Crank Baits?

[CarpSlayer]

I'm just starting to fish the deeper crankbaits and I'm looking for tips for what works on table rock. I use wiggle warts in spring and fall but what works in between

[96 CHAMP]

Table Rock Tips from the Pros - Pete Wenners with Brain Snowden 1-7-2016

[abkeenan]

I like Norman DD22's, Bomber/Excalibur Fat Free Shads, Rapala DT16 and 20's and Strike King 5,6 and 10XD's myself. Norman DD22's are a TR favorite of most of the deep crankers. They are durable, run great, come in 100 colors and are wallet friendly.

[Champ188]

Just for clarity's sake, Table Rock is not known to be a deep cranker's paradise by any means. If you're gonna try it, you'll increase your odds of success by targeting the stained river arms like Long/Cricket creeks, the James and perhaps the Kings. There are just better mousetraps for clear-water bass. If you really want to enjoy some good deep-water summertime cranking, head over to Grand Lake in NE Oklahoma.

[CarpSlayer]

I hear about fishermen having 100 fish days out in the deep this time of year. What are they using 

[abkeenan]

1 hour ago, CarpSlayer said:

I hear about fishermen having 100 fish days out in the deep this time of year. What are they using 

More than likely a drop shot or spoon.

[Champ188]

3 hours ago, CarpSlayer said:

I hear about fishermen having 100 fish days out in the deep this time of year. What are they using 

abk nailed it ... drop shot or spoon. And 100-fish days just might be stretching things more than a little bit. Babler can weigh in for himself, but him and Beck are two of the best deep-water kingpins on the lake and I can't recall either of them ever reporting any 100-fish days this time of year.

I'm only a fair hand at deep cranking, but I've spent a good amount of time in the boat with a guy who is one of the best in this region, having won well-paying regional tournaments on Beaver, Grand, LOZ and Dardanelle using this tactic. He preaches that you have to come in contact with the bottom as much as possible during your retrieve. With a DD22, the big Fat Free Shad or a DT-16 (his favorites), you will struggle to reach the bottom at the deepest point of your retrieve in more than 15 feet of water. That is making a LONG cast with 10-pound test line (mono or fluorocarbon, your choice). Unless you are "strolling" or you tie a catfish weight to it, you will never get a DD22 to 22 feet. Just won't happen.

My point is (brace yourself, Bo ... here it comes!), even largemouth on Table Rock rarely come into water shallower than 15 feet in the hot summer months. Very rarely except for at night and perhaps super early in the morning. Therefore, the deepest of the deep cranks just aren't gonna get down there where they are at. The better mousetraps I mentioned earlier are jigs, shaky heads, spoons and drop shots. Oh yeah, and the varmint --- can't forget The Little Guy!!!

[abkeenan]

55 minutes ago, Champ188 said:

abk nailed it ... drop shot or spoon. And 100-fish days just might be stretching things more than a little bit. Babler can weigh in for himself, but him and Beck are two of the best deep-water kingpins on the lake and I can't recall either of them ever reporting any 100-fish days this time of year.

I'm only a fair hand at deep cranking, but I've spent a good amount of time in the boat with a guy who is one of the best in this region, having won well-paying regional tournaments on Beaver, Grand, LOZ and Dardanelle using this tactic. He preaches that you have to come in contact with the bottom as much as possible during your retrieve. With a DD22, the big Fat Free Shad or a DT-16 (his favorites), you will struggle to reach the bottom at the deepest point of your retrieve in more than 15 feet of water. That is making a LONG cast with 10-pound test line (mono or fluorocarbon, your choice). Unless you are "strolling" or you tie a catfish weight to it, you will never get a DD22 to 22 feet. Just won't happen.

My point is (brace yourself, Bo ... here it comes!), even largemouth on Table Rock rarely come into water shallower than 15 feet in the hot summer months. Very rarely except for at night and perhaps super early in the morning. Therefore, the deepest of the deep cranks just aren't gonna get down there where they are at. The better mousetraps I mentioned earlier are jigs, shaky heads, spoons and drop shots. Oh yeah, and the varmint --- can't forget The Little Guy!!!

^---This. When I throw a DD22 I am ticking 16-17 feet max. The 10XD I am hitting 24-26 feet. These are on pretty long casts with my 7'10 BPS Cranking Stick that will load and launch a 1-2oz piece of plastic. This is also throwing on 12lb fluoro on a 5.4:1 Lews reel. Guys that claim they are getting the 10XD's to 30, 35 and even 40 feet I don't know what they are doing or smoking to claim that but I can't get it down there (on a cast, not sure about long lining/strolling as Champ mentioned). Also, as Champ said there are probably better options on Table Rock for getting at those deeper fish. I throw deep cranks to break up the monotony and don't do it all that often. This time of year when fish push out to their deep haunts and the K's really bunch up and suspend the drop shot and spoon are king. If you aren't a vertical or graph watcher guy (spoon, DS) and that's not your gig you can always throw the football jig or shakey head (as Champ again stated). That or perhaps swim a grub, swim jig or paddle tail in that 25-35 foot range along the bottom or above the deep tree tops that come up to that depth.

[Alex Heitman]

Very good advice Champ and Abk. I will catch them deep on spoons jigs and drop shot but I still love deep cranking. I usually throw a 6 or 8 XD in the summer a lot with 10 lb fluro and can get it down to 20ft. I have a 8ft KVD composite cranking rod with a Lews BB1 pro. That will get your crankbait way out there and achieve those deep depths. Brush piles are a plus when doing this and also points that are long runouts that have a distinct drop into a channel. 

[Champ188]

I have to admit that I literally forgot about the XD series crank baits from Strike King. I haven't tried them but I know they will definitely get on down there. And Alex knows cranking as well as anyone, especially on TR, so I'd bend an ear to whatever he says.