Thread: Trolling Crankbaits Tutorial

A lot of pals of mine have wanted to know how do I set up my boat to troll crankbaits. First I am using a 20ft Stratos with a 225 hp motor. I do all of my trolling using the big motor. I have a Happy Troller plate on the motor and it will let the boat move along at 1.5 to 2 mph depending if I am going into the wind or with it. All pictures are taken from the back of the boat looking forward. In first picture you will see all the rods I used today. There were 3 of us in the boat so I could have used 9 rods. On the starboard side (right) you see 4 rods. The rod at the front of boat is a 12 ft B&M trolling rod (all rods are B&M trolling rods) Then coming back to the driver seat is a 16 ft, 14 ft and a 12 ft. All rods are pulling Bandit 200's. The front rod (12 ft ) has a 1/2 ounce weight in front of a Bandit 200 bait and is let out about 25ft. The 16ft rod (Bandit 200) is let out the shortest distance say 40 ft, according to chart this will run about 8.5 ft deep. Next rod back is the 14 ft (200's) it is let out say 60 ft (10.2 ft deep) and the last pole is the 12 ft. It is let out the farthest, say 80 ft, this will let the (200) run about 11.8 ft. This set up keeps the lines 2 ft apart and run somewhere around 2 ft deep apart. Stair step down and staggered out. Do the same on Port side. Go about 1.5 mph stay in a straight line and every thing will be just perfect (HaHa until a cat or carp hits and then you are on your own). I have trolled 10 lines at one time in Mississippi with 2 lines out the straight out the back. I use Okuma Magna pro 15 line counter reels, with 10 lb mono. If you have no line counter reels then the counters that attach to your rods you get a W mart work just as well. This lets you put the the exact amount of line out. Hope this helps some one have fun for the day or just on messed up memory. Really no problem if you take your time. Good Luck, Bigarm

Originally Posted by Wade2131

unless i am incorrect, Indiana only allows three (3) rods per person - at least thats what the GW told me last summer on Patoka

Your correct.