Trolling on Bankhead Lake

[djack]

Picture is result of 3 hours long line trolling on Bankhead Lake Sunday monring. Most of the fish were in 20-35 foot of water relating to schools of shad.

[fultondalecrappie]

I haven't had much luck trolling on Bankhead. Every time I get in a creek and start trolling some jerk will come in the creek and put out a ton of jugs. Were you fishing up or down river?

[djack]

I been fishing downlake mostly, have had decent luck all spring. Not a lot of fish per trip but good solid size fish. Probably average 10-12 fish per half day trip. Haven't seen anyone else trolling. I'm hoping I can stay on some fish into the summer. This trolling thing is all new to me, but I'm really liking it.....

Haven't had trouble with the juggers but the bass blasters keep me rockin..

[usafret99]

What depth are the fish at. 20 to 35 feet is pretty deep to line line troll are the fish suspended in 10ft or so.

[fultondalecrappie]

I plan on trolling crankbaits down there in a few months. I have a few spots in mind on the river channel.

[usafret99]

Fultondale - what type of crankbaits do you use and how deep do they go? I bought 3 of those small ones in the panfish section of the bass pro shop in leeds but have not tried them yet.

[GCD]

Crankbaits is fer bass, crappies love jigs... wanna catch deeper crappie, get a bigger jig head!

[fultondalecrappie]

GCD you need to watch the Midwest Crppie shows on pulling crankbaits and tell me that crankbaits won't catch crappie. I am going to use Bandit 300 series. There is a chart in the archive forum that has all the depths. There is also alot of good info on the Mississippi board under the thread pulling cranks 101.

[GCD]

GCD you need to watch the Midwest Crppie shows on pulling crankbaits and tell me that crankbaits won't catch crappie. I am going to use Bandit 300 series. There is a chart in the archive forum that has all the depths. There is also alot of good info on the Mississippi board under the thread pulling cranks 101.

I was just funnin' about the crankbait thing FC.

I have seen the depth charts before, they're copied straight out of the "Precision Trollers Bible" available at most large fishing tackle dealers for about $35... my bad it's $50
http://www.precisionangling.com/

If you're going to troll cranks, you should have line counter reels to be the most effective... and they aren't cheap, neither are crankbaits at $5 a pop.

I think we can do the same thing with the tackle and equipment we already have by longline trolling a little heavier jig 1/16 and 1/8 oz.... maybe even a 1/4... just like djack did.

I see those suspended little booger crappie on my sonar in the summer and they typically suspend 7-15' down. I will be targeting them with jigs and longline this year and will let y'all know how I do. I'd like to know how you do with the crankbaits too.

[bama208]

Nice catch. I have never heard of bankhead lake, where is it at?