What's your #1 favorite Crankbait and Color? [Archive]

rngrfshm

03-28-2002, 11:07 PM

Hello,

I am looking for some advise to what is your #1 Favorite Crankbait and color. I mainly use live bait rigs and jigs and harness but never really came across a favorite crankbait that I could consistently catch fish with. So wondering what others have found to be there favorite 1 crankbait lure that they like the best.

Thanks for the any advise.

brianj

03-29-2002, 04:32 AM

On LOTW from opening day to early July you can't beat a #7 or #8 deep running Shad Rap. Color is going to depend on the day.

rtmg

03-29-2002, 04:42 AM

WELL....... # 9, pearl white shad rap. Anytime / Anywhere..... what more can be said ? ? ?
Good Fishen
Rob

PWSR91

03-29-2002, 04:50 AM

I've been asked this question MANY times and the answer is always the same. If there was only one bait I could have in my boat it would be a #8 (old) fire tiger diving Shad Rap.

Phil Wilson #91

SUPERTROLLER

03-29-2002, 06:04 AM

1/4 oz. Hot-N-Tot in Metallic Green with black spots. Good in clear or discolored water and bright or overcast skys. (OR) Same color in a RattleTot.

robert (bracketpro)

03-29-2002, 06:21 AM

very good question!my number 1 go to crank would be a #5 wally diver in red or black&silver. depending on mother nature.if i need a little bait i go right to the # 6.over all, thru out the years the wally divers in both sizes have done the trick.with shad raps right behind them.in stick baits you cant beat the reef runner line up, they consistently catch fish. good luck and please support your kicker. thanks ---robert

Baxter

03-29-2002, 06:22 AM

Has anybody else noticed that, in both Cabellas and Bass Pros tackle catalogs (and their on line sites) that when you look at the Rapala selection there are NO "Deep Diver Shad Raps" listed? Did Rapala discontinue this model...or re-name it or what's the deal? I even checked out Rapalas home site on the net and the Deep Divers were NOT listed there either... Yep, there are husky jerks, plain shad raps, ect. but no mention of the Deep Diver model. That is definitely my "go to" crank, I'm gonna go into panic mode if they have been discontinued....anybody know what's happening???

robert (bracketpro)

03-29-2002, 06:24 AM

>very good question!my number 1 go to crank would be a #5
>wally diver in red or black&silver. depending on mother
>nature.if i need a little bait i go right to the # 6.over
>all, thru out the years the wally divers in both sizes have
>done the trick.with shad raps right behind them.in stick
>baits you cant beat the reef runner line up, they
>consistently catch fish. good luck and please support your
>kicker. thanks ---robert
ooops!i meant to say if you need a little bit bigger bait i go right to the #6.---thanks--robert

MIke2

03-29-2002, 07:07 AM

That depends on the body of water.

Lake Winnebago - #7 Perch Shadrap or Rainbow Thunderstick DJ

Lake Erie - Rainbow Thunderstick AJ

Bay de Noc - #18 Perch Rapala or Blue - Orange Rattlin Rogue

Honolulu - Some big honkin thing that floats on the surface at 10mph and catches fish the size of my truck.

SLIPKNOT

03-29-2002, 07:11 AM

#7 shad rap in firetiger or gold

DaCoder

03-29-2002, 07:27 AM

My go-to lure has always been a #5 ShadRap, 1/4 oz. Hot 'N Tot, or DJ TStick. It seems that these smaller lures usually out-perform their larger counterparts, at least for me. Natural Perch, Shad, or Crawdad has been the main choice of colors, with an occasional Blue/Silver. Somestime if things get really slow, I tack on an old Okee-Doke or Sparkle-Tail, just for reminiscing.

youngeye

03-29-2002, 07:31 AM

#5 shallow shad rap. White/pearl or the old firetiger.

iamwalleye1

03-29-2002, 07:34 AM

Pearl white shad rap #9!

