Long lining crankbaits is a technique that has been around for years. Basically it is utilizing large spool capacity reels and lots of line to get a crankbait to dive to depths in excess of 40 feet by backing the boat away from the bait before winding it in. Controversial to some but it is a technique that gained notoriety recently in fishing circles with Jeremy Stark's win at Douglas Lake on the BASS Elite Series. Much like the wave that hit when the Alabama Rig hit the scene last fall and the industry was invigorated, "long lining" too could change the crankbait landscape and specialty products will be created. Weighted lips, lead core line and new designs may already be on the drawing board.
One company that was ahead of the curve and had already created a super deep diving crankbait capbable of those depths was California based ABT Lures. A year or so ago Allen Borden designed a bait he called the X-2 Countdown that he claims will dive up to 40 foot deep based on line and equipment. Uitlizing a unique tapered lip design and a tradiitonal cast-rip- pause retrieve the new bait dives quickly and won't wear the angler out in the process.
According to Borden, the design and action of the X-2 sets it apart. "We tested the X2 extensively, and without long-lining, it will dive to depths other standard deep divers have not reached before. It dives with very little resistance so angler strain and fatigue are greatly reduced and catches bass that could not be reached before."
The ABT X-2 Countdown comes in two models, one with and one without rattles, and comes in a variety of top producing crankbait colors (5 colors). It is priced attractively, as well, retailing at $7.99.
