Making Cranks suspend/slow rise

[macgyver]

I know I'm a rookie at crankbaits, but I really dislike the fast rise of many of them, I want them to rise very slowly or suspend when I'm using a stop and go retrieve. I'm pretty sure ILbassin said there are things called suspend dots, but don't know for sure. How or what is the best method to make floating cranks suspend or rise slowly. Please be specific as possible with explantions, or products, and how to best use them. And if I add these things, should I color them to match the existing colors, or just live with it? Thanks in advance for any help.

Lizards

[james33]

http://www.basspro.com/servlet/catal...rTarget=browse

Heres the stuff I've been using. It sticks good, and it's easier to fine tune you're bait.

http://www.basspro.com/servlet/catal...rTarget=browse

I do know that where you put the weight will effect the way the bait swims. I bet Chip can help you with that.

[Rich]

IL, great minds must think alike-I use both of those. Lizards, the suspend dots/strips will do the trick-on something on a rogue I put them just in front of the middle treble. In the most recent issue of Bassmaster in the "A day on the lake" section is a picture of a weighted crankbait with the suspend strips/dots.

[macgyver]

[quote author=Rebbasser link=board=news;num=1102527789;start=0#2 date=12/08/04 at 14:33:15] In the most recent issue of Bassmaster in the "A day on the lake" section is a picture of a weighted crankbait with the suspend strips/dots.[/quote]


That was what got me to remeber about these things

Lizards

[zooker___________.]

Rapala's DT(Dive To) series crankbait. Made of balsa wood. I think there sweet, (Cranking is all I do well) shhh dont tell anybody!

[ryan7261]

Best thing about the bait's I make I can put more weight in them and not have the ugly duckling on the out side.


Robby.

[Rob Mak]

i take my braid shears and cut a small v in the dots i add them to the eye screw area on the front hook on a 2 hook bait. i also load a speed pencil right under the line eye makes it run level. i can get an extra 2 feet of depth by stacking 2 on the bottom of the lip.-shhh don't tell bassman

zooker

[macgyver]

[quote author=zooker link=board=news;num=1102527789;start=0#6 date=12/08/04 at 19:18:08] i also load a speed pencil right under the line eye makes it run level. i can get an extra 2 feet of depth by stacking 2 on the bottom of the lip.-shhh don't tell bassman

zooker[/quote]

Once again my terminology is poor here. I have no idea what a "speed pencil" is?

Lizards

[IL.bassin36]

I use the suspend dots/strips too, work real good. I use the strips for jerkbaits and the dots for cranks. I usually put mine right in front of the 1st hook hanger, keeps the bait in a slightly nose down position - like its feeding. Make sure its dead center of the bait or even across the belly, if using more than one-so the bait runs true. ;D

[Rob Mak]

i also put a suspend strip on the rear hook shank on a floater. that rises to the surface nose down i like it level.


lizard
a speed pencil made by lews i looks like a zara spook with one differance it is tail heavy it will stand on it's tail when stopped.i put a dot under the line tie to keep it sorta level great for long pauses.

zooker

[macgyver]

[quote author=zooker link=board=news;num=1102527789;start=0#9 date=12/09/04 at 18:40:01]
lizard
a speed pencil made by lews i looks like a zara spook with one differance it is tail heavy it will stand on it's tail when stopped.i put a dot under the line tie to keep it sorta level great for long pauses.

zooker [/quote]

Thanks, now I know what they are


Lizards

[catfishtonyd]

I've always just wrapped lead wire around the hooks. The suspend dots will work, but I've got the wire so I didn't see any sense in buying something else. It's also good for weighting hooks for things like Flukes.

[Rich]

Cajun, I've been using lead solder to weight soft plastics for a number of years-just cut off however much you need and stick it in the plastic. Much cheaper than the lead nail weights sold for the same purpose.

[bearpaw]

One way is to drill a 1/4 inch hole in front of the forward hook. Fill the hole with liquid lead.
Make sure that the hole is not too deep or too shallow.
After all is acomplished, make sure that enough lead is poured in, if you get too much then just trim it off.

Make sure to practice on baits that are on your unuseable list. It's non-reversible.
If you use the baits in different applications (suspending/floating) then go with the wire or the suspend strips , something that you CAN reverse.