Trolling For Crappie

[pwbuilding]

Hi Fellows. I Live In Southern Ca. Caught Many Crappie At Lake Isabella Around Weeds & Other Areas. Two Years Ago We Had A Big Die Off. Probably Cause They Lowered The Lake So Fast. Since Then The Crappie Bite Has Been Slowwwwwwwwwwwww
Would Like To Try Trolling But Have Never Done It. Need Some Info.
What Size Line?
How Far Out?
How Deep?
What Kind Of Lures?
How Fast?
Any Other Info?
Sure Would Apperciate Some Help

Thank You
Jim

[badbrad]

Try trolling bandits 200 or 300 series depending on water depth. 1.2 to 1.5 MPH. I use 10lb test line.

[SteveJ]

slow trolling: http://www.crappie.com/articles/spider.htm

Crankbaits: http://www.crappie.com/jeff/

Lots of good info in articles at top of page.

[joejv4]

we've been pounding them the last couple weeks slow trolling tubes.

By slow, I'm talking my TM at it's lowest speed, 1/16oz jig heads 50-60' back with 1.5" tubes. Caught 87 crappie (27 keepers) Saturday in 3 hours and caught 40 crappie (12 keepers) last night in an hour and a half. Also got a 2lb LMB last night trolling for crappie, along with a ton of bluegills.

Just as an idea of how well it works, my son kept count of every fish we landed Saturday... 115 in 3 hours (that includes bass, bluegill, dink crappie, silver bass and one bowfin).

How fast you set your TM will depend on how big your boat is - Mine is just a 10' aluminum rowboat and my TM is a 28lb thrust Minkota. Figure we were probably going 1.5 - 2 mph.