Crankbaits for River

[Korn]

What is a good crankbait to pull in the Mississippi? I need something that will go 5 to 14 foot deep without changing.Thanks KORN

[Ristorapper]

MY favorite cranks involved with the depths you mention include the # 5,7,8,9 diving shad rapalas and I also like the Cotton Cordell walleye divers running in the area of 12-14'. I have also had some reasonable success with the husky jerks and have also just armed myself with the Reef Runner little rippers.

BW(ND)

[WalleyeMan]

The Storm Rattle Tot is by far the best trolling crankbait in its class. Good depth consistency, superb wobble and vibration, almost bomb-proof re: pike, big 'eyes, etc. Underutilized on the Mississippi but a Great Lakes standard. Go get 'em! Experiment with speed, depth and current; they also work well behind a well-placed planer board.
There are other good cranks as well(Raps, Luhr-Jensen, Wally Divers, Bombers) but try the Hot 'n Tots and Rattle Tots and you'll have a new primary bait.

[Backwater Eddy]

The Salmo Bullhead (Deep), Lindy Shadling #9, Shad Rap # 7 & 9, Husky Rap (Deep) in # 13 & 11, Storm (deep) T-Sticks JR's and 5" sticks, and the piggy Risto Rap all work well on 1-15 in current situations.

A 3-Way presentation can be a good choice for searching large river sections. Try shallow diver shiner imitators set 32"-42" back from the drop weight and 3 way swivel. The Mystic minnow is a great choice for this as are the Salmo shallow diver Bullhead and Storm Thin Fin original.

Use a soft drop link 8"-24", on the drop weight use Mono lighter then your main line and leader link to the lure and a "cheap" snap swivel on the end so you can change drop weights quickly when needed but if you hang up you save your crank. I like fire Line spooled up for the main trolling line as it cuts water easily and you feel every rock down there on the bottom, and any thumps from a fish. A long med/hvy action rod (7-9') works best for me on this style of trolling.

You can cover a lot of water fast with a 3-way to find active fish. A pump pause thump the bottom and pump again presentation frequently produces more strikes and insures you are on the bottom and in the intended strike zone. With this rig as long as you know your making contact with the bottom frequently you are in the zone.

Hope this is of some help to you,


Backwater Eddy...><,,>

[slant eyes]

I have found over the years that it depends where you fish the river. If I am fishing say Dubuque or Bell-vue down to clinton I use a lot of bombers 6a or 7as and rattle tots. The further north I go I start switching to wally divers and shad raps, dont know why that is but it usually works. I always use 4-10 fire line that will give you the bottom contact you are looking for. Watch out for those zebra mussels, that is another reason to use fire line, you can see the action of your crank bait, and when a mussel cuts you off you will be able to tell, hope this helps,..//

[KwikStik]

How much weight are you running for a sinker in bigger current. (Mississippi River).. Ever try bottom bouncers for this?

[CJW]

My new favorite is JJ's Stumpjumper lures out of Australia. They have a changeable bill letting you dive them to different depths with 3 bills included. Plus they have 3 different colors for each bill, can make a difference just changeing colors. They aren't everywhere yet but if you want any I can let you know where. Tight Lines Craig

[Backwater Eddy]

I have heard of them but never see them?

I would be interested in were to find them.

Thank's

Backwater Eddy...><,,>

[fisherman]

No one crankbait will suffice in the Mississippi. You gotta go with the size bait they want and the color they want-on that particular day---bright colors on sunny days, darker ones on cloudy days.. Size and color do make a big difference--we won a tourney on the Mississippi by staying with the size of bait they wanted--but having to change colors. So a big selection is what I recomend to you. Brand names seem to be less effective than size and color-keep changing to see what they want--which leads to a big selection of cranks in you're box- and lots of money spent. Rapalas, wally divers, Bombers and Rebel baits are hard to beat. Gee, wish I owned a bait shop.. good luck

[Jim K]

As others have posted, I've had good luck with shad raps, wally divers, and shadlings.

The river can be tough on your lure. You want the lure to be ticking the bottom quite regularly. I think shad raps are the best fish catcher but they do tend to get beat up faster than say the shadling.

Whatever you use, check regularly that it's running straight.

Good Fishin

[bigfish1965]

For river fishing I love the Rebel Fastrac. It can be fished slow or fast without losing its action and it displaces alot of water with its thumping action. I use the orange when I can find them.

[CJW]

Sorry Eddy wasn't watching this board as of lately. I get mine at US20 Bait & Tackle in South Bend In. His phone is 219-234-8720 e-mail is US20bait@aol.com. Pricing are as follows $7.99,8.99,9.99. Sounds like alot but you have three different lures for the price. I use the size #3's mostly. Thats the cheapest one. If you want to see them look up ausfish.com and look under products jj's stumpjumpers. As of right now he's the only one who has them here in the USA that I know of. That will change though heard the company is going international. Hope this helps. Craig

[Wave Wacker II]

When the water is still stained the Berkley Frenzy has done well
for me. I like Shad Rap or a Thunderstick jr. when it clears up.
As long as they are in the Fire Tiger color they will work. A lot of locals in the Prairie du Chien area swear by the Rebel Crawfish in the hotter colors.

[buzzer IA]

Hey Korn,
One bait that I'm really starting to like a lot is the new minnow baits from Berkley Frenzy..Good colors, tight wiggles and they come with great hooks..Like to run them on a 3 way with anywhere from 1 to 3 ozs. on a dropper line..Of course always use a lower pound test line on the dropper as those cranks get pricy but lead is cheap..Get a few deep divers and you can go hit the wingdams as well..Let me know what you think..

[Borch]

A crank bait that will give you consistent depth no matter the speed is the old spoonplugs. Know for a fact a ton of eyes came out that river especially in the pepin area on them. You can still find them and they do work very well. Buck ran one of his fishing on the water seminars on pepin. Man that guy could catch fish. It's all about speed and depth control.

[mossboss]

That is a big range to fill with out changing baits. But in 12 to 14 ft I use #7 Shadrap. Shortlining a #5 for the shallower depths or use a board.

[Backwater Eddy]

Thank's!

Backwater Eddy...><,,>