crankbait diving depth

[dashaver63]

When a crankbait is rated to dive to certain depth, what pound test line is that based on? I know smaller diameter lines make a bait dive deeper and bigger lines shallower, I'm just curious as to how baits are tested to dive to 22' for a DD22 for example.

[play for keeps]

im not exactly sure, but i believe as a standard they are tested with 8lb mono

[thedude]

may vary by manufacturer, but most ratings are done on 10lb mono.

using 10lb floro will get a little better depth.

[Cheetam]

A DD22 only dives to 17ft.  Most ratings (like Justin said) are based on 10 lb line.

[dashaver63]

Thanks for the help guy's.

[Manxfishing]

Like others have posted most dive curves are based on 10# mono
or .0134 dia line.

As a genral rule
Fluorocarbon or copolymer line in the same test is one line size smaller then mono.
(So 12# Fluo or copolymer is the same dia. as 10# mono)

Other genral rule is
Going up or down one line size will add or subtract 1 to 1.5 feet to the dive curve.

[Skulley]

Being an avid crankbait fisherman, I have done extensive research on this subject.  Most crankbaits are tested for depth on 10lb mono with a .0134 diameter.  So essentially Manxfishing is correct in his post.  He is also correct when he said that going up or down one line size changes the dive curve.  However, it is said that the addition of subtraction of a foot to a foot and a half is not conclusive.  But I would say that is a pretty educated guess.  Rapala years ago put out a card with a matrix of crankbait diving depths when trolling the bait.  They were pretty accurate however casting is different.  A DD22 will go about 17 to 19 feet on a cast when cranking with 10lb test.  The DD22 will actually run deeper than 22 feet when trolling with 10lb test.  The other side of this is that a very long cast must be made for the bait to get to its maximum.

This is another one of those subjects that has many different answers to it.  In other words, if you ask 10 people you will get 10 different answers.


BD                     

[fiker]

What is meant by going up or down one line size?

[Manxfishing]

One line size would be
Going from 10# to 12#
Or going from 10# down to 8#
Going from 10# to 17# would be 3 line sizes

Line sizes would be
6,8,10,12,14,17 or 20#

UAWBigDog,
If your after a Line conversion chart these days
You can find one in a Precision Trolling book
You look up your target depth and it will tell you what to add or subtract
for the differnet line size.

[djkimmel]

http://www.precisiontrolling.net/

He used to sell a casting version but I didn't see it in a quick site check.

[bassassasin88]

The best set-up I have found for reaching maximum depths is a 7'10" cranking rod, 10# flouro, and your reel must be on free spool (be careful on free spool, one good backlash and you will be re-spooling your entire reel). With this set-up you can throw your crankbait a mile! If your getting too deep, and fouling the bait in the weeds, you can make a shorter cast, and or raise the rod tip. I know this is pretty common knowledge. I'm thinking about trying some 8# flouro on an extra reel, to get even deeper.

[Bender]

I have one of the Rapala books that shows their diving depths. It's a little old and doesn't show all of the baits but it is pretty good. If I can dig it up I'll look at it again but in my few tests it seemed pretty accurate.

I don't know if it helps or not but as soon as it hits the water I make a couple quick sweeps with the rod. I was told this helps get it down by making it dive faster. Then I start a normal retrieve. Anybody else do this? Do you think it helps keep the lure in the zone longer?

[play for keeps]

bender i give my cranks a big sweep when im really trying to get them deep, but other that that i just reel fast!!

[bassassasin88]

There's a good article in Bass Times (august2010) called "Ultradeep crankbaits". According to Pete Ponds a fast retrieve in the beginning, followed by a slower, steady retrieve, helps a lure achieve it's maximum depth.

[Manxfishing]

As a walleye guy that loves to troll
I can tell you
Speed has nothing to do with the depth of a lure  (Mark Romanack would be the first to point that out)
On a dive curve it's how far back (or how far you cast) that will determine the depth that the lure will achieve.
The other variable would be the line size. With .0134 dia. being the standard or norm

Reading into what  "Pete Ponds" has to say would be
The fast cranking get's the lure into the zone faster
After that you adjust the speed for your presentation

[t-bone]

The speed early is just to get the bait down to its depth as quickly as possible, then slow it down while it is at its maximum depth.