DT and DD

[ikeslayer]

i am looking into buying a good selection of crank baits this year. i already have a solid selection of x-raps and rougues for some cold water or jerksuspend situations however i am looking into the DT and Norman DD because it seems that they have (Contact Us Please) proofed it. here is what i am wondering. Do the Dt really dive to that depth and i am not sure what the DD stands for but i beleive it goes all the way to DD22 does that really go to 22 feet or not. I am just wondering at what line diameter do these things reach there maximum potential. Always wanted to have access to a pool to watch these things and see if they did them. I am sure someone on here has done there homework on cranks. Just curious as to what you found. ike

[SluggoMaster]

I know you can get a DT-16 down to 20 feet on 8 pound test. The DD-22 gets down there on 8 - 10 pound test most of the time. Water temp affects this too due to water density. When the water is warmer, you can get them deeper.

[RK]

Hiya Ike -

I throw the DT series quite a bit. The DT-16 is my go-to crank form late summer through late fall when I'm fishing deep weedlines. with the right line, the depth range they give is actually not too far off. Maybe a little generous, but not by a lot. DTs cast exceptionally well even in wind, which is another reason to like them. Boy do I wish they made a Flat DT-16 though... I love the old Poe's RC3s, and the few I have left are in pretty bad shape. The DT Flats are pretty close to the same thing.

I haven't thrown the DD22s much, so others will have to chime in on them. Another deep crank I do like a lot though is the Poes 400, which are great if you can find them.

As far as line, I will use braid at times, usually 20# Cortland Master Braid. The braid's helpful for snapping cranks through coontail, but it's murder on reels. Otherwise, 12# fluoro... If you're using a stiffer rod, line with a little stretch to it like Berkley Big Game can help with keeping fish buttoned up. I use a 7'10" noodle for big cranks though, which is part of why I can get away with braid and not lose too many fish.

Cheers,

Rob Kimm

[TurnUpTheFishing]

Im a big fan of the DT series. From my expierences they run within a foot on the depth they are made for. The DD (down deep)22 I dont believe is going to go to 22 feet. more like 16-18'.

Smaller diameter line may get you those few extra feet. Florocarbon is more dense than water (sinks) so that will get you a little more running depth as well. When running depth is tested it is done on 10lb. mono so lighter line adds depth and heavier will reduce your depth. Im not a fan of braids on big crank rods. I like having the stretch of mono. I find myself using 10-12lb. mono when I crank.

I usually throw cranks on a 7' MH graphite rod. The backbone helps me rip weeds free. Though this year Ill be getting a MH glass rod to try. Curious to see if it will help me land a few more fish.

[Central Bassman]

I agree with both TUTF and RK. The DTs work great. The DD22 are big down south, and if you are planning on throwing them all day you better start working out becuase they are a hard pulling crank and work you hard!!! I learned that the first time i used them!!!

[Deitz Dittrich]

I would say that most crankbaits will reach pretty close to the depth they say they will with very light line on a very long cast. THe heavier the line you are using the shallower it will run. I have thrown the DD22 quite a few times, its a great crankbait, big body, put out a ton of vibration. The DT16 is also a great bait. I have quite a few of those as well. I also have as RK mentioned, quite a few Poe 400 and Poe 400+. I love those things. Usually when you are fishing a crank that dives that deep you are fishing fairly clear water. I prefer my deep cranks to not have rattles.. the Poes do not.

I usually throw my cranks on 10 lb florocarbon, with a rod designed for crankbait fishing. ITs harder to rip the weeds off the hooks, but I stay hooked to fish better I feel.

[Central Bassman]

Y no rattles???

[Deitz Dittrich]

I have just done better in clear water without the rattles. Fish in clear water feed more by sight than those that are in stained water. So the rattles are not needed...

Again, this is just my opinion, and what has worked for me.

[Superduty]

I like to think of it this way. In order to get a reaction bite(from an inactive fish), a bait needs to sneak up on a fish and kind of suddenly appear. In clear water, a loud rattle bait would be heard and then seen from a long distance and the fish would have a relative long time to process whats happening. A quieter nonrattle bait might get closer to the fish before it notices the bait. The fish has a better chance of simply reacting instinctively and attacking it.

If the fish are really agressive and feeding like say before a weather front pushes through or right away in the morning, you might be able to do well with a rattling crankbait even in clear water. In this case you want the fish to notice the bait because it is actively feeding. Most of the time though the fish aren't actively feeding and a non rattle bait is best in clear water.

[Mr. Pike1]

I like the DT as well but usually use the DT 10 and like the firetiger and parret color. I mostly toss them around weed edges or sand bars on the river so I have never went larger then the DT 10. For deep water I have surprising success with the Rapala tail dancer deep diver which is intended for trolling walleye in deeper water.

