Denny Brauer’s Two Favorite Cranks
The legendary pro throws more than just jigs
Denny Brauer built a career and a reputation on flipping and pitching, but like any longtime pro he’s actually pretty versatile. Though he doesn’t necessarily depend on a crankbait like he does a jig, Brauer does have a couple that get the call more than others.
Strike King KVD Flat Side
One of Brauer’s favorite cranks is the Strike King KVD Flat Side. It helped him qualify for the 2016 Forrest Wood Cup out of the 2015 Costa FLW Series Championship on the Ohio River, but that’s not the only reason he’s got a soft spot for it.
“You don’t hear a lot about it,” says Brauer. “But in the fall, late fall and early winter there’s something about that tight wobble that really imitates a shad.”
Brauer likens the Flat Side to a Rapala Shad Rap, and calls it “the drop-shot of crankbaits.” For Brauer, when the going gets tough, he pulls out the Flat Side. He particularly uses it in the fall when the water is a little clearer than the spring and there are lots of shad around. That said, clear water isn’t a hard-and-fast rule, and Brauer says he likes it anytime the water is cold and shad are present.
Because the Flat Side “casts like a potato chip,” Brauer fishes it on fairly light tackle, favoring 12-pound-test Seaguar Tatsu and a medium-power baitcasting rod. On 12-pound test and with a medium cast, Brauer says he can effectively fish the bait down to about 6 feet deep.
Strike King KVD 1.5 Square Bill Crankbait
Pegging the Strike King KVD 1.5 Square Bill as a favorite isn’t really a shock. It’s been one of the most successful square-bill crankbaits on the market since its introduction.
“I throw it a bunch in the winter and spring,” says Brauer. “I go back and forth between the 1.5 and the 2.5. I get more bites on the 1.5, and it still catches big fish.”
One reason Brauer likes the 1.5 so much is that it is a small square bill that he can fish on heavy line without deadening the action. Because he lives in Texas now, where big fish are always a concern, Brauer usually opts for 20-pound-test Seaguar Tatsu with the 1.5, which is big line for such a small crankbait. Even with big line, the 1.5 still has a lively action in the water, deflects off shallow cover and casts better than most baits its size.
“It does a number when the fishing gets tough,” says Brauer. “It’s my favorite when I really need a fish and it’s super tough.”