The new Deep Secret maximum depth divers have made a radical departure in lip design from look-alike industry crankbaits to achieve record depth capability in each body size. Like most recent Luhr Jensen designs, this series has a specific design purpose and function to clearly separate it from the many lures which are simply considered "deep divers"

GO SMALLER TO GO DEEPER!

The Deep Secret series features the advantage of "going deeper with small lures" as opposed to progressively larger and more massive divers that produce extreme cranking resistance and difficulty in pumping to the surface. Day after day, on the water, smaller lures produce more strikes from a variety of fish species but until now, smaller crankbaits would never reach the true depth extremes of the larger ones. The design technology behind the Deep Secret with its massive diving lip, easy cranking and small lure body sizes, now enables anglers to reach extreme depths with small lures.

DEEP SECRET TOOL FUNCTION:

The Deep Secret, like several of our other modern designs, is simply a working "tool". Keep its basic design functions and limitations in mind before you clip one on and apply the lure in situations where its awesome dive angle will give you a clear advantage in fish response.

The Deep Secret was designed primarily as a maximum depth casting lure but trollers may find it effective in certain applications. The lure produces a tight, "chattering" vibration right at the average deep cranking speeds and a balanced, searching action along the line of retrieve.

Use these lures for absolute maximum dives along steep slanting banks, bluff ledges, across the ends of deep points, mid-lake humps, deep open creek or river channel edges, sand or clay bottomed points that drop into deep water, feeder creek bays and cove centers, ledges by dams, washout holes and flats on rivers, and drop-offs at the ends of deep flats.

The Deep Secret was designed for more open bottoms such as clay, marl, sand and fine rock where cover such as stumps and brush are eroded or low cut.

SPECIFIC DESIGN FEATURES:

Consider the specific design features of this lure and then apply them in situations where they give you a distinct "tool" advantage.

Suspension
Both size Deep Secrets will "hang" or suspend when the retrieve is stopped. This means the lure will stay put at maximum depth with the added weight of the casting length of your line and hover or very slowly rise in front of fish.

We have found this technique to be lethal on deep smallmouth bass and we lightly blip or "buzz" the lure with the reel causing it to dig bottom for a second, then hover-dig-then-hover. Keep hooks razor sharp and point your rod at the lure as it is blipped along the bottom.

Action and Vibration
Both lures produce a very tight, chattering action with a quick body roll. They were designed to produce their best vibration right at the slower deep cranking speeds. This keeps the lure working hard without higher cranking speeds.

Line Test
Both Deep Secrets were designed for extreme depth on lighter line. We recommend 8- to 10-lb. test premium, low-diameter lines and 6-lb. diameter braided or high tech non-mono lines. Lighter line reduces cranking fatigue and, of course, produces the best maximum dive performance. In the type of lakes where these lures are effective, you can boat large fish with lighter line by simply not horsing them up and keeping hooks razor sharp.

Easi-Crank" System
That unusual looking diving lip features a series of "compound booster plates" that use water pressure and the forward motion of the lure to reduce much of your cranking effort. This is extremely important on lures with oversize diving lips because it reduces fatigue and extends your fishing time. The lip also reduces another major form of fatigue called "pumping up". This is a first in lure design. Pumping the lure up from super deep dives can be more fatiguing than cranking it and you will notice how easy it is to pump the lure up relative to its large lip. Crank your lures on the correct equipment and line diameters and let the leverage provided by the compound booster plate system extend your cranking time. It's a new approach to lure design . . . and it works!

Dive Angle and Depth
Only the small Deep Secrets have it all! Extreme dive angle and extreme depth! Take full advantage of the extreme dive angle and depth capability in fishing situations and structure where these features will allow you to outdive much larger, bulkier, harder to crank lures. Even the smallest 1/4-oz. model will outdive many crankbaits as heavy as 3/4 to 7/8 ounces. The 1/2-oz. Deep Secret slams past conventional, bulky divers up to an ounce or more in weight while having a compact body of only 2 5/8". Put these record-setting performances to work in tandem with our regular Hot Lips® series to extend your depth capabilities.

PROFESSIONAL TIPS FOR THE "DEEP SECRET" SERIES

No one knows your lure as well as the individuals who actually design them. Complex designs are rarely a product of professional anglers, but come from individuals who fish and specialize in the area of design. Following are some tips to squeeze maximum performance from your "Deep Secrets":

Wind
These lures have a very large diving lip and consequently, greater wind resistance on the cast. They cast very well if you position the lure just the right distance from the rod tip on each cast and then crack out the cast smoothly so the body leads the lure lip. A little practice will help you get the rhythm.

Equipment
You are in a world of deep-diving now - are you equipped? 6 1/2-ft. to 7-ft. medium heavy bait casting or spinning rods with long two handed handles, compatible, larger spool reels and premium mono or braided line in 6- to 10-lb. test are the way to go. Sorry, but you won't catch any more fish on soft tip rods that supposedly allow a fish to suck the lure in deeper.

How to Crank it Deep
Once the Deep Secret is locked on the bottom it is going to stay there, close to your boat. If you cast it over bottoms that exceed its depth rating, then you may take fish with the pump up cycle or when the lure is free running.
As your lure approaches the boat, put your rod tip near the water and "pump up" the lure with the rod handle end on your hip. Pump up, then reel down as in boating a large fish. This is the least fatiguing method and if you keep the lure in motion all the way up without a pause many suspended species will take the unique zig-zag, motion of the lure with its sudden changes in direction.

