lake?

What kind of bottom type?

How long of a trolling pass?

15 to 20 feet or 15 to 30 feet?

Do you have a specific crank bait you want to use or is any type on the table?

Trolling in a lake let’s say to begin with and we will factor in current later. The bottom is a sand to rock transition but mostly sand, as far as the lure goes either a size 5 or 7 flicker shad. The trolling pass is about 1/4 mile, it’s a large flat 18-20 feet trolling anywhere from 2-3mph.

James Holst wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Ted wrote:</div>
What are the best methods for getting crank baits to dive deep (15 plus feet)?

Lead core. Lake or river.

That’s what I have been using and it has been pretty productive but I find that when I get out to 18 plus feet it’s hard for me to feel if I’m on the bottom especially in heavier current so I just try to trust my precision trolling guide for recommended speed and line out. Should I be able to feel bottom all the time at deeper depths?

Dutchboy wrote:

Best way is to use a deep diver. Let out a decent amount of line and start in deep water and work your way in until you hit bottom. Look at your locator and adjust from there. Speed & line also plays into it.

Will A deep diver without Leadcore line or a snap weight dive 20 plus feet without letting out a ridiculous amount of line?

“Trolling in a lake let’s say to begin with and we will factor in current later. The bottom is a sand to rock transition but mostly sand, as far as the lure goes either a size 5 or 7 flicker shad. The trolling pass is about 1/4 mile, it’s a large flat 18-20 feet trolling anywhere from 2-3mph.”

If it we’re me I’d be running a #9 deep tail dancer in that scenario, my favorite trolling lure.

(90′ with 10# braid will get you 20′ per the dive chart, I’d say thats on to a little more than it’s taken me to get 20′ with them).

If you are doing a river I would say no. A lake…maybe. Lots of factors and things to experiment with. 20′ is a long ways down, i’m sure it can be done but your set-up and execution would need to be spot on IMO.

Water clarity?

arcticm1000 wrote:

Water clarity?

Dirty water, fishing Lake Pepin part of the Mississippi River.

One could try a three way if you don’t have a lead core set up.

Ted wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>James Holst wrote:</div>

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Ted wrote:</div>
What are the best methods for getting crank baits to dive deep (15 plus feet)?

Lead core. Lake or river.

That’s what I have been using and it has been pretty productive but I find that when I get out to 18 plus feet it’s hard for me to feel if I’m on the bottom especially in heavier current so I just try to trust my precision trolling guide for recommended speed and line out. Should I be able to feel bottom all the time at deeper depths?

What type of line are you running for a leader on your lead core?

Using braid leader with lead core will give you the best feedback in your rod.

There are tons of ways to get crankbaits deep, depending on conditions one way should stand out at the best. That is why I asked so many questions. Lead Core, Snap weights, 3 ways, Bottom Bouncers, Long line / braid or mono. I still have a lot to learn. I purchased the lifetime membership for the Precision Trolling App last year. It works good and there is tons of info.

On the river, if you are fishing by yourself, it helps to have another person take the snap weight off when you have a fish on, 3 ways or bottom bouncers will probably be your most efficient method. You can play with the weight needed to adjust for speed, current, depth, and type of crankbait.

Not to thread jack this thread but talking about trolling cranks on bottom bouncers and 3 way rigs (I’m mostly considering bottom bouncers) I would assume you want to use shallow diving cranks?

mahtofire14 wrote:

Not to thread jack this thread but talking about trolling cranks on bottom bouncers and 3 way rigs (I’m mostly considering bottom bouncers) I would assume you want to use shallow diving cranks?

Yep.

I like running a 3 way with a weight on it in the river

I don’t usually pull cranks that deep, but when I do it’s a bottom bouncer with a shallow running crank or a deep diver with a 1 to 2oz Lindy weight.

That being said I rarely pull cranks in more than 15 ft of water. If I’m fishing deep I’m either rigging live bait, or bottom bouncing with spinners. Last weekend I was looking for fish when I came across a dozen or so walleye sitting off this break in 32 feet of water. A guy was trolling lead core around and I decided to spot lock there and jig them. Well I tried jigging with leeches, fatheads, shiners, crawler, plastics, even dropped a jiggin rap on then, a rip n rap, they’d come up to it look, then drop back down. Never committed. So I grabbed my bobber rod and thought I’ll just dangle a leech in front of them. Low and behold that’s exactly what they wanted. I think it was 7 or 8 of these fish before the other guy anchored 50ft away and started rigging up a bobber rod. Well by that time the school moved on and I was ready to move. Got to the next spot and it was the same story. But there were a lot more people near this spot. Within 10 minutes I had boats circling me. Which irritates me. James and Connor know what lake I was on, if they remember the video they made!

Cranks aren’t always the best option. But are the fish tight to bottom? If so, how deep do you think you’re running? If you pull it 4 feet above their head and they want to eat, they’ll grab it. Even in stained water, a brighter belly on the crank will stand out!