CoreyH Posted February 6, 2020 Report Share Posted February 6, 2020 How does the positioning of the ballast weight affect the action or performance of a crankbait? I see crankbaits where the ballast weight is right in line with the front hook hanger and I see other crankbaits where the ballast is placed just back (towards the rear of the bait) of the front hook hanger. Yet I can't recall seeing one with the ballast weight placed forward of the front hook hanger. Also, how important (if it is important) is it to keep the ballast weight below centerline? I use 1/4" lead wire instead of pouring lead since I currently don't have a melting pot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Hillbilly voodoo Posted February 6, 2020 Popular Post Report Share Posted February 6, 2020 Ok you can do lots of different things messing around with weight placement so your question could really go into an essay. Most common reason for weight placement is leveling the bait so the water catches the lip on the correct angle. Most common is weight place near the front hook to achieve the slight nose down most go for with crankbaits Now you can also impact action by causing the bait to be unstable. Think of the classic belly weighting as creating a keel to stabilize the bait. Move that keel closer to center (top/bottom)it changes the pivot point in the action. Now where you position it from front to back plays a roll as well. Closer to the front has less impact on the action but weight towards the tail tightens things up or robs action Hope at least part of that makes sense I recommend doing what I did years ago it will teach you a lot about impact of weight and placement on action. Make some blanks, drill holes in different locations so you can put weight in different spots and pull it back out. Seal the blanks give them lips( if you want just pressure fit lips so you can try different ones) and go play in the water You will learn a lot about weighting and action by going out and playing around with different placement. It will probably put you way farther a long in knowledge then listen to this redneck ramble lol I learned a ton about action from trying things and some I have a hard to explain. It you think in pivot points, catching water pressure, cutting through the water, and adding/robbing power with weight or poor/good hydrodynamics these are big factors 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoreyH Posted February 6, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2020 Thanks for the response. Makes sense (or at least as much as my very limited knowledge of hydrodynamics will allow). I think it's going to just come down to trial and error, which can in itself be fun. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hillbilly voodoo Posted February 6, 2020 Report Share Posted February 6, 2020 2 minutes ago, CoreyH said: Thanks for the response. Makes sense (or at least as much as my very limited knowledge of hydrodynamics will allow). I think it's going to just come down to trial and error, which can in itself be fun. There is a ton of knowledge on this forum that can make your learning process easier but going out and trying things is always good Going out and trying different things is how you stumble on something amazing. Doing everything the same way as everyone else will limit you to everything that has already been done before 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted February 6, 2020 Report Share Posted February 6, 2020 @Hillbilly voodoo - I really like that learning idea. Good reply. Dave 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hillbilly voodoo Posted February 6, 2020 Report Share Posted February 6, 2020 6 minutes ago, Vodkaman said: @Hillbilly voodoo - I really like that learning idea. Good reply. Dave Thanks I had no one to teach me and went through a lot of frustration being clueless. After lots of failures this was my way of figuring out what I was doing wrong and then used it to experiment Wish I had TU back then but I would say I probably figured out things by trying stuff I would have never learned if someone told me how to build lures 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted February 7, 2020 Report Share Posted February 7, 2020 I spent a lot of time trying to math my way out of trial and error, some of it very good, some not so good. When it comes down to really understanding something, trial and error is most powerful. Dave 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hillbilly voodoo Posted February 7, 2020 Report Share Posted February 7, 2020 16 minutes ago, Vodkaman said: I spent a lot of time trying to math my way out of trial and error, some of it very good, some not so good. When it comes down to really understanding something, trial and error is most powerful. Dave If I had to rely on math to build lures I probably would have got bored and gave up Luckily I am really good at being stubborn and the good old trail and error method works if you keep at it To this day I make at the min a reject lure a week messing around 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted February 7, 2020 Report Share Posted February 7, 2020 (edited) Yes, the human brain is a wonderful thing. If you do the experimental work and build enough lures, the brain develops 'a feel' for what is correct, without you ever really knowing why! Dave Edited February 7, 2020 by Vodkaman 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hillbilly voodoo Posted February 7, 2020 Report Share Posted February 7, 2020 1 minute ago, Vodkaman said: Yes, the human brain is a wonderful thing. If you do the experimental work and build enough lures, the brain develops 'a feel' for what is correct, without you ever really knowing why! Dave There is definitely things I have figured out that fall under that category. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamgreen22 Posted October 31, 2022 Report Share Posted October 31, 2022 (edited) On 2/6/2020 at 10:56 PM, CoreyH said: How does the positioning of the ballast weight affect the action or performance of a crankbait? I see crankbaits where the ballast weight is right in line with the front hook hanger and. I see other crankbaits where the weight is put simply to essay writing services reviews (towards the back of the lure) of the front snare holder. However I can't remember seeing one with the balance weight put ahead of the front snare holder. Also, how important (if it is important) is it to keep the ballast weight below centerline? I use 1/4" lead wire instead of pouring lead since I currently don't have a melting pot. It depends on the use of the crankbait on the rise, i personally like everything but my really deep divers and my susp. jerkbaits to rise really fast because i fish really heavy cover and the fast rise helps me to not get hung up as often. Edited October 31, 2022 by adamgreen22 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Artistic Angler Posted November 23, 2022 Report Share Posted November 23, 2022 If you want a stable cranking action, just put the weight at the lowest part on the belly or wherever the pivot point is and throw a classic square lip or round on it. But, experience is a big part on this one like Hillbilly Voodoo said. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...