Crankbaits are used for fishing. Crankbaits work best when you understands how crankbaits manage depth. Even with the correct color of the crankbait and the correct action of the crankbait, you wont be able to catch any fishes if the crankbait isnt reaching the correct depth of the water where the fish live.
A depth chart will allow you to understands the depth of the water and ensure that the bait reaches the correct depth. Arkie crankbaits were made for the reservoirs in northwest Arkansas. These crankbaits were specifically design because the structure within these reservoirs changes quickly.
How to Get Crankbaits to the Right Depth
Due to this change in depth, they made the Arkie crankbaits in three differenty models. The shallow runner model is meant to stay within the first few foot of depth and is best used in areas with flats or grass lines. The medium diver model is meant for the transition zones between the flats and deep water.
These are best used at points in the area. The deep runner model of Arkie crankbaits will allow the bait to reach the main lake ledges and is best used in the summer to find the fish that live in deeper water. Each model of Arkie crankbaits has a different bill shape to allow the bait to reach these depths.
Swapping crankbaits will allow you to change depths instead of simply changing the retrieve rate for a single type of crankbait. The retrieve rate for the crankbaits will also change the depth of the crankbaits. Faster retrieve rates will cause the bill of the crankbaits to plane upward and the crankbaits to rise.
Retrive rates that are slower will allow the crankbaits to sink to the deeper part of the lake. Additionally, the diameter of the fishing line you use will also change the depth of the crankbaits. If you use a thicker fishing line, it will create more drag for the crankbaits which will help them to rise to the surface.
Using a lighter fishing line or fluorocarbon will allow the crankbaits to reach deeper parts of the water. Fluorocarbon fishing lines sink in the water so this will help your crankbaits reach even further depth. Another factor in the depth of crankbaits is the bill shape.
Bills that are short and steep will deflect off any objects in the water and are only useful in shallow waters. Bills that are long and have a lower coffin lip will dig into the water and are used in deeper waters. Round bills will allow the crankbaits to exhibit a wide wobble which is useful in varying condition.
Each type of bill is perfect for specific depths of the water. You must use the correct type of crankbaits for each type of structure within the bodies of water. Main lake ledges will require the deep runner model of crankbaits and require the use of a lighter fishing line and slower retrieve rates.
Gravel points will use the medium diver model of crankbaits. Areas with submerged timber will use the shallow runner model of crankbaits. These areas require the shallow runner model because the bill will bounce off the timber in these areas.
Offshore humps require that you cast the crankbaits across the top of the hump so they work down the other side of the hump. Using the appropriate type of crankbaits for each type of structure will allow you to be more succesfully in your fishing efforts. Using one type of crankbaits for all types of structure will ultimately make you less successful.
The type of fishing line that you use while fishing with crankbaits will also affect the type of fish you hook. Monofilament lines will stretch and will make it difficult for you to feel a light bite when using deep diver crankbaits. Fluorocarbon lines will sink and transmit vibrations but will also make it difficult to feel a light bite if the fish get too close to the boat.
Most anglers will use braided fishing lines with fluorocarbon lines to keep the bait as close to the maximum depth as possible. The braid is thin while the fluorocarbon line will provide abrasion resistance to the fish that live in areas with rocks and other obstacles. The different species of fish will have different preferences in terms of the types of crankbaits.
Both largemouth and smallmouth bass will eat any of the three model of Arkie crankbaits depending on the season of the year. Smallmouth bass prefer deeper waters so use the deep runner model of crankbaits. However, if you use a fast retrieve rate you can lure the smallmouth bass.
Walleye prefer a slow retrieve so use the medium diver model to catch these fish species. By adjusting the speed and depth of the crankbaits you can hook multiple species of fish. Finally, using a depth chart will make it so that there is no guesswork in the fishing process.
You will have to watch your sonar devices and you will have to feel how the crankbaits move but using a depth chart will let you make changes to your fishing process. Additionally, understanding the effect that retrieve rates and fishing line will have on the depth of your crankbaits will let you make adjustments so that you can hook the maximum amount of fish.