Thanks: 
Reply With QuoteGreat report. Sounds like a great trip.
HaHa: 0
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ETCC Pushing Cranks
Been getting fired up for this upcoming East Tennessee Crappie Club tournament season. We drew the lakes we were going to fish at our last club meeting at Bass Pro Shop.
We will be hitting the waters at Fort Loudoun, Watts Bar, Chickamauga, Cherokee, Tellico, and Douglas lakes this season.
I just put a new water pump in my outboard and thought this was a great excuse to put in at Tellico Lake and give her a test run. Might as well throw in a few rods since I'm going that way huh.
Water temp was hanging at 83 degrees and the back of creeks appear to be loaded with bait fish. I only had a couple of hours to donate to the cause this evening so I decided to tinker around with a new to me technique of pushing cranks. Might as well tie on some of those new Arkie crankbaits I have been setting on for a while now. Pink/Black Orange/Chartreuse and Orange/Black were my colors. All of these colors caught fish pushing at 10 to 12 ft depths at .8 mph. The bite was really nice and steady for me until the sunset. Plenty of action was at hand but the crappie were all running on the short to barely legal size. Caught lots of white bass in the mix with a few nice ones which were all released. May have to try a new location next time and see if I can find some bigger fish.
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Great report. Sounds like a great trip.
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Pantastic ... what rods are those (brand/length), how much weight, and why so slow ??
Just asking, 'cause we push with 2oz weights (5ft ahead of crank) and run at 1.8mph (with rods from 14' to 20' ).
... cp
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Always good to catch fish and try a new technique. Looks like you had a good time.
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Originally Posted by CrappiePappy
Pantastic ... what rods are those (brand/length), how much weight, and why so slow ??
Just asking, 'cause we push with 2oz weights (5ft ahead of crank) and run at 1.8mph (with rods from 14' to 20' ).
... cp
My rods are BnM PST122's
6lb Vicious Line all the way
Weights are 1.3oz OR36 size 2 tadpole by Offshore Tackle
A 20" tag line to an Arkie 220 series crankbait
I chose the speed based upon watching the action of the Arkies at the surface and settled upon .8 to 1 mph.
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Good job
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Thanks !!
I'm not equipped to push/pull cranks at the speed & with the weights that my local members use, but may be able to follow your example.
I don't have any 12's but do have some 10's & 14's ... I've just found that with any weight over 1/2oz on the 10's (pushing jigs or slow trolling minnows) that the rod bend is almost at the end of its capability & light bites are hard to detect. I wasn't sure that using more weight & cranks would be any different, but I haven't really tested that theory just yet. My 14's I am sure would have no problems, as I've seen the local members use them with the 2oz @ 1.8mph and have no problems. Knowing that I could use half that weight @ half that speed & still catch fish (just not cover as much water in the same timeframe) gives me hope that my current setup will still allow me to use this technique, and not have to spend a couple thousand $$ upgrading my TM system.
My three 14's are (1) PST & (2) Capps/Coleman rods & my two 10's are a Sam Heaton SS & a Huckabee Dipping rod. I'm a big fan of Vicious 6lb test, as well, and have it on all of my casting rods & dock shooting rods.
Thanks again for the reply !! Now I have a bit more confidence that I may be able to "hang with the big dogs" when the crankbait bite is on. Appreciate the help
BTW ... do you know yet when you'll be fishing Watts Bar ??
... cp
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Crappie Tournament on WattsBar LakeLocation: Kingston City Park RampOctober 17th 2015
Registration: 6:30-7:00am at Kingston City Park Ramp
Blast Off: Anglers will be able toleave the weigh in ramp by either boat or trailer at 7:00 am. No lines can be in the wateruntil 7:30 am (SHARP)
Weigh in: All fishing will stop at3:30 pm and weigh in will begin at 4:00 pm (all participants must be inweigh in line by 4:30 pm). Participants may keep up to their state allowedlimit, but only 7 biggest fish may be weighed.
Methods: Live or Artificial bait may be used.
Fees: $35.00per boat for members
$50.00per boat for non-members
Boatcan consist of 1 or 2 adult fishermen.
Payback: 90% payback. Pays 1 spot for every 5 boatsentered. Also pot for BIG FISH is included in the entry fee.
Questions: Contact: Matt(865) 640-1602 or
Contact: Darren (865) 389-4268
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Thanks CrappiePappy.
I appreciate your questions.
I actually tried to fish with the Capps and Coleman rods once and did not find them to my liking. Too limber for my taste so I settled on the stiffer PST's and haven't looked back since. To each his own they say. I saw a video once where Capps said he prefered the BGJP for his style of fishing. LOL
The deal with crankbaits is that different brands have different actions at different speeds so this is something to take into consideration.
To answer your question on Watts Bar we will actually have two events on that lake this tournament season. This will be our 2015-2016 schedule. Keep in mind you "Do Not" have to be an East Tennessee Crappie Club member in order to fish any of our events. Anyone is welcome!
2015
Sept 19th - Chickamauga (Hwy 58 Bridge Ramp)
Oct 17th - Watts Bar (Kingston City Park Ramp)
Nov 21 - Tellico (Island Crk Ramp)
Dec 19 - Cherokee ( Boat Launch Rd Ramp)
2016
Jan 16 - Douglas (Dandridge Public Access Ramp)
Feb 20 - Chickamauga (Wolftever Ramp)
Mar 26 - Cherokee (Boat Launch Rd Ramp)
Apr 9 - Watts Bar (Kingston City Park Ramp)
Apr 30 - ETCC Classic will be held on Ft. Loudoun - (Concord Ramp)
Participants must have previously fished any 3 tournaments to be eligible for the classic.
Last edited by Pantastic; 08-20-2015 at 04:56 PM. Reason: more information to add
