Crankin question

**M R Dux** · 07-30-2014, 12:54 PM

We are having a dry, cool, windy summer here that has really knocked the crankin in the head. We don't have the big flats like you guys are targeting and we rarely ever see any thermocline. I typically run close to main lake channel drops in 18-30 feet of water and push dropper rods with 100s, Flicker Shad,549s, Arkie cranks, and pull 200s, 300s and c55s.

That said, here's my scenario: I and others have noticed lately that we are losing several crappie while skiing them back to the boat. We are also getting a lot of hook-ups that stay on for just a couple of seconds and then are gone. Many of the crappie we do get to the net are just barely hooked. We normally see the crappie this time of the year hooked deep with the bait being mostly swallowed and no way to get the hooks out without pliers. I normally troll at 1.7-1.8 but have tried going up to 2.0 or faster and have dropped back to 1.4-1.5 and haven't found any difference in the strikes or hook-ups. It's almost like they are just swatting at the bait, not attacking it. This is being seen on c55s with #4 hooks to c549s with #8 hooks and all the other factory brands from Bandit, Berkley, etc.

Got any ideas or things that have worked for you guys in the past? I'm seeing huge baitballs starting recently but the fish caught aren't stuffed full of bait.

**ducker** · 07-30-2014, 12:58 PM

Every fish I hung into on Sunday came off except 1 stripe!

**Rees Guide** · 07-30-2014, 01:04 PM

Only lost 1 out of 60 or so hook ups between Saturday and Sunday, I always hear slow down when they are doing that but haven't found it to help much.

**ScottV** · 07-30-2014, 01:19 PM

I think it's just a matter of how aggressively they're feeding. If they're just nipping at the bait, they are just barely hooked. Sometimes we hook several fish in their gill plates. That tells me they're just being mean and swatting at the bait wanting to cripple it. By the solar tables, which some folks swear by, there's only a couple of hours in a day when the fish are actively feeding. The jury's still out on solar tables in my book but something seems to turn them on or off all over the lake at the same times.

**jug head** · 07-30-2014, 02:54 PM

Ii have changed back treble hooks to one sizes bigger and the color red to seems to help

**Duckslayer19** · 07-30-2014, 03:17 PM

Anyone use the sickle treble hooks on em? They look like they would hold a fish on better, but the way they face inward also looks like you would miss a fish here and there.

**M R Dux** · 07-30-2014, 04:24 PM

Originally Posted by Duckslayer19

Anyone use the sickle treble hooks on em? They look like they would hold a fish on better, but the way they face inward also looks like you would miss a fish here and there.

I use #4 Matsuo sickle trebles on all my c55s that I paint. They will tangle if you don't watch. Most of my Bandits have had the #8 hooks replaced with #6 red hooks.

**hotrod1** · 07-30-2014, 04:32 PM

That's just trolling. I always run 2mph when pulling and 1mph when pushing. All I pull with is bandit cranks and I use the hooks that's on them matter of fact some of the treble hooks are missing on a few of them gotta give those fish a chance to get off and grow up. I also don't use a dip net. It's just trolling not fishing they make the call on how much bite down they want to put on that crank. I'd say pull your cranks at 2mph consistently and let em rip you will be fine. I usually have 2 or 3 miss hits each trip that I see. Usually 0 at the boat getting them in. Every once in awhile might lose 1 getting in over the side. That's just part of it.

**BigRiverMarine** · 07-30-2014, 07:08 PM

Originally Posted by ScottV

I think it's just a matter of how aggressively they're feeding. If they're just nipping at the bait, they are just barely hooked. Sometimes we hook several fish in their gill plates. That tells me they're just being mean and swatting at the bait wanting to cripple it.

What he said!!!! It's a Reaction strike, not a feeding, swallow it to the hilt bite!!!

I've seen the same thing this year that you have as far as losing more fish than normal. I guess I just ain't fishin when they're eatin!!!

**gasper_goul** · 07-30-2014, 07:48 PM

I've noticed the same thing for the last 3-4 trips out....fish barely hooked and losing a few before getting em up to the boat...I don't pay much attention to the strikes without hook-ups since the cranks tend catch anything that swims.

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