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djkimmel

2025-06-08, 20:11:45
I'm planning on moving to a new server within the next 2 to 3 weeks. Just a little friendly warning as there might be a few hours of odd behavior when the process starts. I will try to have it done at night or weekend.

djkimmel

2025-03-04, 16:50:42
The Ultimate Sport Show Grand Rapids is March 13 - March 16 next week!

djkimmel

2025-03-04, 16:45:26
Please visit booth 1929 back by The Hawg Trough to say hi and wish me happy birthday while you're at it!  ;D

djkimmel

2025-02-09, 14:35:57
Stop by booth 5767 near the west end of the Suburban Collection Showplace to keep me company at Outdoorama February 20-23.

djkimmel

2025-01-23, 15:12:26
Next up - Outdoorama in Novi February 20-23, 2025! See you there!

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Favorite Deep Cranks for smallies

Started by StarBoard7, July 26, 2011, 06:54:31 PM

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0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

StarBoard7

Hello all,

I am looking at purchasing some new deep cranks.
I mainly fish the ohio side of Erie (Islands).

I have tried and had success with 6xds,Jackall muscle 15+,DD22's.

I was just anxious to see what you guys prefer as I have not really found one crank or color that really kills em but I seem to do best on DD22's anything with orange.

Thanks all.

thedude

i've been having some luck with the spro DDs.
West Michigan Bass www.westmichiganbass.com
Palehorse Custom Rods

djkimmel

My best crankbait over the years on Lake St. Clair and once in a while on Erie (I don't fish it much) have been the various sizes of Fat Free Shads. I usually use Pearl Shad though I do experiment a little. I know a Fat Free Shad won the Bassmaster Northern Open there last year. Watched him do it.

Help stop invasive spcies. Don't move fish between unconnected bodies of water. Clean, drain and dry your boat before launching on another water body.
Unless clearly stated as such, opinions expressed by Dan Kimmel on this forum are not the opinions or policies of The Bass Federation of Michigan.

Revtro

I'm very interested to see how this topic goes.  I fish a lot of Bandit cranks and some DD22's with some success.  I just tried a couple of Live Target cranks this weekend, but didn't get around the fish, so the jury is still out.
Tom  <><

More about me:
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YpsiBass

Curious what technique for retrieve you guys are using on these to catch fish.  Been fishing deep cranks on Belleville without much luck. 

bigjc

I too have had some luck with Fat Free Shads on both St. Clair and Erie, as well as Det. river. 

djkimmel

Usually just lightly skipping it along the bottom. Sometimes ripping it through the tops of the weeds. Most of the time, strikes come when it deflects off of or rips out of something. I have had a few hit the bait when I was snagged and knock it off the snag (LOVE those fish!!).

I try to experiment. Some days they hit them while I'm just swimming them along in open water. Some days they want a stop and go retrieve. In cold water, I use suspending cranks and try delays for as long as I can stand or until they get nailed, whichever comes first.

Some days I have had to real the lure really, really fast. I've had my butt kicked really bad a couple times by speed trollers who were trolling faster than I can reel. Probably should do that one more often. Once in a while, really digging bottom hard works too.

Once in a while, a real slow retrieve, almost like worming, was needed. They're a tool like anything else. You should never stop trying variations or new things with any tool (lure).

Help stop invasive spcies. Don't move fish between unconnected bodies of water. Clean, drain and dry your boat before launching on another water body.
Unless clearly stated as such, opinions expressed by Dan Kimmel on this forum are not the opinions or policies of The Bass Federation of Michigan.

FishermanJohn

I've had only a little success with Norman DD22s in the past so lately I have been throwing Rapala DT-16 and Strike King 6XDs and both have been producing fairly well.  I've had most success with a constant retrieve - both slow and burning it along bottom/cover.

Anthony Adams

What size Fat Free Dan?

My best luck has come on the DD22 Normans, Bandit 300 & 400 series and the DT14 & 16.

I have had some limited success on a C Flash as well.

I find my best retrieve is a quick reel down until I feel the bait hit bottom. Reel slowly dragging the bait right on the bottom, pause reel slowly pause, steady medium retrieve in. Most times they hit on the first pause and often times they will hit as the bait ascends towards the surfice. When i notice they are hitting on the upward retrieve I will switch to a floating instead of a suspending crankbait because I feel this means the bass are suspended off the bottom a little more. I then change my retrieve to a quick reel down until a hit bottom, longer pause, twitch, twitch reel quick until I hit bottom again longer pause, twitch a few times and medium reel in.


Anthony Adams - As your director I believe in promoting the enjoyment of fishing to all. I encourage good sportsmanship and preserving of natural resources. I strongly encourage all individuals regardless of age, race, or gender to be more involved in the world of fishing

Firefighter Jeff

   I don't have a lot of experience with diving cranks, but this spring in 8 to 12 feet of water I did pretty well on Series 5xd out on St. Clair.  They were custom painted in a perch pattern by Bassfan581.  I caught fish when bouncing it off the bottom, but I found I got a lot of fish by making a cast and reeling it down about as fast as I could and just paused it..... Bam  !!!  Now that was fun  !!! :)

djkimmel

I use all sizes of the Fat Free crankbaits series. Just depends on what size seems to be working best and how deep I think I need to get it.

