Performance: We matched up the Crush 500DD with a couple of our deep cranking combos and went out for a day of testing out on Lake Berryessa, California earlier this year. The combo I grew to favor with this bait was my Quantum Tour KVD TKVD7106MB Cranking stick matched with a Quantum EXO casting reel.

The Crush 500DD is available in 16 different patterns.

Castability: The Crush 500DD launches really well when matched with the right rod. I really enjoyed how well it came off of the glass Tour KVD stick I was using and enjoyed more how it had good tendency to fly straight instead of tumble as long as my casting motion was smooth.

Ready to rock and roll out on Lake Berryessa, CA.

Dive Time: Once the cast was finished, cranking the handle over on the reel pulls the 500DD down relatively quickly. The bait does not pull back as hard as some other deep diving cranks which makes it easier to fish continuously for long periods of time. I fished this bait on 12lb Sunline Supernatural monofilament and managed to hit bottom in roughly 15 - 17 feet of water. Skinnier line might have produced deeper depths up to 20 feet, but I'm a little skeptical about the manufacturer claim of 27 feet.

Weighing 1-3/4oz, this bait is easy to launch.

Retrieve: Naturally, as with any deep diving crank worth its bill, the Crush 500DD moves very well at slow speeds. When you try to burn the bait, it stays true as well, with minimal instances of blowing out or spinning. It just grows a little more difficult to pull when you try to burn it back to the boat - again, this is to be expected.

Nevermind that I almost lost this bait due to an open snap, this bait's bill is effective and helping it deflect off underwater obstacles.

Deflection: The Crush 500DD bounces off rocks and other underwater obstructions fairly well if you're using a slow retrieve but in those inevitable instances where it does hang up, it's pretty easy to get back out either by popping your line, or, if you have to, moving your boat into position where you can pull the bait backwards out of the hole it sank into. I've yet to lose one of these baits to those immovable rock fish.

Conclusion: This is the second bait we've fished from east Texas startup 6th Sense and so far, we really like what we've seen from this company The previously reviewed Snatch lipless crank really surprised me and this deep diving 500DD is a nice balance between the sub $10 cranks and the premium JDM brands. If you're looking for a good value in a bait that looks the part of a pricier bait and has the fish catching moxie to back it up, check out the Crush 500DD from 6th Sense!