Thread: Crankbaits

Over the years I have spent many hours pulling cranks on Hartwell. On the Seneca arm & 6&20 arm of the lake the tend was catching more bass, hybrids, stripers and catfish than crappie but some crappie was caught each trip but very few white crappie. On the Savannah arm more crappie are caught with whites mixed in the mix but I still catch more of the bass family than crappie. To me the trips pulling cranks are always fun trips because I enjoy catching the bass and the fight that comes with it. Be sure to use heavy equipment because of the bass catches, I used heavy rods and Okuma line counter reels spooled with braided line with a swivel tied on before a 10 pound piece of monofilament line 2' long tied to the cranks.

Pulling cranks on the Hill is totally different than Hartwell. The Hill has a good number of white crappie along with the black crappie. You can also use lighter tackle like your crappie tackle with 6 to 10 pound line. You will catch a occasional bass but nothing like fishing Hartwell. The Hill is a good lake for crank fishing.

Russell is a lake not for the faint of heart for pulling cranks! You have to know the lake very well because of the underwater trees and only pull in areas clear of trees or try to stay in the channels. Do plan on losing cranks there no matter where you pull cranks for crappie. The spotted bass will keep you busy and you will catch some crappie on Russell pulling cranks.

On what cranks to use, I pull Bandit crankbaits with 2- 300's out the back on each side of the motor then a 200 and 100 on each side for a total of 6 crankbaits. I do use other crankbait beside bandits at time as long as they dive the same depths as the Bandits used.

Outstanding report SH! Thank you for that information!!