Flat Crankbait Lip

[flipper2]

Hi everyone.  I am going to attempt to make some flat crank baits with coffin-style bills.  What I am wondering is what size bill would be best.  The baits will be 1/2 x 2.5 inches and hopefully dive 6 to 8 feet.  These will be the first baits I have made and any advice is greatly appreciated.  They will be fished in tidal rivers in Florida.

[HAWGFAN]

So many variables to this question!  All I can give you are generalities from my experiences, and others might not necessarily agree.  That's the beauty of it.  Everybody does things their own way, and may achieve different results from similar components.  I'll first assume the line tie is directly in the nose of the bait.  Your target depth is going to be about the max I'd expect from this configuration.  I'd start with a bill that is 7/8" to 1" at its widest point.  I'd leave 3/4" to 7/8" of bill exposed beyond the body of the bait, and install the bill at about a 20 degree angle.  That should get you a bait that is forgivingly stable, but with decent action.  I'd use a 5 gram belly weight.  I think 6 feet from something inside those parameters would be achievable.  8 might be a stretch, especially on a short cast.  To reliably get more depth, the easiest thing to do is install the line tie in the bill.  Get your feet wet with these first.

[barr5150]

I use these -

 

http://www.jannsnetcraft.com/crankbait-bills-lure-lips/340210.aspx#

 

On about the same size crank I can get down 10+ feet with this style lip recessed into the bait 1/2" and the line tie a little less then halfway out on the lip. If your looking to run a bit shallower move the line tie closer to the bait or on the bait itself like hawgfan suggested. I would do a test lure first though, these lips might be too long to let you pull from the nose of the bait.

[HAWGFAN]

I've used the bills that Barr mentioned.  The one in this image is the large sized one (010).  This bait dives to around 10 feet on an average cast, with 12lb line.  For smaller sizes you might want to buy square bills, and clip the corners off.  This is a balsa flatside, around the same size that you are interested in.  Notice, it would require you putting the line tie in the bill.  It's not terribly difficult, but you might want to try some with the tie in the bait first.

[flipper2]

Thanks for the information Barr5150 and Hawgfan.  The bait you have in the picture Hawgfan is exactly what I'm trying to achieve.  it looks great! 

[token12]

HAWGFAN, how did you attach your line tie to the crank bait bill and what did you use for the line tie?

[BobP]

In my experience, it can be difficult to get good action from medium flat sided baits with coffin shaped lips.  They naturally have tight wiggles but you would like to also feel some thump involved on the retrieve. I suggest you peruse examples of this type bait online to get an idea of what size lip is best, what lip angle is best, and especially where to place the line tie in the lip.  You can download a pic, print it out, and then compare the length of the online bait to your 2 1/2" bait and derive most of the correct lip measurements.  Most baits of this type are 1/2" wide.  I'd check Peepers Baits for pics of a Zoom Tapp and Tennessee Tuffy baits for his similar model.  I'm sure there are other sources too.

[hazmail]

Flipper--do you mean 'flat sided' of flat toped??? there are any number of flat topped lures here that will go down to 30' +  and anywhere in between--generally these have large lips with self tuning 'omega clips' in the lip as a tow point.

Pete

[HAWGFAN]

HAWGFAN, how did you attach your line tie to the crank bait bill and what did you use for the line tie?

 

I used a twisted wire.  It lays flat against the bottom of the bill, and continues into the body of the bait.

[Hughesy]

Ask Skeeter. He makes the best flat sided cranks I've ever used.