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When letting out line do you ignore how deep the crank bait dives and let out the amount of color to get to a certain depth, or do you take into account how deep a crank dives and add the line colors accordingly to make up the difference.
The short answer to your question is yes – you ignore the depth curve on your crank bait and only calculate the lead core depth. This is assuming you do not have a leader tied on (which you wouldn’t do). Like other have said above – if you have a leader you need to account the depth curve for the leader the minus that amount from the total desired depth, then figure out how much leadcore you need to put out to achieve the desired depth.
For example – let’s say you want to achieve a depth of 27 feet with #5 shad rap (SRRS) and that you have a 30 foot mono leader tied onto your lead core (regular and not 832).
: a 30 foot 10lb mono leader will put your #5 shad rap down to 7 feet (braid leader would be 8 feet)
: 27 feet (desired depth) – 7 feet (depth curve for a 30 foot mono leader) = 20 feet to go
Regular lead core sinks 5′ per color (30 feet) so you would need 4 colors (120 feet) to achieve 20 feet in depth. Total feet out = 30 foot leader + 120 feet of lead core = 150 feet total
832 lead core sinks 7′ per color trolled at 2mph so you would need a little less than 3 colors or 85 feet to achieve 20 feet in depth. Total feet out = 30 foot leader + 85 feet of 832 lead core – 115 total feet
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Another question. Since lead line is thicker in diameter does that make crank baits dive shallower than the braided line counterparts. 
No – you’re comparing an apple to a banana. Lead core line sinks and braid doesn’t. If you did not have a leader on the lead core line – it doesn’t matter what crank bait you tie on. With braid – each crank bait has its own depth curve. It also doesn’t matter what lb test your leadcore line is – it has the same sink rate. Also, keep in mind, lead core line trolls with an S curve in it. Braid does not. The lead core line snakes up and down and side to side depending on boat directions. Braid tracks pretty much the same depth.
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And yet another. It there a max depth that can be achieved by lead line to the point were there is no reason to let out any more colors. THanx in advance and good fishing.
The short answer is no – I’ve trolled lead core line in the great lakes salmon fishing and have put out 15 colors. You’re only liability is finding a big enough spool that can handle more colors. 
However, I’m guessing if you keep putting it out – there would eventually be less and less depth achieved per color.
Hope this helps! 
