Marking your crankbaits

[ReelYankee]

Ok, so I just found a little piece of water that gets kinda deepish...around 25'-27'. Rumor has it that there are some stripe bass in that water and I was able to mark pods of bigger fish holding in about 12'FOW. I have no idea what they were, I only had two rods and zero cranks. Open up my tackle box......soooo how deep does this crank run again...I have no idea, it's been years since I've used some of these cranks.

Does anyone have anyways of marking their cranks for future reference?

[Plasticpirogue]

Sharpie Ultrafine Point would do.

[MidTNKayakAngler]

I've started marking them on the bill, but I have a BUNCH that aren't marked. Just look at the bill and shape and think "now how deep does this one dive?" Wish I would have started marking them earlier (fine point sharpie).

Jeremy

[ReelYankee]

Thanks gents, that's what I was kinda thinking. Wasn't too sure how long a sharpie would last. Too bad I can get them laser etched!

[inrll]

What about using a small dremmel engraving bit on the bottom of the bill?

[Hanover_Yakker]

Here's a thought to give you a better idea on what depths they could be.....

Go to the local tackle shop and look at the same lure on the rack......or talk to the "old man at the counter" who may help you out some also. Heck, post a few photos on here and see what others may have to contribute.

You might find that the lures in question are owned by others.

Once you figure it out, you can then label the outside of your tackle trays for each segment of the tray and the corresponding depths.

[jfrancho]

Too many variables are involved for me to even bother with marking a bait. Line diameter, retrieve speed, length of cast, even rod angle have more to do with it. I paddle to a desired depth, say 12'. Make a cast. If the bait doesn't hit bottom, then I find one that does. Once I find one that scoots across the bottom, just nicking it, I move back to my suspended fish.

[ReelYankee]

What about using a small dremmel engraving bit on the bottom of the bill?

That would be awesome if it doesn't mess up the performance of the bait...I don't think it would.

Here's a thought to give you a better idea on what depths they could be.....

Go to the local tackle shop and look at the same lure on the rack......or talk to the "old man at the counter" who may help you out some also. Heck, post a few photos on here and see what others may have to contribute.

You might find that the lures in question are owned by others.

Once you figure it out, you can then label the outside of your tackle trays for each segment of the tray and the corresponding depths.

I found myself at BPS looking at all of the cranks that I already own saying: "Oh yeah....that's how far its supposed to dive". If I could keep myself organized, then making a tackle tray for each crank would be the perfect solution....I just don't have enough self discipline

Too many variables are involved for me to even bother with marking a bait. Line diameter, retrieve speed, length of cast, even rod angle have more to do with it. I paddle to a desired depth, say 12'. Make a cast. If the bait doesn't hit bottom, then I find one that does. Once I find one that scoots across the bottom, just nicking it, I move back to my suspended fish.

I agree 100% but its still nice to know how deep a crank is "supposed" to run...Still, can't argue with you "press to test" logic!

[nitroceciljr]

I have the same problem!! I also have started marking all my new ones... But I have crap load that I have no clue what the dive too...

[ReelYankee]

ok, so it looks like I'll be using a scribe to scratch the depth onto the bottom of the bill.....