Question on other crank baits

[cycleguy]

Interesting question, as I have a bunch of flicker shads we use here (lake Winnebago in WI)… but I understand the minnow (stick) style baits are far better on Lake Michigan, and it sounds like the same for Erie. I was hoping to not have to re-load the inventory.

[eyesnperch]

Interesting question, as I have a bunch of flicker shads we use here (lake Winnebago in WI)… but I understand the minnow (stick) style baits are far better on Lake Michigan, and it sounds like the same for Erie. I was hoping to not have to re-load the inventory.

The flicker shads in 4 & 5 do work around the reefs when casting

[Madd Matt]

If 90% of the charters and regular weekend warrior boats are using the same bait, then 90% of the walleye will be caught on that bait.

When someone gets a "program" going with Bandits, and shares the program, and then 10 other guys all try it and limit out and announce it, then pretty soon everyone on the Lake is using Bandits. I don't happen to buy into the idea that if Bandits are hitting, and I am able to run a Hot-n-tot through the same water column and through the same school of fish, that they will turn their head away from me and hit the Bandit. The issue is that when someone says, Bandits 65 back @ 1.7 MPH, I have no idea how that converts to a Hot-n-tot. It is easier for me to simply run Bandits 65 back @ 1.7 MPH than to figure exactly what depth they are at, and then how to get my Hot-n-tots to be at the exact same depth.

Also, many times the "program" changes. Early this season the fish where on fire on Bandits 85' back in the morning, then they shut down... nothing hitting... then someone came across the trusty channel 79 and said they where hitting at 50-55 back on Bandits. We changed to 50-55' back, and took the last 8 fish we needed to finish in about 45 min.

My point is that when you are running the same lure as what the charters and guys catching fish are running then you can duplicate the program that you hear on the radio. Everyone in the area is able to share info and you benefit from it. When you run lures that no one else is doing, you are kinda on your own. Usually on any given weekend we will be talking on the radio and say something to the effect of, "We are hitting them good 60 back on Nascar Stinger on a 40 TruTrip."

People will acknowledge that it is working for them too... and pretty soon the radio has guys asking this, "How does that convert to a dipsy-diver?" or "How does that convert to a tadpole?"... or a 50 Jet, or an older 40 jet... or a Walker? (you get the point)

There will be a conversation about how to convert it, with 3 guys giving different opinions. 2 weeks ago someone said how to convert it, then another guy got on the radio and said, "I don't know what dive chart you are using, but my book says...." They where 8' different on opinion of how it converted.

I assume that by now you are getting the point. Sure! Lures matter... size, color, wobble, presentation... it all matters! But a DHJ12 vs a Reef Runner vs Bandit is not as important as being able to find a program that works, and then being able to duplicate what is working. You could be out there running Hot-n-tots at 20' next to a charter running Reef Runners at 15' and they will limit out and you catch nothing because you are 3' below the fish all day.

Cranks will work and produce fish, but you'll probably hurt yourself trying to figure out how to present them they way they want. Vs Buying 10-12 lures for $75-80 at the bait store in the morning that everyone else is using, and has a program for and can be productive when you hit the water, or shortly thereafter.

[Hoytman86]

Matt, there you go again making too much sense. I feel the same way as you do. A couple of years back someone comes over the radio and says "Running copper harnesses 45 back on TT40s". I didn't have any copper, but I moved my gold and firetiger harnesses to 45' and pulled 8 fish in an hour after only managing 4 walleye and countless trash fish for the first 4 hours. It's not about the shape, color, action etc. as much as it is about getting a bait in front of the fish. Does all that matter? Sure, it can and often I feel like it does. But it doesn't matter what you're pulling if you can't put the bait in front of the fish.

To the OP and anyone else that's reading this with the same question, here's the dilemma: You're investing a lot of money to get to the lake, run the boat, licenses, hotels, meals, ice...Why would you NOT spend a few extra bucks to have the ability to duplicate the presentations that others are saying are working? You don't have to buy the custom painted baits for $12-15 apiece. I'm not saying you can't, and I can tell you that they do work, but like Matt said, if 90% of the baits in the water are the same color and type it stands to reason that they'll catch 90% of the fish.

Good luck and have fun. Don't feel like you MUST use all the baits that everyone here discusses, just know that when you see people saying that Perfect 10s at 30/30 are catching fish day after day after day, it's a lot easier to get a Perfect 10 to the same depth than it is to get a deep diver there when there's so many variables to consider.