I understand the point on rattle baits but still have a strong like of the old rattle trap.

All that being said I still prefer the "Senko" over any other largemouth and smallmouth bait out there for docks, rocks, and weeds. I know others also use the Yum Dingers with good success.

I was actually just at fleet and they were stocking three of my favorite senko colors with the Rootbeer being on the top of list so I loaded up on 4 or 5 packs.

[bassphish2005]

I have had some excellent bass days on clear water /deep weedlines ripping a Trap along the deep weed edge.But is was always on a cloudy/rainy/windy day,just maybe the rattles got them going real nuts in the frontal conditions.

my two cents

[Daze Off]

Like everyone else I love the DT series - even their shallow DT-4 is a good bait to cast to teh bank and run out to an inside weedline. I have no experience with the DD22 but have some of their baits that run slightly shallower and like their action and colors.

DD = Deep Diver to answer your question.

Daze Off

[EBass]

Nice post SuperDuty.

I've used the DT's for a couple years now and I really like them. Walleye's and smallies luv them to. I don't do much of a deep weedline as I'm mostly on the river, so I mostly toss the DT4 and 6.

I was thinking about putting 8lb Vanish on my 7'0" crankbait rod as I have a new spool sitting there. Normally I roll with 20 lb power pro. Any ways, do you think 8lb is too light? I think it is, but I wanna use that Vanish. Maybe I'll have to get a medium light setup.

[Deitz Dittrich]

EBass- I on a designed crankbait rod, I would be more than confortable with 8 lb test. matter of fact I throw cranks on 8 lb quite a bit. Will you ever break off a fish this year because you are using 8 lb... you know what.. You might.. but will you get more bites because you are using 8lb... you know what.. YOU WILL... its a give and take bud...

[Central Bassman]

Good post guys there is alot of INFO!!! What is the best crank with out rattles???

[Deitz Dittrich]

Just my opinion.. But the older Poes...

[river rat316]

Bagleys has one that dives to 16' with no rattles, they also have lots of em in the 12-14' range that dont have rattles

[kt]

One of the best no rattle baits in my opinion is the old tried and true shad rap. Tough to throw sometimes but a great overlooked option.

[RK]

Hiya -

I'm sorta with Deitz on the rattles deal. In clear water I much prefer no rattles. I think lipless cranks like Traps are sort of a whole different technique than diving cranks, and the rattles are a big part of why they work. I don't think those two statements are contradictory, they're just different.

Shad raps are a great crank. If you haven't seen them yet check out the Berkley Flicker Shads. They're a shad shape but with a subtle rattle and a little harder wobble than a shad rap. Great smallie crankbait. I used them some last year and liked them a lot. They have a little more weight than a SR too, so they cast a little better. Even still, for baits like Shad Raps I use a 7' spinning rod.

Deitz - about the Poe's cranks. Was talking about them with a friend of mine who used to fish BASS a while back down in Arizona - he's fished the Classic 4-5 times I guess... Anyhow, he really doesn't fish bass much any more. I was complaining to him that I was running out of Poes 400s (pike are tough on 'em) and he said he had some he'd give me. Asked how many he had, and he said "Oh, I dunno - I have 2, 3 *hundred* of them. How many you want?" He's bringing me a box full tomorrow... Plus some RC3s and a pile of original Bandits...

Cheers,

Rob Kimm

[Deitz Dittrich]

Rob- Nice score dude!!! Thats awesome!...

I have always kept my eyes open for sales over the years as places got rid of older poes... I scored quite a few at Gander about 7 years ago. And picked up another 50 or so off of hsolist pretty cheep that were in colors that nobody wanted. Then I have a friend/tournament partner who is an artist who paints... and he then re-handpaints my poes for me. Its a sweet deal.. All I got to do is take him fishing.. LOL. and since he is one of my tournament partners, its not that hard to do.

[EBass]

Deitz - you were supposed to tell me to go get a new Shimano Compre 7' medium light rod and call it my shakey jig/drop shot rod (I have a Shimano spinning reel from ice fishing I can use)

But I just don't have the room in my tiny boat. OK I'll roll with the 8lb vanish and see how it works on my crankbait rod.

I think I have 1 poe.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Ebass, get the New Shimano 7'2" Shimano Crucial DropShot rod and use it for both dropshot and shakey fishing... LOL.. Its way better a rod!... they also make a 6'8" version as well.

[Wayne Ek]

Bro, you are soooo easy. Deitz you're suppose to give Wayne a new fishing rod and reel combo (Quantum of course) and two maids a milking and don't forget the partridge in the pear tree. You can keep the tree, they make good structure or so I've been told.

[Superduty]

I have some discontinued rapala downdeeps in odd colors that could sure use a new paintjob.