Originally Posted by
specseeker
Tommy thanks for the follow up. Not that we are any experts by any means but we have had real good success fishing between 25 and 50 ft during the months of Nov - Jan in lakes we fish in TX, LA and MO. We find that most of the fish relating in the water column between 15 ft deep to the bottom with most of the active larger fish within 1 - 4 ft from the bottom. We use a modified form of spider rigging that we call sliding. The rod holders are the same placement on the bow with a complete set up on the back of the boat and if we are carrying a third person we will have another set up on the side. The equipment is simple. We use an inexpensive 5' 6"Med Action Yellow Eagle Claw rod with an Abu 5500 C3 spooled with Vicious 8 lb fluorocarbon. Each rod is rigged with a #214 hook with a split shot approx. 8" above the hook and a1/4oliding bullet weight above that. Each is baited with a minnow an we free pool the bait to the bottom. Once on the bottom we will fish the bait 1 - 3 cranks on the reel off the bottom. After locating fish I will put a 30 lb anchor off the bow using 1/4" nylon rope. I use a spool that holds 750 feet. I will slowly side back on the rope until someone gets a bite . I will hold until a couple of minutes passes without a bite and then continue to slide back. If we hit a particular spot that was productive but went quiet I will put a trotline clip on it and continue the slide When I run out of fish on the locator I will pull us back towards the anchor and when I comeback to a clip I will tie off and the boat will settle back over the productive spot. If we get back to the anchor and it was a good line we might run that same line again and again. Otherwise I will pick up the anchor if the area is productive move over 30 ft and drop it and run a new line. Most of the fish we find active will be between a 3 ft differential 25-28, 31-34, etc. This method allows us to fish slow and accurately and has served us well. Another benefit is that it has made us much better at identifying some small vey good structure that we have a saved as waypoint that I don't think we would have identified if we would have been moving quicker. We are lucky to fish with a group of folks that share these little hotspots. Just thought I'd share a little success and hope it helps someone catch a few more for the freezer. God Bless!
That is incredible specseeker - In fact - I would call that "surgically removing specks!" Just an FYI - the 5500 Line Counters have been Disco'd - Leaving only the bigger 6500 LC in the line-up. Also., using a Minn Kota on Spot Lock could work for you - allowing less anchor pulling and setting? Maybe? Just a thought. Again - that is great info and if you ask me - expert advice as well!!!!
Take a senior or a kid fishing soon!
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Another thing to remember about crankbaits is to keep them tuned so that they run perfectly true. Most anglers BEND the metal eye coming out of the bill of the crank too forcefully and it ends up like oversteering on ice (maybe not a good analogy with all of our Southern friends who haven't had the pleasure to drive on ice much)