Help stop invasive spcies. Don't move fish between unconnected bodies of water. Clean, drain and dry your boat before launching on another water body.
Unless clearly stated as such, opinions expressed by Dan Kimmel on this forum are not the opinions or policies of The Bass Federation of Michigan.

dashaver63

I just bought some more deep divers for Erie today and I really like the deep diving fat free shad in the citrus shad color. I also throw 6xd's, they have some color patterns in that model you can't get in the regular series 6 baits. I also bought a new set up today for throwing the big crank baits, the Tour KVD signature rod, 7' MH and the Browning Citori 5.4:1 reel. It feels alot lighter than the e glass rod I have been using.

Skulley

I use several different cranks when fishing Erie and St. Clair.  I have had my best luck on Norman DLN's as well as some of the Fat Free Shads.  I tend to stick with more of the natural colors in both models.  I use a lot of other cranks also.  One of the cranks that has been really producing for me this year on St. Clair is S.W.A.G. Big Dog Shad.  I designed it for S.W.A.G. and it really has been my "go to" crank this year.  I originally tested it in the Hot Pond at the end of last year with the owner of the company and was surprised how well the prototype produced.  Then when the fish on the mile roads moved up, I started really catching them pretty good.  I still did throw my old stand byes and did well on those.  I have also used some magnum wiggle warts over the years and some of the colors that are not made anymore produce very well.  Also the big Bomber Cranks which are 10 or 12 a's worked well for me too.  I am somewhat of a self proclaimed crank bait expert and am not afraid to use them any time of year in any kind of conditions.  You really have to have confidence in them if you would really like to be successful.  I also designed a spinner bait for S.W.A.G. too and that has put some nice fish in the boat for me too.


BD                           ;D
If You Can't Fish With The Big Dogs.........Stay On The Dock!!!!!!

Dodge Ram Trucks
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Fish For Free
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Mojo

If you aren't throwing the ol gizzard shad , yer missing fish. .......  ??? ;D
Thanks Dan for bringing year round Catch and Release to Michigan

Skulley

Quote from: Mojo on August 04, 2011, 11:27:33 PM
If you aren't throwing the ol gizzard shad , yer missing fish. .......  ??? ;D

Gizzard Shad is included in "natural colors" as indicated in my post. I will tell you, you're missing fish if you are not throwing the S.W.A.G. Big Dog Shad. I threw both colors side by side all spring and caught more on the Big Dog Shad. I am not saying the gizzard shad didn't produce.....it did.....but not like the Big Dog Shad. There could have been a lot of reasons for that too from rattle sound, to wobble, to color, whatever. All I can tell you are about results at the end of the day.


BD.                            ;D
If You Can't Fish With The Big Dogs.........Stay On The Dock!!!!!!

Dodge Ram Trucks
www.ramtrucks.com

Fish For Free
www.fishforfree2.com

Mojo

#15
No no no ....  not Gizzard Shad ..... Dave, Cheetam and I developed ..... just for  Lake St Clair 15 - 19 fow in August ...... the WORLD FAMOUS  -----

Gizzard Perch !!

Thanks Dan for bringing year round Catch and Release to Michigan

Skulley

#16
If balderdash were music, you would be a brass band, Mojo.   :o.  :P.  You crack me up man.  


BD.                    ;D
If You Can't Fish With The Big Dogs.........Stay On The Dock!!!!!!

Dodge Ram Trucks
www.ramtrucks.com

Fish For Free
www.fishforfree2.com

djkimmel

I don't believe I've ever heard of a gizzard perch?? I must hang out in the wrong places.

Help stop invasive spcies. Don't move fish between unconnected bodies of water. Clean, drain and dry your boat before launching on another water body.
Unless clearly stated as such, opinions expressed by Dan Kimmel on this forum are not the opinions or policies of The Bass Federation of Michigan.

Revtro

LOL.  I've seen the ole Gizzard Perch.  It's quite a concoction.  I don't remember seeing it catch a fish, but it's got some legend behind it.   ;D
Tom  <><

More about me:
www.pastortomo.com
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Cheetam

Quote from: Mojo on August 06, 2011, 12:48:16 AM
No no no ....  not Gizzard Shad ..... Dave, Cheetam and I developed ..... just for  Lake St Clair 15 - 19 fow in August ...... the WORLD FAMOUS  -----

Gizzard Perch !!

(Of course you have to cast with a 7 ft Mojo rod, while listening to Mojo in the morning, and drinking a cup of (mo) Joe) ..... hmmmmm

Oh yeah, I forgot about that one!  That one was a true, one-off custom that will never, ever be reproduced.  From the mind of a madman (Mojoman?) comes...THE GIZZARD PERCH.
Jeff

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