Trolling crankbaits

[GRANDPA TATER]

I'm checking in to see if anyone has a report for trolling crankbaits for crappie? My buddy and I will be down there next week for a few days and we like to troll. I'm hoping to get some hints (coves? main lake? 20 FOW? 30 FOW? etc.) to shorten our learning curve a bit.

TIA Grandpa Tater

[top_dollar]

           It is working.  Generally trolling the middle of large coves about half way down will produce.  Go about 1.5-2.0 mph.  Usually 10-20 feet down over about 30-40 FOW.  I think the clearer the water the deeper we tend to find them, but a good rule is about half way down the water column.   Bandits, Flicker Shads, and other deep diving small crankbaits will work.  Usually natural colors work best.  We have our best luck with 3XD's in green and blue gizzard shad.

[GRANDPA TATER]

Thanks top_dollar for the report. Of course when we'll be down there it sounds like when a pretty good cold front moves in. I hope that doesn't mess them up too much! With the wind forecast I'm glad we'll be in my buddy's Lund!

[top_dollar]

15 hours ago, GRANDPA TATER said:

Thanks top_dollar for the report. Of course when we'll be down there it sounds like when a pretty good cold front moves in. I hope that doesn't mess them up too much! With the wind forecast I'm glad we'll be in my buddy's Lund!

No worries on the wind.  We catch almost all of our crappies in big coves where the wind is no factor.  Mutton Creek, Googer Creek, Hawker cove, Hartley are all good.  I'm pretty sure every cove in the lake will have them scattered and suspended.  At Mutton creek, and Hartley you can just start trolling right outside the bouys.  We don't even start the big motor.  There is quite often 1 or more boats trolling circles around mutton creek cove and they catch em pretty good.

[dan hufferd]

This has always been a good color for me this time of year, in size #7 blue tiger flicker shad.

[Daryk Campbell Sr]

3 hours ago, dan hufferd said:

This has always been a good color for me this time of year, in size #7 blue tiger flicker shad.

That's one that I think woukd produce bites year round in the creeks.  

[lmtout-fitters]

I trolled cranks on last Thursday.  The last hr of my guide trip.  Caught 1 keeper walleye and 6 keeper crappie in short order. When u went thru a school of crappie u new it 2 or 3 rods would go down.   Trolled flicker shad in the natural shad color and flicker minnows in pink lemonade.  All rods caught fish.  Using snap weights to get cranks down into the 20 ft range.

[MrGiggles]

I can agree with all that's been said. Pretty hard not to pick up at least a few circling around any cove. Typical post spawn pattern.

I like the 7 size flicker shads, blue tiger, purple tiger, firetiger, black/silver, racy shad, and black/chart are some of my favorite colors. I also agree that a 1 ounce snap weight will get them deep enough without needing 100+ feet of line out, and they snake behind the boat much better, less tangles. 

Last time I was out (May 12th), I did catch a few on deeper brush, as well. 

[top_dollar]

18 hours ago, lmtout-fitters said:

I trolled cranks on last Thursday.  The last hr of my guide trip.  Caught 1 keeper walleye and 6 keeper crappie in short order. When u went thru a school of crappie u new it 2 or 3 rods would go down.   Trolled flicker shad in the natural shad color and flicker minnows in pink lemonade.  All rods caught fish.  Using snap weights to get cranks down into the 20 ft range.

I'm gonna buy some snap weights.  Do you mind divulging some info?  Do you just use your bottom bouncing rods? How much weight and how much line out?  I want to get a flicker shad/shad rap 4 or 5 down about 15-20 foot. 

[rps]

On 5/15/2025 at 12:57 PM, GRANDPA TATER said:

I'm checking in to see if anyone has a report for trolling crankbaits for crappie? My buddy and I will be down there next week for a few days and we like to troll. I'm hoping to get some hints (coves? main lake? 20 FOW? 30 FOW? etc.) to shorten our learning curve a bit.

TIA Grandpa Tater

I wrote this in 2011. It applies equally well to crappie.