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.