Pushing Crank Baits Tips for Beginner

[DTW2]

Help me out with some tips for East Tennessee Lake Chickamauga trolling/pushing crankbaits for crappie?

[CrappiePappy]

I can only tell you how most of the people I know do it around here : "Pushing"

2oz trolling weight
Heavy test main line
5ft leader of lighter test mono
Duo-lock snaps or barrel swivels as connectors
1.8mph speed (+/-)

Line counter reels are a plus ... separation between lines of at least 2ft (more is better) ... different colored lines also help

I don't know that many people that longline troll (Pull) with cranks, so I can't comment on that method other than to say it's basically the same ... minus the weight and with way more line out.

[skeetbum]

All good so far. I used a 7’ about 30* off center and an 11’ about 90* out the side for separation on each side. Worked well with 2oz and man they hit hard. Also trolled cranks out the back at the same time. For depth I used spinning reels and backreeled a turn or two or three. Braid for the main line and 10lb leader about 3’ long. Three way swivel with a split ring and duo lock snap on one leg for attaching the weights. This lets them be removed when storing a lot easier.

[CrappiePappy]

Another couple of "tips" :

Don't think for a minute that only big fish will hit your "big" crankbaits !! I've caught hand size Crappie (& smaller) on Bandit 300's @ 1.8mph

Make up your mind, from the start, that you WILL have to sacrifice a few cranks to the snag gods ... especially when Pushing with weights ... as you certainly can't simply back up and free that crank from the snag. You may even have to sacrifice a few on species that roam your waters, but not the species you're fishing for. (I've already done that with Catfish & Muskie )

Wear high SPF sunscreen and/or appropriate clothing & head covering, or rig up some kind of umbrella system. (I've already had over a dozen Squamous Cell Carcinoma spots on my arms removed by Cryosurgery & one by scalpel excision).

[bfish]

I like to go heavier, especially in the areas with big boats and their wakes. 4-6 oz weights for me. 16-18 ft down over 20-30 ft of water, shallower range until the weeds start to grow. Be sure to GPS your speed, IMO, most go too slow when learning.

[Slabprowler]

4-6oz

[bfish]

It helps keep the lines separated when the big boats are cruising from one marine to the other. DTW2 knows which two marines I am talking about, don't want to give away "my" area. Especially when you have this size boat going by every 10 minutes, and only 50 ft away:

[chippewa]

I like to go heavier, especially in the areas with big boats and their wakes. 4-6 oz weights for me. 16-18 ft down over 20-30 ft of water, shallower range until the weeds start to grow. Be sure to GPS your speed, IMO, most go too slow when learning.

What speed is to slow?


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[cevans]

3809979[/URL]]What speed is to slow?


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I use 3 oz weights and works great. As far as too slow, check the wobble out on the crankbait you are using. You want a nice wobble, 1.4 mph to 2.2 depending on what the fish prefer. Experiment with speed.

[bfish]

Yup what cevans says.