Thread: Crankbait Pushing Chart

How much weight?

Originally Posted by mrdux

How much weight?

According to the chart .... however much weight it takes vs your speed, to keep your lines at a 45deg angle. (at near 1.8mph, that may take as much as 4oz of weight or more)

I don't use a chart for pushing jigs. I just multiply how much line I have out by 0.6 and keep my boat moving at enough speed to keep the lines at a 45deg angle. That gives me a rough estimate as to how deep my jigs are running. Most guys that push cranks up here are using 2oz @ 1.8mph .... but, their lines are NOT at a 45deg angle (more like 25deg). Best guess for that would be .... length of line out multiplied by 0.3 to get approx depth, if lines are at ~25deg angle.

Doug, I normally use a 3 oz weight three ft. ahead of the crank bait and run at 1.8 , the angle is about right. ......I buy my trolling weights from ScottV here on the MS board.

I use the ScottV weights. 3oz if fishing in 10' of water or less, 4 oz if more. They work perfect. I also use a 3-4' leader from my weight the the crank. Just like slow trolling, you can figure how much line you need out at any angle when the fish start hitting your bait.

I recently found that if you put the skinny end of the weight towards the rod, and the big end towards the crank, the weight has less drag in the water and gives you a better angle on your line. The weight becomes more aerodynamic that way. Maybe I meant hydrodynamic.

I have a mold for 2-3-4 oz trolling weights like Scott's. I just don't like to push 3 or 4. I try to use a smaller billed bait or one that has much less resistance in the water like a stickbait or Rapala behind a 2 oz.