Just before Christmas, I asked about becoming a crank fisherman, and got many helpful replies. Many lures were mentioned as being good, the most consistently named ones were Shad Raps and Reef Runners.

But, which model? I noticed that Shad Raps come in "regular", jointed, rattling.... and Reef Runners come in various models as well.

I'm getting the itch, and want to start buying some stuff a little at a time - every week or so, until spring. What models do I want first?

derrek.

"Sometimes I think we're alone in the universe, and sometimes I think we're not.
In either case the idea is quite staggering"
- Arthur C. Clarke

It will depend on how deep you plan on fishing.

Jointed Shad Raps-I love these for casting shallow and cranking shallow or wiile using lead core.

Shad Rap RS-These are my second favorite. I dont really use the regular shad raps anymore unless I need a #8 or #9. My theory onthe rattles is that they do not harm but sometimes help.

Reefrunners-If you never fish over 20' you can get by with the deep little rippers. However, the big reefrunners have a very attractive wobble.

In short, get them all. They way I got my crank bait collection was to buy 1-2 baits everytime I was at the bait shop of fleet farm etc...This lessens the blow a little.

Do yourself a big favor and go buy Precision Trolling by Mark Romanack. It's avalable right here under products. It will help you get into the swing of things much faster than figuring it all out for yourself.

My considerations before tying on a crankbait:

(Ranked in order)
1. Target depth
2. Amount of wobble/hunt. Rule of thumb...Water temp over 50 degrees = more wobble, Under 50 = less
3. Size
4. Color

IMO, all of the Shad Raps are a good warm water crank. Husky Jerks are my favorite in cold water. Reef Runners are a great "cross over" crank in the spring & fall.

Deep lil Rippers are great but can be a pain to tune and always need it. They are a top producer on many lakes. Shad Raps are easy to tune and seldom need it. They are pretty hard to beat as a first and last try bait. The hooks sure suck though. I change them right away. I started using some Rapala Tail Dancers last season and I love them. They run great out of the box and can be trolled at a very wide variety of speeds. They have a rattle and really produce. If someone would trade me Tail Dancers for all of my Shad Raps, I'd do it in a second. Well, some of them anyway, heh heh

To be honest, every lake has it's favorites. You'd do well to ask for advice from local trollers before you go out and start throwing money at something that may never produce. One of the lakes I fish is Chrome/blue and chrome/black or stay home. My local lake...forget Chrome/blue and black. It's useless. Use chartruese or firetiger almost exclusively. Pretty soon you end up with a $2000 tackle box(s) and hope like ##### the wife doesn't find out.

Derrek- casting or trolling? If trolling, like I said in a previous post, what depth? If where you fish, the fish hang out on an 8-9foot break, start simple with #5 or #7 shad raps, which will run between 8-11 feet deep when trolled on 10 lb test trilene xl. If your fish hang out in 12-14 feet, then you've gotta move up to size 9 or even bigger.
I read in one of my magazines, in the past month or two, maybe it was midwest outdoors, that the #5 shad rap is the biggest selling walleye crank in the rapala line. I always start with a #5 shad rap or #7 countdown, and then work toward deeper water. After goig deeper than 14 feet, I switch to other brands of cranks rather than adding split shot, keel weights, etc. I just don't like hardware on my line.

Want single sentence advice? Go buy two each #5 shad raps, not jointed or rattles, in the following colors: chartreuse/white or clown, blue/silver or blue/white, gold/black. Those six lures will cost you over $30 - - $5 each (US funds).

Then go buy the same colors in #7 and #9. Always buy at least 2 of anything because if you only buy one, you're gonna get snagged and lose that lure or a northern is going to saw you off - - and it will be the only color that they are hitting on.