ETT

03-29-2002, 08:19 AM

Reef Runner - Bubble Gum

Walleye Express

03-29-2002, 08:40 AM

Thats the 16,000 dollar question. And the answers could and will vary 16,000 times depending on your location, water type and clarity, specie fished for, as well as the forage they chase in that system. The best answer, is there is no clear answer. I've taken a bunch of walleye On Saginaw Bay using the 1/4 ounce Hot-N-Tot in the Tootie-Fruitie color. Now, what the heck does that color suppose to immitate? I see that the fire tiger is also mentioned a few times. I'd personally go into panic mode if I seen anything like it approaching me under water. I always liked the natural baitfish colors for obvious reasons. Yet, seem to catch just as many on the weird colors. But I guess I've skirted around your true question a bit. So, Silver/Green Back/Red lip 1/4 ounce tot. Or what we lovingly call the green pirate. Capt: Dan.

Otter

03-29-2002, 10:02 AM

#5 Shad Rap - crawdad

Kevin/CO

03-29-2002, 10:27 AM

The ShadRap is a deep diver, because the original bait is a deep diving bait chances are you won't find one thats called a deep diver. If you want to order online look at the lips and just make sure the one you by has the elongated lip and you'll be buying the deep diving shad rap. This is also why on Rapala's site there's so many shad raps on it, but the jointed standard shad rap and the shad rap RS all dive "deep".

Kevin/CO

03-29-2002, 10:31 AM

Original hot'n tots in either florescent red, perch, or firetiger, which one I pick depends on water clarity and available light.

bigeyes03

03-29-2002, 12:13 PM

my favorite would have to be a #5,7, or 9 chartruse or crawdad.

joewalleye

03-29-2002, 12:34 PM

shad rap #7 or #5 clown.

CarpetBagger

03-29-2002, 12:42 PM

Either a Reef Runner Little Ripper (rainbow trout, or Purple Demon) or a good old Storm deep Jr. Thunderstick

CB

Neal/CO

03-29-2002, 01:05 PM

Number 7 Shad Rap in Firetiger or blue and silver. Number 9 in perch.

Walleye daddy

03-29-2002, 01:35 PM

#5 perch Wally diver, would be the #1 choice, number 2 would be sr5 clown colored shad rap.

EricCO

03-29-2002, 02:17 PM

Wrong. I know for a fact that your favorite crank bait is a Bill Lewis Rattle Trap.

Neal/CO

03-29-2002, 04:07 PM

I thought we were talking about divers only, for some reason?

EricCO

03-29-2002, 04:09 PM

Nope. Even so, they dive (sink)?

Ever run them on leadcore for wipers?

Neal/CO

03-29-2002, 04:17 PM

We tore up the wipers and small walleye one day at Pueblo, with 1/8 oz traps on leadcore.

Stinger WI

03-29-2002, 04:39 PM

#5 Wally Diver in gold or the red

Craig A
#663

candrzoo

03-29-2002, 05:54 PM

1/4 Hot N Tot Metalic Red or Perch

walleyewacker

03-29-2002, 06:42 PM

Amen to the smaller cranks,
#5 shad raps are my go to in any trolling situation in shallower water.

paulisan1

03-29-2002, 06:48 PM

Blue Fade Rattle Tot.

crankmaster

03-29-2002, 07:37 PM

The most overlooked crankbait is the shallow running shad raps made by Rapala.

Run these over newly emerging weeds found in bays on the north side of lakes in early June and they are deadly. Use 4/10 lb Fireline to let you know if weeds are on the line and rip the rod to free them from your lure.

It is very important to look for bays that have a consistent weed height, 1 1/2 foot high weeds is best. Since this lure will run between 7.5 - 9.0 feet deep with 50 -125 feet of line you need to put your rod in a rod holder and point it up at least to a 45 degree angle if you need to in shallower bays. The alternative is to use in-line trolling boards but there always seems to be areas that have higher reaching weeds that foul the lure. Thats why windy days and shorter line lengths works so well.

Color is the most overrated factor. Its the lure manufacturers dream when fishermen think that fish see what we do. Scientific studies show that orange is the best color and that is why firetiger works so well but color is way down on my list as an important factor.

