Deep Diving Crankbaits are usually thrown when targeting bass in the 12 to 18 foot depth range. Getting a lure down to that depth is not easy. It will require a very long cast and the lightest line that you can get away with (probably 10-12 pound fluorocarbon). Notice I said fluorocarbon, not monofilament line. Mono floats whereas fluoro sinks.

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Deep divers, are in most cases, are very large lures. They require a very long straight bill to get down to the designed depths. They will weigh anywhere from 5/8 to over one ounce.

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Like other crankbaits these lures should stay in contact with the bottom so it’s important to throw a bait that is intended to dive deeper that the depth you are targeting. If you are fishing a ledge or hump that is 14 feet deep you want to use a deep diver that will get to 16 or 18 feet deep. This way you can ‘grind it’ back.

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As mentioned long casts are needed to get your lure to the maximum depth. For example, if you can cast a deep diver 90 feet, it will take approximately one third of the cast length to get it to max depth. Then it will start to rise up the last third or so of the cast. So you are only on the bottom about 30 feet in this case.

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You can affect the depth by raising or lowering your rod tip. This is important if, for example, you are fishing a steep bank. The lure may initially hit the bottom at 9 feet so you may want to raise your rod tip at that point. As the lure works it's way down the bank you can lower your rod tip so that the lure keeps bottom contact.

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Colors: As with any other baits if what you are using is not getting action, try  switching to a different color bait. Remember, as a general rule, use natural colors when the water is clear and bright colors when it is stained or murky. If you know the kind of forage fish that live in the lake or river you are fishing, try to match the size and color of your baits to look like what the bass are regularly feeding on.

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Equipment: Deep divers should always be thrown on baitcasting equipment. You will need a long rod to make those long required casts. The rod should have a good solid backbone and soft tip. The soft tip will allow the fish to take the bait in and the stout lower end will be necessary to winch a large fish in from the depths and get a good hook set.

 

The best line sizes are usually from 10 to 14 pounds. As mentioned above fluorocarbon line is a necessity for two reasons. First because it sinks and will help you get to maximum depth and secondly because it has less stretch than mono which will help drastically with hook sets, especially on long casts.

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It’s best to choose a reel with a lower ratio for deep cranking. Perhaps anywhere in the range of 5 to 6.5 to 1 ratio. Lower ratio reels make cranking more comfortable as dragging a huge deep diver takes a lot of work and having a lower ratio makes reeling easier.