Thread: Trolling crank baits

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What should we look for flats? Trees? To pull at.

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As you rack up hour after hour pulling crank baits while watching your graph you have the opportunity to learn a lot.To find the crappie you want first you need to find the biggest clouds of shad they're feeding on.Again you will notice the lake has areas with few bait balls ,areas with more,and areas with even more yet.....Usually the largest/thickest bait balls will be located over bottom transitions as in old river beds,creeks,drops,and any other bottom contour...
My suggestion would be to pay attention to your graph while pulling cranks as it will let you know where the best areas are.....Also look at your maps(map cards and paper)as they can reveal good places to pull.Mark a waypoint when you have multiple hook ups.
We want to pull cranks a foot or two shallower than the crappie.Pay attention to bait ball depth ranges while noticing scattered larger crappie below them.Pull your cranks at various depths to allow the fish to let you know what they want.As the day changes so do the fish...Usually more shallow daybreak early ,deeper mid day,and back usually more shallow approaching dark.
The fishes preferred color of crank will usually change day to day or through the day.Try chrome and bright colors on bright days and darker colors on darker days.You will find yourself some favorite colors that produce often.Keep a note book and if what you are doing is not working,change your approach or area.Try hard to keep from pulling too deep as you will not get bit if too deep.Too shallow is better than too deep.
Good Luck and Enjoy your fishin...

Originally Posted by hdhntr

What should we look for flats? Trees? To pull at.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

In summer white crappie relate to the bait.Most suspend in open water with the shad.Blacks relate to structure year round.
Crank baits and trees mix like oil n water..(not very well). Try pulling open water over bottom transitions and watch your graph.

The one time I tried at Truman I caught more baby blue cats than anything. Did catch a few crappie though.

Originally Posted by Snagged again

As you rack up hour after hour pulling crank baits while watching your graph you have the opportunity to learn a lot.To find the crappie you want first you need to find the biggest clouds of shad they're feeding on.Again you will notice the lake has areas with few bait balls ,areas with more,and areas with even more yet.....Usually the largest/thickest bait balls will be located over bottom transitions as in old river beds,creeks,drops,and any other bottom contour...
My suggestion would be to pay attention to your graph while pulling cranks as it will let you know where the best areas are.....Also look at your maps(map cards and paper)as they can reveal good places to pull.Mark a waypoint when you have multiple hook ups.
We want to pull cranks a foot or two shallower than the crappie.Pay attention to bait ball depth ranges while noticing scattered larger crappie below them.Pull your cranks at various depths to allow the fish to let you know what they want.As the day changes so do the fish...Usually more shallow daybreak early ,deeper mid day,and back usually more shallow approaching dark.
The fishes preferred color of crank will usually change day to day or through the day.Try chrome and bright colors on bright days and darker colors on darker days.You will find yourself some favorite colors that produce often.Keep a note book and if what you are doing is not working,change your approach or area.Try hard to keep from pulling too deep as you will not get bit if too deep.Too shallow is better than too deep.
Good Luck and Enjoy your fishin...

Great advice. Thanks.

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Take your plug knocker.

Made it out Saturday evening near the dam trolling. No takers.
then the gulls came in and a hybrid attack was on.
had a rod ready with a big heavy spoon.