Crankbaits in New England

[Southcoast Bassin]

After a 10 year ban from treble hooks .... I’m going back ! LOL
Seriously fellas ...
If you had to pick the 3 best Crankbaits for our region what would they be ?
Color as well .... (if you will share :)
Broke it up to 2 types

Shallow spots 4-8 ft

Deeper spots 10-20 ft

Love to hear everyone’s thoughts...
Tight Lines !!!

[bassboat1]

This has been my first season (of 40) that I've set out specifically to add crankbaits to my regular rotation - just couldn't work up the confidence before. Everything's being fished on 20# braid to 10# or 12# fluoro, and always making bottom contact. Out to 5', the Strike King KVD 1.5 Flatside has shown early season promise generally (and smashed the prespawn smallies that one day on Newfound). A Spro RK55 in Phantom Watermelon has been very good out to 8'-9', especially before midsummer. They are fragile, so buy extras! To get down to 12', I've been throwing a Damiki DC 300 in Ayu or Shad. I didn't use this in the early season. It's a little smaller than the other baits that I can get that deep. Can be a little finicky to tune, but solid once they're set up right. To get to 16', I've been doing well on the River2Sea Tactical DD in green pumpkin craw. I also have one in ghost minnow that hasn't been paying it's way so far. After that, it's the 6XD, but the number of fish it's accounted for don't justify the time spent so far.

[twitch]

Shallow this year for me was a Storm Arashi in either 3' or 5' but silent model not sure of the name but it is reddish on top and gold on the belly , 6' to 10' I use a Wiggle Wart Magnum in Firetiger also a Fat Free Shad in Citrus ,after that either 5 or 6XD ,but want to try one of those designed by the Tactical bassin guys .Just picked up a Lew's Fritt's Perfect Crankbait rod to try..

[Southcoast Bassin]

Thanks for the insight ...
Yes the river 2 sea tactical bassin baits look slick
Wiggle warts used to drive them wild at times ... especially smallies
was curious I’d anyone tried ?
6th sense curve 55’s
MegaBass S cranks or Lucky Craft BDS4’s ?
Also the good old Norman’s little N?
One things for sure ... the $$$ can add up quick with crankin... LOL
Now I know why I use worms and jigs
Seriously though ... I’m gonna get back to it next season
Like I said any help I certainly appreciate
The southern guys throw different baits then us

[basscat21]

My 3, throw in some jerkbaits, and deep jerkbaits.

Dt6- Helsinki
Dt10 Helsinki
Shadrap 9 shad.

There's more, but those are solid day in and day out. And I generally throw most times out.

[Southcoast Bassin]

Also has anyone tried the Black Label Balsa flatsides ?
Looks like they are still readily a available for $12-$16.

[plbass]

Some good info here. I stopped throwing crankbaits a while back and just started throwing lipless baits. Have a bunch of lipped crankbaits but just don't seem to have the confidence in them.

[billnorman1]

The KVD 1.5 is cheap, less than $7.00 at Walmart. Caught a 4 pound 3 ouncer on one yesterday. The Spro Littlejohn is deadly too.

[twitch]

yes , you do not have to pay big dollars for a bait that catches fish, sometimes it catches fisherman better than it catch fish...lmao

[plbass]

Oh yea

[twitch]

Shadrap has always been a colder water bait for me and works well

[Mr.Bass]

Strike King XD series depending on species. 6XD is a must from after spawn to end of September.

3XD is a smallmouth killer for me in 10 to 12 ft of water in the spring and early fall.

Strike King squarebill for the shallow bite.

Colors are all on you to figure out as the bite changes all the time.

[Southcoast Bassin]

Thanks for the insight...
Has anyone tried some of the 6th sense baits ?
The baitman Kevin Baxter swears by them .
They are reasonably priced and have that Japanese look and movement.
What people are paying for some of these Lucky Craft and MegaBass baits is a little ridiculous in my opinion.

[paulrodbender]

At $7.99 a piece for the Curve 55, I would definitely try one or two. There's a couple of colors that I see that I like to. Not their crankbaits but I know a guy that loves their jerkbaits. I've seen plenty of times where a $5.00 crankbait out fishes a $25 crankbait all day long. When you find some that you like and have confidence in, buy a few and stock up as companies always seem to change things from colors to material to slight changes in production that effects the crankbait. Also for me anyway, different ponds/lakes equal different crankbaits/colors that I have confidence in for that particular body of water. And then, when I have it all figured out, everything changes.

[bassboat1]

At $7.99 a piece for the Curve 55,

My TW order with a Perch and a Live Crawfish is due anytime I'd like to try the OSP baits, but I'm not quite willing to live with a single kidney.

[paulrodbender]

My TW order with a Perch and a Live Crawfish is due anytime I'd like to try the OSP baits, but I'm not quite willing to live with a single kidney.

I hear ya. I remember saying I'd never pay $20 for a crankbait but that has changed. I have spent more than $20 on a crankbait, tie it on, make one cast and just not feel it. Cut it off and put it away never to be seen again. I do have some that I would pay double the price for and other's, wouldn't pay half.... I have a shoe box full of old Bagley's that are brand new, never taken out of the shoe box but just can't seem to throw them due to lack of confidence in them..... My advise, buy one OSP, throw it and if you like it and think it's worth it, fine. If not, you're out 20 bucks. You just never know and the hunt continues.

[Alumicraft145]

Shallow, bandit 100 and 200 deep, bandit 300. Great place to get crankbaits is ebay. Look for lots.