Deep diving crankbaits 2025

nickw234 reply :

I'm looking for some suggestions on deep diving crankbaits. I'm looking for one that dives up to 20 feet. Any good suggestions?

Thanks.

Avalonjohn44 reply :

Bandit 700 series. Or Norman DD22s.

MtCarmelTriton20x reply :

A comparison was done in Bassmaster Magazine on deep divers and with all things considered(colors,finish,running true,reaching advertized depth) they overwhelmingly picked the DD22 as the winner. This is pretty impresive to me considering it was up against a lot more expensive baits and it is the same design as it has been for years. I have always liked a DD22 and you can get it in almost any color you can think of(around 120 I think).

Paul Roberts reply :

The DD22 is the standard.

Tackle Tour did a comparison too, of maybe 10 baits, and the LC and DD22 came out on top. Says a lot about the Norman DD22.

midnighthrasher reply :

DD22 in pearl. i also use DD14 in pearl. i dont use them very much but i am ready if the situation arrises. There are also Rapala DT 20's.

KYntucky Warmouth reply :

DD22 but will also throw in the Bomber Fat Free Shad

bassman31783 reply :

Quote
DD22 but will also throw in the Bomber Fat Free Shad

X2.

simplejoe reply :

Norman DD 22's

Dwight Hottle reply :

Rapala tail dancer TDD9

Paul Roberts reply :

Quote

Quote
DD22 but will also throw in the Bomber Fat Free Shad

X2.

Fat Free came in #3 in the TT review. They did not test that many plugs though. Raps and so many others weren't in it.

Lucky Craft Man reply :

I woud say the DD22, but I don't think it gets down to 20 feet. I have never used the Rapala DT20, but the other DT's seem to reach their "target" depth, so I have no reason to doubt that the DT20 will make 20 feet.

bmadd reply :

In my experience the DD22 only gets down to about 15-16 ft. I know that the Fat Free Shad BD7 can hit around 18. The BD6 and BD7 in Bill Dance's Citrus Shad are my favorite deep divers.

roadwarrior reply :

The DT-20 will reach 20'; Mann's 20+ will get down and then some; the DD22 runs 15-18'

Paul Roberts reply :

Quote
I woud say the DD22, but I don't think it gets down to 20 feet. I have never used the Rapala DT20, but the other DT's seem to reach their "target" depth, so I have no reason to doubt that the DT20 will make 20 feet.

Really good point. It takes the right set-up to reach max depths with any crank. Looooong cast, thin line, and perfectly tuned plug being the top three.

What was interesting in the TT review was that several of the plugs rated for such depths never came close -including some pricey Japanese plugs.

WdyCrankbait reply :

Yeah, I recommend the DT's as well, I have not used one as deep as you want to go. But, the DT 4s, 6s, have all produced for me very well!!

Stringjam reply :

That "review?" Ya know, the one that didn't even include Rapala DT's?

I love Tackle Tour, and I think those guys do a great job evaluating gear in reviews, but come on...that review was more like a short, small test that evaluated a handful of popular crankbaits. The only REAL way to find out which of those cranks is best is to fish them.... a lot....and form your own opinions about who makes the best deep crank for you.

DD22's don't dive 20 feet.....you CAN get them there but there's no need to mess with it when you can get the proper crank to start with.

If you want a 20' diver get a Rapala DT-20 and be done with it.

If you want to hit 20' and give yourself carpel tunnel, get a 3/4 HotLips or a Mann's 30+.......I'll take the Rapala any day.

SkilletSizeBass. reply :

Is there any of these 20' deep divers that don't wear your arm out as bad as others, or does that just go with the turf? Man, after about a 1/2 hour I'm looking for something that don't pull so bad ;D

Dwight Hottle reply :

If you don't want to wear your arm out try trolling

Dock Master reply :

Spro Little John DD

http://www.***.com/descpageSPROBAITS-SLJDD.html

Bomber Fat Free Shad (the BD7 size)

http://www.***.com/descpageHDCEXCALIB-EXFFS.html

Paul Roberts reply :

Quote
That "review?" Ya know, the one that didn't even include Rapala DT's?
I love Tackle Tour, and I think those guys do a great job evaluating gear in reviews, but come on...that review was more like a short, small test that evaluated a handful of popular crankbaits. The only REAL way to find out which of those cranks is best is to fish them.... a lot....and form your own opinions about who makes the best deep crank for you.

DD22's don't dive 20 feet.....you CAN get them there but there's no need to mess with it when you can get the proper crank to start with.

If you want a 20' diver get a Rapala DT-20 and be done with it.

If you want to hit 20' and give yourself carpel tunnel, get a 3/4 HotLips or a Mann's 30+.......I'll take the Rapala any day.

Agreed. That was not one of their more stellar efforts. But, it's all I've seen.

When I mentioned what gets a plug deep (long cast, line, tuning) I failed to mention plug design. The DTs shine there.

Primus reply :

App 15-18' I like ...

Jackall Muscle Deep 15 Plus

Norman DD22

Bandit 700 Series

I haven't fished the DT 20 enough to evaluate it but it looks promising. I plan on trying the Spro Liittle John Deep Diver and the Strike King 6XD that's coming out. The Hot Lips has been out a while and is an effective bait for that zone. Also, the DD22 comes in a suspended version that will get you a little deeper.

Simp reply :

I like the under rater, under talked about Luhr Jensen Hot Lips. I think there is a reason it's not talked about from the pro's. I've seen bass tourneys and the pro or host will say he's throwing a DD22 and then I get a look at the bait on his rod and it's a Hot Lips.

kikstand454 reply :

Quote
Is there any of these 20' deep divers that don't wear your arm out as bad as others, or does that just go with the turf? Man, after about a 1/2 hour I'm looking for something that don't pull so bad ;D

use a lower gear reel.... if youre not already!!

the mann's 30+ will BURY itself in a 20ft sandbar. i also like the strike king 6's (dont make it to 20ft) and i love my old hotlips... i only have one and i found that floating in a mat of grass.

bmadd reply :

Quote
I like the under rater, under talked about Luhr Jensen Hot Lips. I think there is a reason it's not talked about from the pro's. I've seen bass tourneys and the pro or host will say he's throwing a DD22 and then I get a look at the bait on his rod and it's a Hot Lips.

Michael Yoder won the AFS tournament at Lake Falcon on a Hot Lips earlier this month. Used it on the first day to catch a limit of fish all over 7.5

Hornytoad 10 reply :

poe's super cedar 400

5bass reply :

The older Poe's 400's were great cranks but in this day and age, the DT series is really hard to beat. The DT20 is a legit 20' bait and they're all designed by the crankbait king....David Fritts.

But, as much as I like and use the DT's, I always have a DD22 either tied on or on deck.

Stringjam reply :

The Poe's 400's are great baits, but they won't dive 20'. I usually use them down to about 16' max.

Of all the baits mentioned so far, there are only a few that will do what the poster requested, in my experience. There's a big difference between baits designed to run mid-teens and those designed to break 20'.

Rapala DT-20

Lucky Craft CB-20

3/4 Hot Lips

Mann's 30+

I'll add the Poe's Competition Cedars 4500LR to the list of REAL 20' divers. Of all the baits listed, it gets to 20' with the least amount of resistance - - but I only use this bait for ledges.....it's pretty much a suspender and you get into cover with it, it's going to take some finesse to get it back.

The Rapala DT-20 is the best all-around 20' deep diver I've used.

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Deep diving crankbaits 2025

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