#5 and #7's run the same depth.

TRinMT

03-29-2002, 08:52 PM

1. gold/orange Wally Diver #5

2. firetiger or perch Shad Rap #5

3. my secret Flatfish U20 on leaded line.

TK_551

03-29-2002, 09:36 PM

I can't believe that Wally Divers were not mentioned more. My most productive ones have been the #5 in Black and Gold followed by perch.

Tom
#551

zugbug

03-29-2002, 10:24 PM

1) #5 or #7 Chartruse Shad Rap

2) #5 Chartruse W/ Little Red Eyes Wally Diver

3) Hot Perch Thunder Crank by Storm
a. After 1 incredibe day on Lac Seul last year,
I gave it to my dad to try. Never gave it back
won the big fish pot and rubbed it in!!!!
Last plug he will see from me.

Lund AnglerMJ

03-29-2002, 11:29 PM

A #9 Shad Rap,on most PA water's but the next best is a Wally Diver. If I'm after some big fish,which I alway's am if I'm blinkin' in the sun are my secret Dockered Rapala's. Man,buy some and drill some hole's in a # 7 or 9 floater or jointed Rap, and find a lure NO ONE ELSE HAS!!!! Find a new lure,to make everyone else stand up and say,WHOA!!!Experiment- it pay's off.

Walleye Express

03-30-2002, 06:54 AM

>1/4 Hot N Tot Metalic Red or Perch
Candurzoo.
That Metalic Red/Balck Back is a real sleeper on the Saginaw Bay. Some days that color is king. Another sleeper that has caught some real monsters for me and others, is the 1/4 Tot Sunfish. The Sunfish looks more like a Saginaw Bay perch than the perch colors they produced. Capt: Dan.

Walleye Express

03-30-2002, 07:09 AM

candurzoo.
The Metalic Red/Black Back, is a real sleeper on the Saginaw Bay. The 1/4 Sunfish is another color that always graces at least one of my rod at the start of the day. It looks more like a Sag Bay perch in the water, than any perch color I've seen made by anybody. Capt: Dan.

stewart

03-30-2002, 09:28 AM

Studies indicate orange might be the most visible to walleyes, but that doesn't make it best. Too many cranks have orange on them, and the fish here know better than to hit that colour anymore.

I agree that generally colour isn't critical though...

Fish Hound

03-30-2002, 05:12 PM

I thought the Renosky's were supposed to be the hot bait. Why is it when this question is asked, they are never mentioned? As far as my favorite. I guess it has to be the Rapala floater in silver. The Fish Hound
The Fish Hound

tjsker

03-31-2002, 09:48 AM

Does Rapala make the Shad Rap in White/Pearl anymore? Or do they have a different name for this color?

EyeJacker

03-31-2002, 10:44 AM

One of my favorites, although not the favorite which like me prefers anononimity, is the #13 Rapala in Blue. It has lead any number of larger toothy denizens of the deep to my Lund. :)
Jack

Happy Easter

ScottL

03-31-2002, 11:07 AM

The Pearl Shad Rap is real hard to find, I've heard different stories on it one was that it is only available in Canada, the other story was that it was discontinued. Reed's in Walker, MN had quite a few last June, you could try calling them. The fact that they are hard to find causes the value to go up. I think I paid close to 8.00/each. Ouch!!
It's a super color, one that the fish are not use to, and they strike it real hard.

CJW

03-31-2002, 02:17 PM

Old favorite shad raps. New favorite australian made JJ Stumpjumpers! CW

SUPERTROLLER

03-31-2002, 03:43 PM

I think the Renosky and ReefRunner lures may be our favorites of the future. They haven't been around nearly as long and just haven't gotten to lengedary status yet. I can't believe that the wally divers are mentioned at all. Last summer was the first time we ever cuaght walleye on them. Only reason they hit the water was because they had stopped hitting on our other cranks of choice. Probably don't catch on them due to the limited amount of time we try them and our lack of confidence in them. I think we all have some baits in our boxes like that.