Pulling Crank Baits

[slabsrus]

You can definitely catch black crappies on crankbaits here in Michigan. In fact it is about time to start doing just that. A lot of the crappies are moving toward open water or deep water weeds now, which makes for a good time to crankbait. I use them in my kayak when there is a good wind to push me along. Does not work to good for me on a calm day but when the wind is blowing 5 or 10mph I do pretty good. I usually run 2 rods with a tandem crankbait set up on each one. Each crankbait is of a different color and or style and at a different depth. When I pick up one fish I go right back through that same area. If I pick up another, and it happens to be on the same bait, I will switch at least one of the other baits to the same thing at the same depth. Manistee Lake over by Kalkaska has a good crappie population and some really nice ones. Not a whole lot of deep water there so they can be pretty easy to find. You can troll the edge of the main weed line that is about 100 yards off the east shore. Troll the outside edge of that long weed line and you will likely pick up a few nice specks. Otsego Lake in Gaylord is another good crappie lake that is often overlooked. Troll along the east side of the weed bed that is in the center of the lake. That will put you right on the edge of the deepest hole in the lake. If you can not pick them up trolling that edge then just work your way through the deep hole. They are there and there are some real nice slabs.

[Flatwater]

In one lake they work great! pulled at the right speed they run just above the heavy grass. Trouble is if you go to fast they get in the grass and uh oh big mess. I try to only pull 2 at a time.

[jeepguyjames]

I still think bigkyd is on the right track, but looking back through myt notes and pics I caught at leist 3 blacks on cranks last year, so the whites FAR out weight the blacks as far as crankbait-ing, and my orig post wasnt quite correct, looking at this years catches so far I havent caught a black yet on a crank, or if I did he was a dink and made it back with out notice.

[Bugtussle]

Last summer I caught a few black crappie on one UP Michigan lake while trolling crankbaits for walleye. On another lake, I have done well on black crappie at times trolling a #7 floating Rapala. In general I agree that it can be difficult to troll for black crappie because of the brush and other cover that they seem to prefer.

[majflyboy]

For a crash course on pulling cranks, go to the MS board and look up "pulling cranks 101". Lots of info there and it helped me a great deal.

["G"]

For a crash course on pulling cranks, go to the MS board and look up "pulling cranks 101". Lots of info there and it helped me a great deal.

Here is a short cut...just click on this... http://www.crappie.com/crappie/missi...nks-101-a.html

[JBledsoe]

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Thanks, I understand. Thought the black ones were black crappie and the white ones were white. Looks like most of those we catch are blacks regardless of actual color.

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