Thread: Here's what I have learned about crankin so far ...

I started trolling crankbaits for crappie on September 21st.

I have had one very good day and several mediocre to poor days.

Here's what I have learned about crankin so far ...

Obviously depth control is critical.

I have spooled all my reels with 12 lb test Berkeley Big Game line that they sell on a bulk spool. I intended to buy 10 lb when I went to the store, but 12 lb was the smallest they had in stock. I wanted the bulk spool because I was respooling 6 reels and needed a lot of line.

Twice now I have figured out that I have not been fishing at the depth I thought I was.

What I had been doing was: Setting the trolling motor for a speed of right at 2 mph according to the gps, putting the lure in the water, and letting my baitcaster freespool. I had calculated that 2 mph = 2.93 feet per second. I was using the stopwatch in my phone to allow the baitcaster to freespool for the corresponding amount of time to get a certain amount of line out. For example, if I wanted to run a bandit 300 at 10 feet deep, and I wanted to put out 37 feet of line, I would freespool for 37/2.93 = 12.62 seconds.

1. I first figured out that my depth control was bad when I was trolling bandits at Piney Bay. I ran into some shallow water all of sudden and was expecting to get hung or at least see my rod tips bobbing while the bandits were digging bottom. They did not do either. So I had one of those WAIT A MINUTE NOW moments.

That is when I decided the timing method was not good enough. Too much drag from the reel and the bait obviously was moving some instead of sitting still.

So I decided to manually strip off line in 2 foot increments, until I had the desired amount of line out.

This got me pretty close. I felt more confident, and, to me, confidence is everything.

2. Now today, my copy of Precision Trolling came in the mail.

I was reading the chart on the effect of using other than 10 lb test line.

If, for example, you are using 12 lb test (as I have been), and you want to troll a bandit 300 14 ft deep, you need to put out the appropriate amount of line for trolling at 15 feet.

I had assumed that since there wasn't much difference in the diameter of 10 and 12 lb test, that the difference in depth would be very small.

I have been putting out 76 feet of line, as the Precision Trolling chart says for 10 lb test, thinking I was trolling pretty close to 14 ft deep.

If I use the correction factor for 12 lb test, which is use the amount of line for 15 ft depth, this means I should be putting out 92 feet of line.
THAT IS 16 FEET MORE LINE OUT. Too much error still.

So what have I learned?

I would have saved myself a lot of trouble if I had went ahead and bought line counter reels and 10 lb test line. Manually stripping the line is tedious, but it does work accurately, if you measure and make a mark to go by on your rods.

I am now considering going down to 6 or 8 lb test line since I know that crappie are persnickety about these things.

Sorry if this sounds over-analytical, but if one person, who, like me, is having trouble figuring out why they are not getting the results they are expecting, reads this and benefits from my mistakes, it is worth it.

I am determined to get past my self induced mistakes and my inexperience and get to a point where I am consistent in catching fish trolling crankbaits.

Originally Posted by TreeMyDog

Thanks for the post Creek. I had no idea they were that inexpensive.

Here's the link: Magda Pro 15DX - Franks Great Outdoors Store View

No problem. You would not want to striper fish with them but they will handle any crappie you will catch. They have clickers on them so when one hangs and the drag starts slipping you can hear the clicker. This is important to me because I fish alone most of the time.