Thread: Tips for Pulling Cranks

Congrats on getting into the pulling/pushing crankbaits. You will benefit from using the search engine here and do a lot of reading cause a wealth of info are in those threads. If you use the word pulling charts threads will appear with posted pulling charts for bandit 300/200, arkies, and c-55 crankbaits. It will also give you the pushing depth chart for trolling weights. These charts will get you in the ball park. these charts are based on 10 pound diameter line and remember for braid line diameter is different than line test. With these charts as a base you can fine tune your set up. Position of rods, rod holder, and boat design will cause slight changes to these charts. Once you get set up use the charts on a know smooth bottom flat and watch your rod tips. When they start jumping you know your hitting bottom.

With cranks make wide slow turns pulling when turning around or if just making slow s turns. If pushing you can make smaller tighter turns. If you are doing both it will be slow and wide turns. Speed up a little bit in the turns will help keep cranks running tight and tangle free. In turns one side will go faster, cranks dig deeper, and one side goes slower, cranks rise shallower. If in turns you get habitual strikes on either side it's telling you to adjust crank depth shallower or deeper. My advise is to get comfortable pulling before getting into pushing or get comfortable pushing before getting into pulling. Trying both at once in the beginning can be complicated.

Things that will happen. You will get hung and lose baits. You will get tangles and lines/bait bird nest big enough to hatch condors when thing go terribly wrong. Often these happen with regards to contrary catfish. You just have to cut and retie and fish on. Lol. If this bothers you do not get into cranking. Having good electronics and lake mapping cards are essential to increasing catching potential and reducing hangups. Target bait running depths to the depths of fish being marked on your units.

I encouage you to get set up and get out on the water. Nothing beats water time for experience. Cranking is a good way to introduce fishing to your spouse and family. You will catch multiple species and have a good chance of catching the largest crappie of your life. Good luck, be safe, and have fun.

Originally Posted by wilbur

Im pretty sure Steve knows where the JunkYard is. And Im pretty sure he knows your full of beans

Trust me it takes years to figure me out. And I've got more than one Junkyard on the Ville!! My lips are going zipped from here on out!! See ya at the Finish line Wilbur