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Bill Babler
Bill Babler

12-31-20. Big Cedar area report

All those pictures of big bass from Bull Shoals got me fired up.   Launched at old 86 at 0900 and went looking for some deep fish. Air temp at a balmy 30 degree and surface temp at 48.9

Had been looking for about an hour when the wind came up pretty good so I headed for some shelf Rock, the kind of stuff that Mike said they were on. Flat rock mixed with gravel.   He had told me boat in 15 to 18 ft.  Phantom Brown RK Crawler. 

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First location 4th cast and wham!  Nice K. Caught a total if 4 on that location and then just started to look for wind on that type of bank. It's amazing the wildlife you see right now up close  I saw at least 1/2 dozen Minks, running the bank and fishing. 

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Ended the morning at 2 pm with 9 fish. 8 K's and 1 LM. All keepers with the LM at 4lbs. 15 oz.  

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Pretty sure most bites were in that 8' to 12' range. Bites were solid and there was no doubt, they all fought really hard.   I know for sure I missed a couple of others, so a great morning on the Spro Cranker

Good Luck

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Bill, you are all over it. I'm definitely more of a blader than a cranker, but since that just won't get ya bit this time of year, I do crank a fair amount from December-March. 

I would offer one tip: There's no other time when you need VERY GOOD equipment more than when trying to throw as far as possible. Buy the smoothest reel you can possibly afford and you'll be glad you did every time you make a cast. And change the line. I'm a mono guy for moving baits. I use P-Line CXX in 10 lb for cranking. That stuff is as tough as line comes. Just be aware that the diameter is a smidge larger than some other lines, so don't go up to 12 pound. And since it doesn't cost a fortune like quality fluorocarbon, you can change it every few trips to keep that distance-robbing line coil at bay. 

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32 minutes ago, Smithvillesteve said:

Great thread. Thanks for the info boys!! I'm 68 years old and I love cranking that RK but my old shoulders can only take so much. After about an hour i have to "sit down to slow down" as i call it. Throw a jig, ned, dropshot, shakeyhead etc. 

I’m 58 and definitely limited in how long I can throw and actively work a jerk bait. 
cranks are no problem yet, but I’m not ever gonna throw the giant ones. 

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18 minutes ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

I have a Cara Cranker and Lew's reel loaded with 20 pound suffix and with 10 pound flouro leader I can fire those things a mile...  Braid cuts through water better and gets them deeper too.  IMHO.

Can’t stand braid on my treble hook baits . I want something with some stretch usually helps with hook up ratio and fish not pulling loose . A lot of the fish I catch on the wart and crawler are barely hooked , too much of a pull and they are gone . Plus braided line and freezing temps are no fun . Soaks my hands and freezes in the reel . 

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6 minutes ago, Lvn2Fish said:

Can’t stand braid on my treble hook baits . I want something with some stretch usually helps with hook up ratio and fish not pulling loose . A lot of the fish I catch on the wart and crawler are barely hooked , too much of a pull and they are gone . Plus braided line and freezing temps are no fun . Soaks my hands and freezes in the reel . 

I get that.

sometimes you need a lighter action rod for that application.

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