Tuning Your Lure
All Deep Secrets are tank tested, but for the first time we have encountered a design with such extreme depth capability that a simple tank tuning becomes difficult. We suggest a quick check on a dock with sufficient depth available and where wind is not a factor. Cast the lure for at least a 40- to 60-ft. distance and point your rod at it as you make a medium speed retrieve. Watch where the line enters the water and the lure should come straight to your rod tip.
If the lure runs to the right, just cautiously bend (not twist) the line tie to the left, or the direction you want the lure to go, with a small standard pair of pliers. It is best to do this with the jaws pointed down over the line tie. If the lure runs left, just reverse the procedure.

SUPER TIP
Do not follow the lure with your rod tip when tuning! Keep the rod tip straight and only watch the line. Perfectly tuned lures attain correct vibration and achieve absolute maximum depth. If you troll, untuned lures will barrel roll off the bottom to the surface and will not track in river currents.

Hook Sharpening
The Deep Secret comes with V.M.C. wide gap, short shank, straight point bronze trebles. For super-deep cranking, keep them razor sharp to account for line stretch. Sharp hooks are more important than anything else in deep cranking. If you replace hooks, stay with the same sizes (Size 6 on the 1/4-oz. lure and Size 4 on the 1/2-oz.) Remember, if you use a Teflon®-coated hook or any other premium, pre-sharpened hook, you will only have an advantage until you have to sharpen it. On most hooks, bass strikes and hard mandible bones will quickly bend the points of pre-sharpened hooks and you must establish a new point. Try the Luhr Jensen #9130 Sharp Hook File in size 414 for professional touch-up results.

Breakage
The Deep Secret and many other Luhr Jensen modern designs are fine tools and have thin-wall body designs that produce action and vibration superior to conventional plastic crankbaits. They are the first plastic lures to equal or surpass balsa and cedar wood in performance. Please do not slap them or whack them on the water to remove weeds when the water temperature drops below about 55 degrees F. Even Lexan poly-carbonate, the strongest of all plastics becomes brittle at these temperatures. Just swing the lure in at rod length and manually remove weed debris. When water temperatures hover near the 55- to 60-degree mark, try to feather your casts into rocky areas, dams and bridge pilings. Your lure may hit at 60 m.p.h. or more and Butyrate plastic can become brittle. A fine-tuned lure is not a bowling pin and this is considerable abuse. In nearly every case your lures will withstand normal usage and wear and tear, but keep in mind that clear Butyrate plastic becomes more brittle as water temperatures dip below 60 degrees F.

PUMP UP CYCLE - "SECTIONING" A DEEP POINT

Casting angles are critical to success! This angler will use both the 1/4- and 1/2-oz. Deep Secrets to "section" this point from mid-depths to its extreme end. Each cast is a long one that allows the lure to "walk" the bottom over the point, stop and suspend over the top section and then stop and suspend just after it clears the edge. Many fish will be taken this way but notice that the angler has positioned his boat by sonar over the creek channel that passes the point. In this manner the lure may be pumped up through the fish underneath the boat and take several bonus fish in addition to those on the point. Deadly on white bass and largemouth! Always pump-reel the lure right to the surface as a strike stimulus and never pause.

"STRAINING" A LONG, DEEP POINT

In lakes with a shad forage base, this species will follow plankton blooms as they drift with the wind. Long points intercept the shad schools path of movement and soon bass will learn to wait for the shad schools by pivoting around in the wind, using the point as a base. Note the "cone" and the position of the bass group within it. The point of the cone is attached to the deep section of the structure and it will pivot as bass move to attack shad. Use 1/4-oz. Hot Lips® and 1/4-oz. Deep Secrets to cast in an "X" pattern over this area even if you are 100' from shore. Then use a 1/2-oz. Deep Secret to rake the very deepest tip of the point and alternate your lures from the shallower zone to the deepest. In lakes with heavy boat traffic, such a spot may hold dozens of fish in varying activity moods and depths. For truly professional coverage, finish off the spot with worms and jigging spoons before you move on, but always adjust your casting angles continuously for the best lure presentation according to the shape of the structure and suspected fish positions.

BLUFF BANKS AND LEDGES

The extreme dive angle of the Deep Secrets makes them ideal for deep ledges and bluff banks. When casting into such areas, feather your casts to avoid slamming the lure into rock facings and try stopping it just after it clears the ledge (runs free). In many cases, casting parallel to the ledge gives the longest dwell time in the strike zone.

DEEP MOUNDS, HUMPS, ROCK PILES

In this drawing, a creek channel passes a delta or sediment mound at an outside bend. Natural or man-made humps are also prime targets for the exceptional diving capability of the Deep Secret. Position boat according to wind direction and work the hump at different angles. Make long casts to "walk" and then stop the lure at different sections of the structure.

WORKING A "WASHOUT HOLE" BEHIND A RIVER BAR

Your lure will always dive or troll deepest when you bring it downcurrent. These anglers have positioned their boat downcurrent from a river bar or point and use the wind to make long casts that will bring the Deep Secret into the deep "washout hole". This current-protected area will hold many species and a stop-and-suspend technique with a quick turn or two of the reel handle followed by a stop-and-go retrieve is deadly on deep smallmouth.

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