8 Deep Diving Crankbaits You Need To Try - Buyer's Guide

Which deep diving crankbaits work the best? Tim and Matt went through all of their favorites and picked out the top 8 baits that are worth your time this year. If these baits could tell the stories of the fish they've produced for us, you'd want to fish them all!

It was difficult to just select 8 baits, especially from such a broad category. Crankbait fishing can be so diverse and a deep diving crankbait can be used in so many applications. From dredging the depths with an oversized bait to ticking shallow rock with a mid-diver, the opportunities are endless.

In this video we are primarily covering the baits but below you'll find a breakdown that includes of some of the rods and reels we use for the technique. Also, hook selection is KEY to crankbait success so we will include those as well.

The Top Baits...

Megabass Deep X 300: http://bit.ly/2sSQHpt

Strike King 10XD: http://bit.ly/2gHT4F0

Strike King 6XD (Rattling): http://bit.ly/2ery44M

Strike King 6XD (Silent): http://bit.ly/2TcuSyi

Norman DD22: http://bit.ly/2LKB37w

River2Sea Goon: http://bit.ly/2AnvmMg

Megabass Deep Six: http://bit.ly/2A3clKP

Strike King 3XD: http://bit.ly/2oSMj8s

Spro Rock Crawler: http://bit.ly/2NFPA5t

Baits that almost made the cut...

6th Sense Cloud 9 C25: http://bit.ly/2BQ4uDs

Azuma Z Boss 24: http://bit.ly/2poLKUC

Berkley Dredger 25.5: http://bit.ly/2I8xOcA

Norman Deep Baby N: http://bit.ly/2O9CAcu

Teckel USA Drunker: http://bit.ly/2xryClV

Strike King 5XD: http://bit.ly/29Xk9Tr

Lucky Craft Classical Leader DR: http://bit.ly/2zKkhlV

Preferred Colors Include Ghost Minnow, Sexy Shad, Chartreuse Shad, and Red Craw.

Hooks and Split Ring Upgrades...

-Oversized Crankbait Hook- Owner ST-36 Size 1/0: http://bit.ly/2cWpeyw

-Standard Deep Diver Hook- Gamakatsu EWG Size 2: http://bit.ly/2cZrsbY

-Finesse Crankbait Hook- Owner ST-56 Size 2: http://bit.ly/2cVg7xW

-Hyperwire Split Rings Size 3 and 4: http://bit.ly/2v8ArBX

Big Crankbait Combo…

Rod- Dobyns Champion 805 CB: http://bit.ly/29OVD4V

Reel- Shimano Curado 200K: http://bit.ly/2tHewEh

Line- 17 lb Sunline Assassin: http://bit.ly/2h4LNjm

Small Crankbait Combo…

Rod- G Loomis IMX Pro Crankbait 845: http://bit.ly/2og0BmK

Reel- Shimano Chronarch MGL HG: http://bit.ly/2n8DghB

Line- 12 lb Sunline Assassin: http://bit.ly/2h4LNjm

Other great rods from various brands...

Shimano Zodias 7'6" Medium Heavy Glass: http://bit.ly/2cgmMAe

Daiwa Tatula XT 7' Medium: http://bit.ly/2FXhNpO

St. Croix Big Cranker 7'8" Medium Heavy Moderate: http://bit.ly/2Ap51x5

Cashion Elite Crankbait 7'3" Medium Heavy: http://bit.ly/2RxwocQ

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Dropshot Fishing Tips to Catch Fish All Winter

Today we hit the water with spinning rods in hand, searching for cold water bass in Post Frontal conditions. We're out with Ross England, an excellent finesse fisherman and fishing guide. Despite the weather, we started catching fish immediately and had consistent action throughout the day.

If you're tired of struggling to catch bass in Winter, this video is for you. The drop shot isn't glamorous but its incredibly effective throughout the cold months. If you understand where to look for bass and how to work the baits, its only a matter of time before you start catching.

We used 4 different worms today and caught fish on all of them. The key was that we found bass that were grouped together. Its always easier to get bit when there is competition between fish. Whether its December with a dropshot or July with a topwater, grouped up fish compete for food.

Below is a break down of the baits, the gear, as well as Ross's contact information if you'd like to get out and do this style of fishing. Winter doesn't have to be a struggle, get out there and have some fun!

The Worms...

Berkley 4.75" Bottom Hopper Worm: http://bit.ly/2Q9Qhdt

Strike King 4" Dream Shot: http://bit.ly/2KNXuK9

Roboworm 4.5" Fat Worm: http://bit.ly/2awYSxM

Strike King Half Shell: http://bit.ly/2iR9awm

We focused on green pumpkin and purple colors for success. MMIII, Green Pumpkin, Junebug, and KVD Magic were the best producers.

