Good thread. Thanks for posting.
Here's some thoughts on my favorite crank baits to use trolling for crappie. These are the baits that I most often find myself putting on when trolling based on past success. I'll start with my favorite all time crappie catcher, the house brand H2O Express Crul D in chartreuse shad. It has a thin orange stripe down the middle and runs 5 to 7 feet down. I try to keep at least 4 of these in the bait box at all times.
Next is a bait that runs a little deeper and is also a proven crappie catcher, a Norman Middle N in Midnight Sun that runs about 9 to 11 feet. I also like to have 3 or 4 of these available at all times.
My third favorite bait is a Bomber in a chartreuse crawfish pattern that runs about 8 feet down, also a great crappie catcher for me. Notice any trends here on color?
Next is a Strike King Slab Hammer, also in chartreuse. It also runs about 8 feet down, and has caught many crappie for me, not to mention green and white bass and catfish as well. It has a little brother that runs a little shallower that has also produced well from time to time.
Finally here's one with a different color scheme that has worked well, another Slab Hammer in Lavender and with a pink stripe down the center of the belly. It has a little chartreuse as well!
Now we get to a more well known brand that many use to troll for crappie, a Bandit. This one is in the Mad Cow color scheme, also known as the "Mad Moo" on my boat!This one runs a little deeper but is still a proven crappie catcher.
Here's another brand, the Berkley Flicker Shad in Sick Perch. This bait has really put them in the boat on some days, and I keep several available. It runs about 7 to 9 feet down.
Finally, we come to Rapala with a JSR5 in Hot Olive, also a great crappie catcher on some days. These last 2 have a tighter wiggle.
Here's a look at the broader selection I keep in the bait box for those days when the crappie want something different. This is a good representative sample, and yes this Special Mate is pretty much full of crank baits.
I know that a lot of manufacturers make crank baits especially for crappie, but I have found that many crank baits made for other species work great for crappie. I own many pink crank baits as well, but find that I catch more catfish on them than crappie. I also keep a few other colors on hand for the crank bait brands and models that have worked the best. Some days the crappie just want a different color. I try to run crank baits at different depths and find out what depth and color the crappie want. I also use different color lines on my rod/reel combos - it helps with the inevitable tangle. I hope this helps my fellow TN crappie trollers out with what I have shared here.
Good thread. Thanks for posting.
Tell'em I'll be there.
Cnette, do you pull on flat lines out the rear or do you pull or push with the trolling motor and use weights? Thanks tnduxcaller. We went to Nickajack yesterday and caught 5-6 catfish on noodles. 1 at 8.8lbs and 1 at 6.5lbs. Keep catching.
They sure are pretty crank baits.