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I need some help. I need to know how to modify crankbaits without messing them up. I dont know how many lips i have broke off or how many crankbaits i have made run sideways. Any help with this will be greatly appreciated.

well ok you do need help
but i can't help you

To begine with, why would you modify a crank. The only thing I modify on a crank is the hook. I try to insure that I have enough cranks of diferent depth so that I dont have to modify them.

Broken lips are just a part of crankbait fishing and bad casting! Tuning a crankbait is pretty easy. If the bait runs one way or another (left-right), you need to bend the wire that holds the "O-ring" in place at the bill of the bait. (This is the place where you tie your line) Get a pair of needle nose pliers. Hold the bait so that it is front is pointed at you. If the bait swim LEFT, bend the wire to the right. If the bait swims RIGHT, bend the wire to the left. You should be on the water when you attempt to fix this (or a pool will work too).

Modification to crankbaits are usually made because you can't get the result that you want from an "over the counter" bait.

For example I have bought several brands of suspending baits that do not suspend. I had to modify these lures by adding additional weight to them.

Weighting a crankbait gives you the ability to impact what the lure does when you stop reeling. For example, you can add weight to the front of the bait. It will still run normal when you are reeling it in, but with the correct amount of nose weight, you can make the bait stand straight up and rise very slowy. This is a deadly modification to a crankbait. If you have never done this, try it...

Addition of color to the bait with paint or colored hooks.

Top-water baits are often modified. For example you can sand the mouth of a popper to get the bait to spit water as opposed to making bubbles on the surface. Sanding the side walls will also affect the pitch of the sound that the bait makes. The thinner the side walls are the higher frequency the bait will produce. In addition to changing the hooks for quality purposes, changing the color of the hook (i.e. Red or Black) can also help. Some people like feathers on the tail end hook, while others want a bare hook.

There are so many things you can do to modify a lure, the import part is first understanding what you are trying to make the bait do and why you feel it should do it...

BC