Push/Pull Cranks for Black Crappie in NC

Is trolling for black crappie either pushing or pulling cranks worth it here in NC? This is the technique I know the least about. I spend a lot of time spider rigging and longlining, but would love to become a better crappie fisherman when the water is above 80 degrees. Who does it and is it worth the trouble?

If it is worth pursuing,

Let's talk about crankbaits for a minute. Instead of spending 6-7 dollars per bandit 100-200-300's what are some models you use with similar results? Or do you feel Bandit's justify the cost? I have not typically pulled cranks in the past but looking to expand the different ways of crappie fishing. I enjoy long and tight lining, but now I would like to learn to pull cranks.

Chevy don't have to wait on the 80 degree water temps. You can pull cranks as long the fish not on the bank spawning. I own lot of bandits but they been bought over the years. The Bandit is a very good crankbait but will not buy lot of them at $8.00 a piece. I have different crankbaits,Pico,Arkie 350 just some of them. So you could check some of them out. I bought some of Pico square bills I am anxious to try them out this year specially in shadower water.
LittleJohn

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Originally Posted by LittleJohn

Chevy don't have to wait on the 80 degree water temps. You can pull cranks as long the fish not on the bank spawning. I own lot of bandits but they been bought over the years. The Bandit is a very good crankbait but will not buy lot of them at $8.00 a piece. I have different crankbaits,Pico,Arkie 350 just some of them. So you could check some of them out. I bought some of Pico square bills I am anxious to try them out this year specially in shadower water.
LittleJohn

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Is this fishing for black or white crappie? Is it worth my time in NC?

If your just sticking to nc waters I probably wouldn’t invest to much in it, yes you’ll catch fish and some of them will be big, but it’s a very specialized technique that is rarely the very Best way around here, but if you want too try it first you’ll need to up your power supply for the trolling motor, trust me you will, next the best place to buy cheap cranks is wlure.com. They’ll have sales every month on different styles and colors, ive had good success with a variety of there baits, or buy the blanks and paint your own, as for rods I use the same southern crappie rods for pulling cranks as I do for spider rigging and longlinning, though I’d up my line test cause you’ll catch more catfish than you ever thought possible, combine that with the boat moving much faster you need a little extra strength in the string

I’ll stick with night stalkin and dock shootin when it is that warm


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Originally Posted by gobbler

If your just sticking to nc waters I probably wouldn’t invest to much in it, yes you’ll catch fish and some of them will be big, but it’s a very specialized technique that is rarely the very Best way around here, but if you want too try it first you’ll need to up your power supply for the trolling motor, trust me you will, next the best place to buy cheap cranks is wlure.com. They’ll have sales every month on different styles and colors, ive had good success with a variety of there baits, or buy the blanks and paint your own, as for rods I use the same southern crappie rods for pulling cranks as I do for spider rigging and longlinning, though I’d up my line test cause you’ll catch more catfish than you ever thought possible, combine that with the boat moving much faster you need a little extra strength in the string

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Do you have the T model Sourthern Crappie rods? I have a set of 16's, but the non T model. BUt considered purchasing a set of 14' heavy model rods.

I pull crankbaits from February till mid June. Mainly fish Wylie where there are only black crappie. They are great for targeting big fish. I don't catch as many small ones as the long liners, but I catch alot of 13" plus fish. I use mainly Bandit 300's but Arkies seem to work well too with a better color selection. Strike King Slab Hammer crankbaits are good too. Only problem is the catfish love the plugs about as much as the crappie. Caught a 30 pound flathead a couple weeks ago on a crankbait with 6# line. Took almost an hour to get him in. I use my striper rods to pull these plugs. Have even used a bass rod. The treble hooks don't care whether you have crappie rods or not.

I fish the regular ones, from 16’ all the way down to the 10’s, by they way those 10’s are sweeet rods for trolling!

Fyi soft rods will allow the fish to take a crank better and keep them hooked, as David fritts

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Originally Posted by gobbler

Fyi soft rods will allow the fish to take a crank better and keep them hooked, as David fritts

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Fritts is the man.......Simple, effective concept.

Pulling cranks is my favorite way to fish. I try to pull 1.6 to 1.7. Most of the time I toss out a Lowe’s 5 gallon bucket with a few 1 inch holes drilled in it to slow me down to that. Poor mans drift sock. I have probably 200 cranks now. Very addictive. I have probably 50 percent bandits and they are a favorite but I also use others. Don’t like arkies due to the hooks on them. I do have several from members on here that paint and sell for about $5. I also have several of the bass pro cheap deep diving baits. Those in the $2 bins in the aisle. They actually work pretty good for 2 bucks. Grizzly jig is usually cheapest place to get bandits. High rock is a Great Lake for pulling. I use to just pull on my jig pulling setup with 14 foot rods then 12 and on down. Two problems. Too many crankbaits means lots of tangles and if you get hung with my jig outfit I am probably loosing the plug. I have lost 5 or 6 per trip. So I bought the black max baitcaster combos on sale at walmart and love them. Use 20 lb braid and hardly ever loose a plug now. 2 straight out the sides, two at about 45 degree and one down the middle. 5 works great. After the spawn is done and they have moved out, pm me if you want to go. Had lots of great people on here help me out when I first tried it.

Not a problem with black crappie and cranks in NC. I get like 20 cranks for $8 online. They are not name brands but not bad and not so terrible when you break them off. Attachment 371501Attachment 371502


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