Trolling at LOZ?

[BuckCreekMike]

Do any of you LOZ regulars troll cranks with any success? I have done a little bit of messing around with it and caught a few. I was just wondering if it is a better summertime pattern than jiggin brushpiles etc.. I have also heard to troll along bluffs and wondered if anyone does this. I am at the 7mm of the Osage, so it can get rough which only leaves you a couple of hours in the morning in the summer, or at night. By the way does anyone have luck night fishing for crappie. We bought a submersible light that we have used off of our dock with only mediocre results. Was wondering if you'd be better off taking it in the boat and anchoring up somewhere.

[mark lo]

Mike,

No help on the trolling or night fishing, guess I should expand my horizons. Have been able to jigg a few decent fish out of the brush about everytime out. Good Luck.

[LOZcrappie]

Paging Mike Baker, Paging Mike Baker!!!!!

[justfishin]

Wife and I are trolling cranks baits now for our 2nd summer and do really well.
Good way to catch some REALLY NICE fish!

We actually troll with all the boat traffic gets kind of rough but worth it.

[speck catcher]

Hey Just,
I know this is going to sound dumb but, what exactly is a crank bait for crappie.

[Pole Bender]

Hey Just,
I know this is going to sound dumb but, what exactly is a crank bait for crappie.

It is when you tie on a small 2" (bandit or Norman are my favorite) crank bait and let out 80 to 100 yards of line and pull the crank bait behind the boat with 4 or 6lb test line. I use my trolling motor at about 1.2 to 2 mph hour. It is a great way to locate and catch crappie. I just started last year and still have a lot to learn but I can tell you that you will catch larger crappie doing this and can catch other fish like walleye also. I usually put out 3 rods if by myself or 5 if fishing with someone else.

[justfishin]

It is when you tie on a small 2" (bandit or Norman are my favorite) crank bait and let out 80 to 100 yards of line and pull the crank bait behind the boat with 4 or 6lb test line. I use my trolling motor at about 1.2 to 2 mph hour. It is a great way to locate and catch crappie. I just started last year and still have a lot to learn but I can tell you that you will catch larger crappie doing this and can catch other fish like walleye also. I usually put out 3 rods if by myself or 5 if fishing with someone else.

Kinda what we do. Use Bandits 200 and 300 and Wiggle Warts. Using heavier line 8-15 lb. Pull them as fast as we can go, the faster you go the less of a look they get at it. The little/smaller ones seem to be afraid of them and the bigger ones will actually swallow the whole bait sometimes!!
I've got a set up for 8 rods but we only run 4 but are going to start using 8 as soon as I get some planner boards and learn how to use them.
We also catch some nice bass,whites/stripers, and walleyes. (also the occasional trophy drum as we call them LOL)
It is not uncommon to have a fish on every rod at once, gets to be like a Chinese fire drill sometimes.

[speck catcher]

Thanks for the info boys, I'm going to give it a try.
Speck Catcher

[Pole Bender]

Kinda what we do. Use Bandits 200 and 300 and Wiggle Warts. Using heavier line 8-15 lb. Pull them as fast as we can go, the faster you go the less of a look they get at it. The little/smaller ones seem to be afraid of them and the bigger ones will actually swallow the whole bait sometimes!!
I've got a set up for 8 rods but we only run 4 but are going to start using 8 as soon as I get some planner boards and learn how to use them.
We also catch some nice bass,whites/stripers, and walleyes. (also the occasional trophy drum as we call them LOL)
It is not uncommon to have a fish on every rod at once, gets to be like a Chinese fire drill sometimes.

I use the smaller line in order to get the bait deeper at slower speeds, I am new to this so I am still experimenting and have had the greatest success so far this way but am opening to trying different methods. I do have a problem with speed so I'm fine tuning it to get it right. The big motor is too fast and drives the bait into the bottom even with heavier line. The trolling motor is too slow so I went to a smaller diameter line and it seems to be working.

Do you know what speed you are going?

[justfishin]

Dont have GPS so have no real idea how fast but its pretty fast, on top speed of 75lbs thrust on a 20' bass boat.
Ive tried big motor but baits all come to the top if there too fast, go figure.
I do know they are running the depth that they are designed for because when I go over brush at a certain depth I see the rods tip to indicate that the baits have hit the brush.


P.S. You guys are getting me to tell more than I want to !!!
:D:D:D