Thread: Loosing Fish pulling Cranks

I keep the rod tip as high as I can to keep their head up as to not get a mouth full of water. On a 14' rod I hold it straight up. On a 5' rod I hold it above my head.

Originally Posted by wilbur

I keep the rod tip as high as I can to keep their head up as to not get a mouth full of water. On a 14' rod I hold it straight up. On a 5' rod I hold it above my head.

X2 on this.

I too lost more fish than ever pulling cranks last Friday which I am new to cranks. Had new B&M 16' power troller rods and 5:1 reels, it was really buzz killing losing so many. I started turning the troller off which was running at 1.7 mph. It seemed to help some, but I brought a few in that were foul hooked around the mouth. Was I trolling too fast?

Originally Posted by Hammmerhead

I too lost more fish than ever pulling cranks last Friday which I am new to cranks. Had new B&M 16' power troller rods and 5:1 reels, it was really buzz killing losing so many. I started turning the troller off which was running at 1.7 mph. It seemed to help some, but I brought a few in that were foul hooked around the mouth. Was I trolling too fast?

1.7 is not fast by any stretch. Cranks are typically ran from 1.5-2.5.

I don't lose many crappies trolling. Once they hit the surface, ski them in. If they do get a mouthful of water immediately slow your retrieve.

If you get one that will not surface, keep it slow.

Make sure your drags are loose, and you have a limber enough rod. A mono leader helps as well if you're using braid. There needs to be some give when a fish strikes, or the bait will just be ripped free, if the fish can even get enough of a bite on it to get hooked.

Originally Posted by bfish

Once on the surface, waterski them in, by reeling fairly fast.

Like he says

If using braid, real slow and steady, if you reel fast and hard, the no stretch braid will yank the bait out.

I was running the poles from the front and out to the side with 3 oz weights that were on 12" of wire. The weights were bouncer style. Line counter said 20 feet so Im figuring around the 15 foot range once you factor in a 3 foot, 10lb mono leader. Maybe I just horsed them too much, but I havent fished with this much weight and this long or stiff of pole. Gonna have to get better or just remove the weight and long line them from the rear. Oh, I am running 30lb braid and Im doubting 3 foot mono leader gives as much as a whole spool of it like on the rest of my rods.

I wish I had this problem. Call me "No fish Tom".