Something Differant On A Crankbait

[fishon-son]

just wondering if anyone alters there crankbaits to make them do differant things....i have a few 2.5 and 3.5 square bills that id like to run deeper  so im think of gluing a bigger bill to the bill on the bait itself.then sanding it so it dives deeper...anyone try this.?

[Vodkaman]

Fishon-son - Extending the lip could get messy. Let's consider a few scenarios:

 

1 - Current build has the lip/eye design perfect. Extending or shortening the lip will make the lure swim shallower.

 

2 - The tow eye is built too far forward. Extending the lip will achieve more depth.

 

3 - The tow eye is built too far back. Shortening the lip will achieve more depth.

 

The way it works; is that the lip, tow eye and the lure back, form a see-saw balance. This balance will have an optimum position for maximum depth. Either side of this optimum and the bait starts to swim shallower.

 

A good analogy that is easy to see, is the cannon. As the angle of the barrel increases, the shot fires further, until the optimum angle is reached for maximum distance. If the angle increases further, then the distance decreases again.

 

Any modification of the lip length will usually require a re-evaluation of the tow eye position.

 

Dave

[mark poulson]

I sometimes upsize my belly hooks, or add lead wire to the hook shank.  It makes the lure run a little deeper, but it makes it less lively, so it doesn't bounce off of stuff as well.

[BobP]

I think it will make the baits unfishable. 2.5 and 3.5's are already built with the ballast raised in the body to make them (hopefully) hunt. In other words, they are made to be on the edge of instability. A longer lip will probably overdrive the bait and make them spin out.

[Skeeter]

I agree with BobP.

 

Skeeter