How to get a crankbait to the "bottom"

[Brad in MS]

if using a small crankbait like a strike bitsy minnow or slab hammer, what can be used to get the bait to bounce off of the lake bottom or creek channel?

can a small weight be used in front of the crankbait? or maybe heavier line? i am using 4 lb line right now.

thanks in advance !

[M R Dux]

I would put a 3-way swivel a couple to 3 feet in front of the bait and put a dropper line with a small weight on the bottom of the swivel. The dropper should be just long enough to keep the bait "ticking" the bottom and not digging the bottom up. I would also recommend you invest in some higher test line unless you own a bait company. You will lose some baits either way but many more using such a light line.

[SteveJ]

My method is a "Carolina Rig" with a 1 oz weight above a barrel swivel and then 3-4' of line to a snap. But I'm using 8-10 lb test line too.

[crappieseeker]

I have always thought that adding anything would mess up the action of the bait, so I never tried anything different. Next time I might try that technique, but I do not fish cranks very much anyway.

["G"]

I have always thought that adding anything would mess up the action of the bait, so I never tried anything different. Next time I might try that technique, but I do not fish cranks very much anyway.

The action of the bait is the same .........the weight being ahead of the bait does not affect the action of the lure two or three feet behind it.

[Brad in MS]

i have been using 4 lb line on my ultralight spinning combos. i only use these for crappie and bream. using jigs i haven't lost a bait yet. lucky i guess.

i'll beef the line up for the crankbaits....thanks...brad

[Wannabe...]

Google "bottom bouncer" rig. Basically a wire form with weight on the bottom. Walleye guys use it a lot and might be the ticket with a shallow diving bait to keep it ticking and not digging.

Wannabe...

[jsharlan]

Keep in mind crankbaits are rated for depth at a certain lb line, like 10 or 12lb. So using 4lb line should actually led you dive it deeper. Depending how deep you are trying to fish you might be able to bounce it off the bottom with nothing other than a deep diving crankbait.

[BigD]

If your crank bait is not "0" it will hit the bottom before your weight does. Thats why I use lead core to go deep in channels. But if you want to use mono I recommend that you keep the lead weight above the swivel with 5 feet of leader line, and when you feel the crank hit the bottom just reel it up some.


D

[Dutch552]

I have used bottom bouncers with crankbaits and had success recently. You will want a shallow running crankbait or you'll be hung up constantly, I happen to like small Husky Jerks. I will start with a 4' leader and may go up to 6 if the water is gin clear, otherwise lengthening the leader increases the chances that you'll hang up. Remember not to drag the bottom bouncer, let it occassionally back to touch the bottom to ensure that you are at the right depth or you feel a tick-tick of the wire hitting the bottom. The key to this presentation is that it allows you to present the crankbait slowly in order to entice a bite from bigger sluggish fish. Good luck.