Adding weight to crankbaits

[MuskieBait]

Define far...50 feet, 100 feet, 50 yards, 100 yards?

Some distance is more realistic than others...depending on what you want to do with the crankbaits.

I know we had this discussion this morning...J-13 casting for salmon out 50 yards...you can do it with a lighter action rod and thinner line...but once you hook up, will you be able to control and land the fish in a short time?

And those little cranks you use to troll for salmon...not easy again.

The issue often is presentation. If you wish to fish a floating lure that floats up on the pause, the added sinker will not allow that rising action. If you wish to fish a suspending lure that suspend, adding a sinker will cause it to sink on the pause. If you wish to fish a deep diving but floating lure on bottom that rise on the pause (ie, you can run it bouncing off rocks but the pause to allow the lure to rise over a boulder), adding a weight on the line will again cause it to hang up on bottom on the pause.

Adding a weight on the line can also restrict action. A wide wobbling lure with a weight 1-2 foot in front can reduce the wobble (as compared to unrestricted). Putting the weight directly in front of the lip is the worst. It affects how water push against the lip to create the wobble. It really depends on the type of lure you are using.

It takes a lot of experimentation and there's not hard rule...just gotta try it out on a case by case situation.