altering crankbaits

[bassman20042]

Hey all,I got a question about crankbaits. Recently I was fishing a deep diving crankbait,around a channel,in about 25 feet of water.The water was stained,with a few brush piles.I have a crankbait that goes to 20 feet.I caught a few bass,but had to use a jig,to get deeper. My question is this.How can I modify a deep diving crankbait,to get it down to 25 feet? Afew friends,told me to shave the bill,to get it to go deeper.Is this a wise move.I don't want to loose the action on this bait. Any help is greatful. Thanks alot. Bassman

[fishinforever]

I dont think i would chance shaving the bill. I say either weigh it down to your preferance or get a crankbait that goes 25ft.

[swlchris]

I have used crankbaits on a c-rig. get them down deep and they will hover above the weight. A rougue works reel well with this also.

[johnnie crain outdoors]

Bassman, all the suggestions are good. I have used Storm SusPend strips and dots to weight crankbaits with good success. You may also use heavier trebles to gain a couple feet. The -C- rig works well too, but I really believe there are better lure choices when fishing in excess of twenty feet of water. Large jigs and pigs, big heavy spinnerbaits-slow rolled and large profile soft plastics either -C-rigged or Texas style. Good luck fishin' Johnnie

[carl]

Hey all, haven't been around much, hope everyone is doing well. I read an article in Bassmaster several years ago about two guys in Texas that had developed a rigging system to their cranks down deep. I've looked for the article but can't find it, if I do I'll post it. Carl

[RW-reeler]

Johnnie, I remember some story that by putting an edge on the lip of a crankbait (cb) that it helps it cut thru the water and gets more depth. ..... I thought you would know if it works since you love to use the cb so much.

If I remember it just gets a little more depth but I don't think it will add 5' to a 20' diver.

So Bassman, I don't think you will destroy your cb if you put a sharp edge on the lip but hey, every fisherman loves to tinker with a bait, don't they

RW-reeler

[johnnie crain outdoors]

You're right, sharpening a bill will help aquire depth, but be sure to take equal amounts off both sides or the crank won't run straight. It's kind of like sharpening a boat motor props blades, it's a little more efficient. As for cutting off slices of the bill, don't do it, usually the wider the blade the more digging power it has. But like was said, we all love to tinker. Johnnie

[johnnie crain outdoors]

P.S. Don't expect great changes in depths either way, maybe two feet tops. Sometimes that does make a difference though. JC

[bassman20042]

Hey all,thanks for the advice. After reading your replys,I decided to just leave my baits as is,and buy others that give the depth described.