Snap Weight question

[#1hoyt]

I am just wondering how all you find your depth with a diving crank. I have used snaps with stick baits and spinners but never with a diver. I fish a 21 foot deep lake and would like to run shad rap #5 at 18 or 19 feet. i dont have lead core yet but do have the snap weights. Where do you put the weight from the bait and how do you find bottom.
Thanks for input

[Manxfishing]

It's all in the Precision Trolling book

http://www.fishing411.net/

PT says adding 1 oz will add 30% to the dive curve of a bait. A #5 Shad Rap supposedly runs 9 ft max, so adding 1 oz would max it out at 12 feet. Adding a 2 ozer will get you to your desired depth, depending on the lead.

[EyeKing]

Rule of thumb is for every oz of snap weight placed 20' in front of your lure you will gain 1/3 of that lures diving depth. Example=If a bait runs 12' max, adding a 1oz snap 20' in front of the bait will get you roughly 16' down. The same bait with a 2oz snap will run 20'.

[EyeKing]

Originally Posted by Lund Guy

PT says adding 1 oz will add 30% to the dive curve of a bait. A #5 Shad Rap supposedly runs 9 ft max, so adding 1 oz would max it out at 12 feet. Adding a 2 ozer will get you to your desired depth, depending on the lead.

2oz would only run around 15'. He would need 3oz snap to get roughly 18' down. Everyone I have talked with on this reccomends a 20' lead. The longer you go the less effective the weight wil become. Adversly the shorter the less action the bait will have. 20' seemed to be a pretty standard lead length for snap weights and cranks.