Crankbait Advice

[eyepopper]

Eyepeople,

I'm hoping some of you experienced crankbait fisherfolks can help me "flesh out" my selection of lures. At present, I use #5,7,& 9 Shad Raps and Deep/Deep Jr. Thundersticks for long-line trolling (no additional weight) on the Mississippi River. I'm looking to add a third line of cranks, something with a distinctly different body profile and action. The waters I troll run from 8 to 20 feet deep. What are your recommendations for a third line of cranks?

Thanx in advance for any advice you provide.

Pop

[Eyez]

Wally divers

Similar profile to shad raps, but rattle, and have a more agressive action. The small size will run to 12 feet on fireline, and the medium sized ones will hit about 18 feet on fireline, 20-21 feet if you really longline -- 250 feet or so. I don't ever use the biggest sized ones.

Also highly recommend Reef Runner Deep Little Rippers. I've definitely helped myself by having a bunch of them around. I usually only troll 2 lines, by myself most of the time. One line is always a wally diver and the other is always a deep little ripper when I start.

Both of those crankbaits work excellent in water less than 20 feet with no additional weight, unless you plan on getting the little wally divers down to 20 feet.

Eyez

[Magic]

You hit it right on the head with these 2 cranks Eyez, I vote for those too!
Magic
See you on the water!!!

[Mike2]

We have been looking for another series of cranks on Winnebago and this year I think it will be deep diving baby Reef Runners. I think they will be more like the thunderstick jr.

[Chad]

Ya, gotta go with them Reef Runners. The deep little rippers are awsome.

[Den]

Without a doubt the deep little ripper would do you real good in that kind of water depths. good luck and good fishin.
Den

[TK_551]

Yes definitely pick up CD5 Wally Divers. Those have been my go to cranks for the past couple of years. I have CD6's as well, however, the CD5's always produce. Also the Deep Little Rippers. I will be trying those Renosky Fireglo Deep Divers when they come out. You may want to try some of the older style Storm Hot-n-Tots (with the metal bill) if you can find them. Those always worked well.

Tom
#551

[Gerry Mahowald]

I have good success with Hot-n-Tots on the Mississippi. When the shadraps aren't going I switch one of my board lines to a Tot and that usually does the trick. Use metallic colors and don't be afraid to run one high up off the bottom if your having trouble locating fish.
Not afraid to use my real name,
Gerry Mahowald

[SUPERTROLLER]

I have a tacklebox full of Rattletots and Hot-n-tots that will run in the depths you are trying to hit. I love these lures but their availability is limited now that they have redesigned them and come out with the clear plastic lipped model. I run only the old style lures and do not even own one of the new ones. I do not recommend them as the action of the new lure is much tighter and quicker than the old style and therefore is much the same as the Rapala's you're already running. If you want something different, I'd say go with the Reefrunners. You can get the Deep Rippers and Deep Little Rippers and they'll do what you are asking them to all the way to 20 ft. down and beyond.

[REELMAN]

wally divers or the deep little rippers.

[eyepopper]

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