Thread: Cranking question

I keep getting my cranks tangled up!! I'm running four rods with 3-4 ft gap between them. Pulling bandit 300s on suspended fish around 15 ft been doing 1.5 mph 70-90fol out catching few but not great. Inside rods supposed to be longer or shorter?

Tried 1/4 oz jig two foot above bandit 300 at 80fol out I hit bottom around 17fow or hung stump sticking up lil bit going 1.2mph sound right?

Originally Posted by TowboatTroller

I keep getting my cranks tangled up!! I'm running four rods with 3-4 ft gap between them. Pulling bandit 300s on suspended fish around 15 ft been doing 1.5 mph 70-90fol out catching few but not great. Inside rods supposed to be longer or shorter?

Tried 1/4 oz jig two foot above bandit 300 at 80fol out I hit bottom around 17fow or hung stump sticking up lil bit going 1.2mph sound right?

Inside rod shorter line, I run up to 10 off the sides, never out the back. I push the front 2 on a 14 foot pole pointing forward at a 45 degree angle, next pole starts the pulling poles with an 18, 14, 10 and 6 poles on either side. Early in the morning I start out with 55', 45', 35', and 25' on one side and on the other 60', 50', 40', and 30' on the other side, as the day goes on this will change and most likely get longer depending on the fish and conditions. Once I dial in a depth I will start using 200s on the outside poles so I can run longer line out and still target the same depths as the 300s on shorter lines.
This is my 5th year I have pulled cranks and am finding my cranking season is getting longer each year, we have been pulling the Arkie 220s with pretty good results this year already and the new 350s are some great looking baits.
Time in the seat is the best teacher but if you can get a chance to get in the boat with someone else you will learn a lot, I had a ton of help and have helped a lot of folks.
Good luck and have fun.
PS: Braid line will save you a ton of money!!!!

Originally Posted by TowboatTroller

I keep getting my cranks tangled up!! I'm running four rods with 3-4 ft gap between them. Pulling bandit 300s on suspended fish around 15 ft been doing 1.5 mph 70-90fol out catching few but not great. Inside rods supposed to be longer or shorter?

Tried 1/4 oz jig two foot above bandit 300 at 80fol out I hit bottom around 17fow or hung stump sticking up lil bit going 1.2mph sound right?

Sounds like you either have baits that are not tracking straight or you are making too tight turns. 95% of my tangled baits will be from 2 reasons; tight turns or hooking a tiny fish that you don't notice. Ky Lake is full of small yellow bass that will take on a bait as big as they are. They won't pop to the top like crappie and will tangle up everything in the boat right before they cut you like a razor with their gill covers.

I run 1.7-2.0 when pulling cranks. If I'm running 8 rods, 2 will be off each side and 4 off the back.

Thanks for info! Been running power pro slick8 braid timber brown 10lb test for couple years but pickwick is clear lake. When I started fishing for fish 15fow or less I added stren mono clear thinking its affecting bite as others claim. Not sure if it helped and I may not have right knot on cranks. Need snaps on there to change out quick and act as swivel.
Your right though soon as I get time I'm booking trip with you Reese guide to come learn!

The yellow bass are a big problem always on suspended fish seems like more. Thanks Mr dux the turning I learned that the hard way lol

Originally Posted by TowboatTroller

I keep getting my cranks tangled up!! I'm running four rods with 3-4 ft gap between them. Pulling bandit 300s on suspended fish around 15 ft been doing 1.5 mph 70-90fol out catching few but not great. Inside rods supposed to be longer or shorter?

Tried 1/4 oz jig two foot above bandit 300 at 80fol out I hit bottom around 17fow or hung stump sticking up lil bit going 1.2mph sound right?

Try 200 bandits I seem to do better with them in 12-16 fow, I run the 300's when I find them in 20 or more fow. Also kick up your speed to 1.8 upto 2.0 , I've run as fast 2.4 in deep water, beware of walleyes though lol.

Mostly fishing 20-30 fow crappie suspended at 15fow gotta get a bigger trolling motor mine want run over 2.0 on ten power but usually run it on 6 cause it beeps and goes off for some reason when run on ten or into wind with strain on it. Is that normal to beep and shut off?
Minn kota power drive v2 I pilot 70

Originally Posted by Rees Guide

Inside rod shorter line, I run up to 10 off the sides, never out the back. I push the front 2 on a 14 foot pole pointing forward at a 45 degree angle, next pole starts the pulling poles with an 18, 14, 10 and 6 poles on either side. Early in the morning I start out with 55', 45', 35', and 25' on one side and on the other 60', 50', 40', and 30' on the other side, as the day goes on this will change and most likely get longer depending on the fish and conditions. Once I dial in a depth I will start using 200s on the outside poles so I can run longer line out and still target the same depths as the 300s on shorter lines.
This is my 5th year I have pulled cranks and am finding my cranking season is getting longer each year, we have been pulling the Arkie 220s with pretty good results this year already and the new 350s are some great looking baits.
Time in the seat is the best teacher but if you can get a chance to get in the boat with someone else you will learn a lot, I had a ton of help and have helped a lot of folks.
Good luck and have fun.
PS: Braid line will save you a ton of money!!!!

How come you never pull cranks out the back? Cause of rods being straight out and loosing them?

Im getting ready to start pulling cranks on pickwick too...maybe we should get together sometime and put both minds together to see if we can figure this thing out lol