Advise getting set up to pull crankbaits

[KY Grant]

Wanting to get into pulling crankbaits and trying to figure out how to set the boat up for it. I have a pro team 175 and have it set up with Cumberland crappie rod holders to spider rig out of the front with but was wondering about having the holders straight out the side of the boat up front or slightly angled back. Was wondering on rod lengths and also should I use 4 or 6 rods. Since I currently only have just the factory trolling motor which is a 12 volt minnkota edge, was wondering if I should just use my big motor which is a mercury 60 4 stroke since it uses very little gas. I will be getting a Terrova within the next couple years for the boat but for now I just have the edge 45. Love spider rigging but seeing how productive crankbaits are in the mid summer has me wanting to try a new technique. Any help wold be appreciated. Thanks

[rdobbs]

There are lots of post on this subject. I use 5 rod holders. Two are at the very back on each side straight out.
One on side at steering wheel and the other directly across from it on side(straight out). The last one kinda slopes
at a 45 deg angle beside the outboard in the rear. The back 3 rods are about 5 1/12 ft long and the
others are about 6 1/2 ft long. I have a 150 Johnson to get me where I'm going. Just beside of the
Johnson I have mounted a 2 1/2 HP outboard which I run at about 1 to 1 1/2 mph. I have a 12/24
Motorguide trolling motor which I've never used for trolling. Just the little outboard. I adjust it at
just the right angle and the rutter from the big motor will guide me where I want to go as long as
the wind isn't to bad. Wish I was able to post pics for you. I have been very successful with this
set up since 1985. My back side poles run about 100 ft of line. the center one about 75 ft, and
the two side poles about 50 ft.

[CrappiePappy]

You might ask on the KY state forum, too. I know that Slabeye & T.Slabseeker do a lot of crank pushing/pulling ... and several of the KY Lake gang & guides do, as well. They might give you some tips on setting up your holders, lengths of rods used, & weights/reels/lines used.

[bfish]

All my rods are the same size (9 ft). In the stern, I go straight back, next is rods at 45 degrees, then towards the bow is the final pair straight out, I don't see why you can't do the same with your rod holders, especially if you can mount them on the port/starboard sides.

Use which ever motor gets you the right speed, borrow a handheld gps, if need be, to find your actually speed.

[marlinmonty]

Watching this post myself with interest .

["G"]

read...read...read http://www.crappie.com/crappie/missi...-cranks-101-a/

[Cray]

Get you one of these, then find you a way to establish a anchor pont and use a bunge cord to lock steering wheel in the straight forward position. Use your existing rod holders up front and use trolling motor just to steer. Don't know what you have for rods but I would use a 4-5 ft a 8-9 ft and a12-14 ft on either side. Just turn seat where you can watch poles and hit trolling motor every once in awhile. You don't need all the fancy stuff most of us have accumulated over the years. Some decent spinning or bait casting reels with a decent drag. Cast them out and give the line a couple three pulls and go cranking. After a little time you will learn to adjust your length out to control depth. Been ton's of fish caught like this over the years. Then when the bug bites you you can start spending all kinds of money on new reels, rods line, trolling motor,line and the 2 or 3 hundred crank baits you just can't live without.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Trol-...te%26CQ_st%3Db

[kenja]

I have the same rod holders as you. I have two sets of bases one in the front and one in the back. I run them straight out the back that way I could use some old rods and reels that I had.

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[skeetbum]

my setup looks like a pair of wings. I take the post out of the front seat and lower it to floor level. The floor drops just behind the front seat so I can face backwards and watch the gps on the console once it's turned around. Rod holders are on either side in easy reach, and I can run 6 rods comfortably til things get busy. I have 8, 10 and 12 foot rods, the 12's are 90* to the boat, the 10's are a few degrees back from the 12's, and the 8's a few degrees further back from the 10's.The long rods go the longest and the lines get shorter as they get closer to the boat. The short ones about 50' and gain length from there. I use 8lb line and a duo lock snap on the lines to make changing and storage easier. Hanging a good bas on one of the 12's makes things interesting. Just my input, hope it helps some.