Terminal Tackle...

Matt's Hook- Trokar Dropshot Size 2: http://bit.ly/2ahxJOr

Ross's Hook- Gamakatsu Aaron Martens TGW Dropshot Size 2: http://bit.ly/2zGX441

Lead Dropshot Weight 1/8 oz: http://bit.ly/2BjFCp3

Tungsten Dropshot Weight 1/8 oz: http://bit.ly/2oy7i24

Matt's Combo...

Rod- Zodias 6'8" Medium Light: http://bit.ly/2jOUXAO

Reel- Stradic CI4+ 1000: http://bit.ly/2gu84t7

Line- 10 lb Power Pro Braid: http://bit.ly/2aFg46b

Leader- Sunline Sniper 7 lb: http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

Ross's Combo...

Rod- Powell Endurance 7'2" Light: http://bit.ly/2QyFvNk

Reel- Pfleuger Trion 25: http://bit.ly/2rjrdlr

Line- 8 lb Power Pro Braid: http://bit.ly/2aFg46b

Leader- 8 lb Seaguar Red Label: http://bit.ly/2LOVEwA

If you're interested in fishing with Ross or learning more about his guide service visit his website: http://www.clearlakeguideservice.com He is an excellent guide and very knowledgable angler.

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How To Catch Huge Slab Crappie

Today we're catching Slab Crappie on swimbaits, hair jigs, and finesse plastics. If you want to catch bigger crappie, these tips are what you've been looking for. Crappie are abundant but anyone who fishes for them regularly knows how temperamental they can be. Some crappie gear works remarkably well but a lot of it is unrefined. By making a few quick changes you can take your crappie fishing to a whole new level.

For years bass fishermen have known the power of Keitech swimbaits and hair jigs for bass. By applying these same refined lures to Crappie, anglers can increase their catch rates and typically increase the size of catch as well. We tend to use heavier heads than traditional crappie fishing in order to get the correct action out of the lures. The heavier weights also allow us to use light bass tackle.

Below is a break down of the gear we were using in this video as well as a few color recommendations for the various baits.

The baits...

Matt Stefan Guppy Head: http://bit.ly/2nyUJRS

Keitech Fat 2.8 Swimbait: http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

Realis V-TailShad: http://bit.ly/2PUH83Q

Basstrix 2" Flash Trix: http://bit.ly/2KHVxiy

Feider Hair Jig: http://bit.ly/2G7TBwj

Typical colors include Shad, Smelt, Chartreuse/Blue, and Pearl

Matt's Rod/Reel Combo...

Rod- Shimano Zodias 6'8" Medium Light: http://bit.ly/2jOUXAO

Reel- Shimano Stradic CI4+ 1000 size: http://bit.ly/2gu84t7

Line- Sunline Sniper 4 lb: http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

Tim's Rod/Reel Combo...

Rod- Daiwa Elite AGS 7'6" Feider: http://bit.ly/2QHupT9

Reel- Daiwa Tatula LT 2000: http://bit.ly/2zrq4id

Line- Sunline Sniper 5 lb: http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

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Catching BIG Bass With Larry Dahlberg

We got the opportunity to fish with Hall Of Famer, Larry Dahlberg on Clearlake and it was awesome! Larry's first ever bite on Clearlake was an 8 lber and we captured the footage as it happened! Listen to the story and watch the footage as Matt breaks down that incredible day.

Listening to an angler with Larry's years of experience will change how you think. Getting the opportunity to fish together is something truly remarkable. If you ever have the opportunity to spend time with Larry or any other knowledgable angler, take the time to do it. Its amazing what can be gleaned from even short conversations with these people.

The time spent with Larry was something we don't take lightly, nor will we forget. We're lucky to have the footage to share with you and hope you enjoyed it as much as we did. Below is a break down of the gear used in the video as well as the products that Larry has developed.

Larry's Lures...

Whopper Plopper: http://bit.ly/2a7ipHL

Whopper Plopper Silent: http://bit.ly/2bsPbQV

Clackin Crayfish: http://bit.ly/2FKUrDQ

The Gear from the video...

Rod- Expride 7'11" Extra Heavy: http://bit.ly/2nTq9FL

Reel- Metanium MGL HG: http://bit.ly/2ezIBfB

Line- Power Pro 65 lb Braid: http://bit.ly/2aFg46b

Lure- Jackall Archelon (School Bluegill Color): http://bit.ly/2uo4sN5

Weight- River2Sea Trash Bomb 1 oz: http://bit.ly/2bHj2pB

Hook- Gamakatsu 4/0 Superline: http://bit.ly/2ac92XG

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