help on crankbait trolling in Somerville Lake Texas

[tavacska]

Hi Folks.

I have read and watched many tutorials on trolling crappies in lakes.

Here is what I did yesterday.

I went to Somerville Lake Texas.
Trolling from 10 am to 7 pm basically following around 20 ft contours.
The lake is 28 ft in the deepest part and pretty flat in my opinion.
I am using 2 x bandit-200, 12 lb 50-150 ft lines; 3 x bomber 6A, 12 lb 50-150 ft lines.
The trolling speed is 1.6 mph by a kicker outboard.
The route I did the trolling is in the attached drawing.

What I got is only one 20" stiped bass.

Any comments on this trip?
Is this lake not suitable for trolling crappie?
Is the route not right for the trolling?

Thanks.

["G"]

Might get some answers on that lake on the Texas forum. When I pull crankbaits on resevoirs here in MS....I fish the flats on each side of the old river channel....I look for the shad....if I see shad I try to pull my cranks a couple of feet above them. I use a line out depth chart and line counter reels.

[M R Dux]

Fish the points and depth changes along banks or islands.

[bfish]

Go faster

[Skippa Chippa]

All the info above is good advice, I feel the most important part is knowing how deep your baits are running. Calibrated line counter reels help, even with this tool I measure and mark my braided line to give me a visual reference. The reason for the braid is the amount of garfish in my area. Use a depth chart for different size baits and fish them just above or at the top of the bait balls you see on your depth finder. I pull at 1.4 to 1.8 mph. Keep at it you'll get it and keep asking guestions. We also like pictures. Also on the Miss. board there is a post " pulling cranks 101" it's a long read but very informative.

[Ketchn]

We don't troll for crappie in Texas first off ,,,,,,
second off ,this is likely why no one is responding ,,,,,
we do troll for the striped ones though on occasion and you got one , so there you go ......
on the serious side of it , keep your baits at the right depth and speed along the edges of the drops and you should be able to ketch a few .
depth ,speed and staying along that break point on the drop are the items you need to master .
this time of year those fish might take a run up the Yegua creek as well , just saying

[tavacska]

Thanks, folks.
That's true I never saw anyone doing trolling crappies here in Texas. Just watched many youtube videos about how good the tolling crappies on lakes in summer.
The crappie.com/jeff also has a very detailed tutorial about how to do it. They all suggest doing trolling 10-20' in 40' depth water.

I tried and failed in two lakes for 3-4 times. So I am wondering if my lakes are not suitable for this. Or I just picked the wrong spots. So I guess before giving up I will keep trying for 10 times on different ways as everyone suggested.

[skeetbum]

We don't troll for crappie in Texas first off ,,,,,,
second off ,this is likely why no one is responding ,,,,,
we do troll for the striped ones though on occasion and you got one , so there you go ......
on the serious side of it , keep your baits at the right depth and speed along the edges of the drops and you should be able to ketch a few .
depth ,speed and staying along that break point on the drop are the items you need to master .
this time of year those fish might take a run up the Yegua creek as well , just saying

i

I think this might be a first, but I disagree with Ketchn. If there’s white crappie in the lake, I believe trolling will work. MR Dux is a pro at trolling for crappie and I defer to what he advises. I trolled for them when I lived in TN and I work the contour edges after finding bait. Find the bait and you’ll find the fish.

Depth is important but not absolute. I’ve fished 15fow at 10 to 12 feet deep and done well. Once again, find the bait first.

[Ketchn]

i

I think this might be a first, but I disagree with Ketchn. If there’s white crappie in the lake, I believe trolling will work. MR Dux is a pro at trolling for crappie and I defer to what he advises. I trolled for them when I lived in TN and I work the contour edges after finding bait. Find the bait and you’ll find the fish.

Depth is important but not absolute. I’ve fished 15fow at 10 to 12 feet deep and done well. Once again, find the bait first.

we just don't do it here , its like salsa made in new york bro ,
it will work for sure , but it isn't the real deal ....
all kidding aside and back to the reality of the subject matter ....
I have actually seen on one of my favorite lakes a man in a rear steer older small boat
troll back and forth down a shoreline with a steep drop off on it
he was stacking them up every pass and this is no fooling around
from a distance it appeared he had a deep diver and he only used 2 rods
both off the stern and on some passes, only one rod
I would tend to think at his rate of keeping fish that I observed
he probably limited out in around an hour or so
it is likely one of those things like so many others in the art of crappie ketchn that requires more than a few times to get good at it .
on a side note : I was on the bank and doing well that day , but he WAS doing better than I said me .....