Crappie cranking setup plus Friday fishing

[Lance34]

Thought I would share how I troll so guys that maybe want to give this a try have a starting ground.  

Those that are already dabbling into this, feel free to maybe chime in too tweak some things.  This is how I do it.  What I've read and made it work for me.    Always still open for suggestions .  

As you can see in pics below I use my rigging rod holders and just turn them sideways so that my rods go out the side.

First rod the one on the left is a 12ft pinnacle limit rod.  It's a composite rod that you can get for under 20 bucks.  They also make a 10 and 8 foot one as well.  I turn that rod to where the reel hangs on the bottom to make it give more when they hook themselves.  

The rod on the right is a 8 foot graphite BnM Pro Staff trolling rod. That one runs about 30 bucks and I have no complaints with it.  Eventually  going to add a 16 foot rod as well to get even more coverage. 

 To me and what I've read pulling from the front works best if you have 4 foot rod length separation.  

The reels are Okuma Magna Pro DX line counters.  You don't need them, it just makes life simple.  If you have spinning reels or bait caster reels just measure 1 and 2 foot distance from the reel and mark with tape.

The line I use is 10# Red label Seaguar fluorocarbon with 10# mono as backing.  I haven't had any issues with the line, it works as it should.  Some people use 20# braid with leader.  I know a couple guys use 40# braid with 10# diameter so they can stay with the dive charts.

  I almost went to braid a couple weeks ago for longer use, but change my mind. Why change something that ain't broken.  

To help avoid line twist, easy lure change, and for the lure to still be able to it's thing down there I use a size 3 snap swivel.  

I've mostly use bandit 300's.  That's what I find they key on the best for me as I've learned to pull cranks.  

On the graph I use a Lake Master chart.  Set the water level offset for that day.  Zoom it way in to know exactly where the boat is at.  As well color code the target depths around the flats along the channel to pass.

Speed I stick to 1.5-1.7, the rods tend to load up too much to my liking any faster and plus tend to miss a lot of hits any faster. 

Sometimes tilt the big motor in or out of the water to dial that speed just right.

Lure depth I'll run the longer rods shallower and the shorter rods deeper until figuring out what depth is getting the most fish and then put them all there.  It's been a consistent 55 feet of line out at around 12 feet deep over 15-20 feet of water, so I don't really even play with it that much right now.  

If there's one thing I could add is an wireless trolling motor.  Just be nice not to have my foot on the motor the whole time, plus to keep me on my pass better.  

I think that is every thing to the process.

As for Friday fishing.  Got out earlier and started about 9 and haven't even really got started and caught 4 out the gate.  WT was 83-84, with gusty wind.  

Long story short I quit counting shorts after the first hour....  Tons of them EVERYWHERE!! 

Ended at around 1 with 8 keepers.  

Hope the above info helps...  Take care and God bless

Geez sorry for upside down pic. I new I should of used the better camera.  But you get the idea

 

[zarraspook]

Great info...  Being a cheap old fart--- I mark my lines (with a magic marker) --- red at 75 feet and black at 120 foot...

My reels take-up/ let out appox. 2 feet per turn of the handle so, if I'm not getting bit and can adjust 5 or 10 turns and I still know how much line is out...

Once I find the right "feet" to troll for the day... It easy to set the lines as needed...

[Get'n Jiggy]

Thanks for sharing Lance. Can you explain how setting the water level offset works? Seems like I've seen something about this before, but not sure I completely understand it. Thank you.  

[Lance34]

1 hour ago, Get'n Jiggy said:

Thanks for sharing Lance. Can you explain how setting the water level offset works? Seems like I've seen something about this before, but not sure I completely understand it. Thank you.  

This is how I pretty much do it.

 

 

[Get'n Jiggy]

Thank you. I wish Lowrance had that same option. That's pretty slick!!! 

[JMax]

Thanks Lance super helpful info for a newbie 

[Lance34]

1 hour ago, JMax said:

Thanks Lance super helpful info for a newbie 

Sure... Anytime guy, just ask

[Ozark Flyer]

Late reply but thanks, Lance.  I recently moved "back home" to AR and I'm having to learn all over.  This is a good start.