what's your favourite crankbait for casting beds of weeds?

[divani]

[jlong]

There are dozens of great crankbaits for fishin' the weeds, but the Shallowraider deserves to make your list.

jlong

[divani]

hey Jlong, which one? The baby shallowraider or the 7" straight/jointed shallowraider? I have used this baby shallowraider and it keeps coming up to the surface and swimming on the side when trolling. I'm thinking of adding a little lead underneath the belly. Has anybody experienced this too?

[jlong]

Shallowraiders may not be the best for trolling, but probably are at the top for TWITCHING over weeds. I prefer the 7" straight model, but the baby shallowraiders are great too. For twitching, don't overlook the straight baby depthraider too.

Sounds to me like your trolling problem (blowing out) is simply because the lure needs to be tuned. Bend the line tie as needed to make it track true. I experimented with them in Canada a few years ago and had them tracking straight at very high speeds... so I know it isn't a design issue.

On the Baby Shallowraiders, you can remove the hooks and replace them with TWO heavy #2 VMC hooks for added hang-time. Not sure what it will do for their ability to troll.

Good Luck.

jlong

[divani]

thanks Jlong! I'll try it on my next trip. First I'll try the larger hooks and then, if that doesn't work, I'll try bending the nose-eye a little. I really don't like to bend it too much because I could ruin it. Not that they are cheap. I think I'll use it for casting rather than for trolling. My cranes and jakes run a lot better. I'm sure I'l catch some fish on it when I modified it.

[Duke]

The Shallow Invader gets virtually all my weedbed pitchin time, actually all my shallow crankbait time anywhere. As for the "Super" part, think McDonalds Extra Value meals. Replaced the wiggly part of the Invader with a much bigger piece (10" Fin-S). I like big lures!!!

[Tom Dietz]

I agree with you Jason. Both the jointed and the straight Shallowraiders are dynamite in weed cover. I really like the jointed version for night fishing or in dark water. Perhaps my favorite lure for fishing weeds is the Baby Depthraider. The straight model really explodes nicely through weed cover such as broad leaf cabbage and/or coontail , allowing you to "clean" the bait and trigger strikes. I have had very good success on the jointed version in areas with scattered weed clumps or patches. The larger Depthraider is also very good fished along deep edges of weed cover, using the lure to probe the edges and occasionally "rip" and explode through the weeds. Especially good tactic during cold fronts.

Tom Dietz

[Steve Van Lieshout]

I prefer Slammer Crankbaits, and have for years. From 5" to 10", both normal and deep divers, they all have their place. I have been using the new 5" deep divers this fall, which really look great. The fish are thinking so as well!
Steve Van Lieshout

[ToddM]

The depth of the weed cover usually dictates what I throw. For instance a baby shallow raider dives deeper than a 6" jake. A windells' musky snack or a mann's -1 are great when the weeds are right to the surface. A shallow raider can be worked slower with more action than a jake at the same speed. A jake can be worked faster.

You can troll shallow raiders but you must do it very slowly. The lips are wide and wide lipped baits usually can't handle alot of speed while trolling. They will work and fish will nail them. Just find the speed they work at and go.