Tommy Skarlis Answers Questions on Crappie.com

Fishing Professional Tommy Skarlis spent a little time answering members questions in a Special Guest session here on Crappie.com. The following is a brief summary. Thank you for your participation Tommy.

Slab
Jigs behind planer boards, really! Don't you have to go faster when pulling boards? and if so, how the heck you keep your jigs down?

Tommy Skarlis
We keep our jigs down by using Off Shore Tadpoles - it is an in-line diving weight that when a fish bites - it disengages the device so you fight the fish and not the weight. We were pulling jigs at 1mph and I do not think it was too fast. Thanks for the congrats - it was an awesome tournament that we enjoyed immensely!

Blueball
whats the slowest speed u have used and caught fish pulling jigs.thanks

Tommy Skarlis
.7 mph - but I am certain that we could have gone much slower than that - honestly - I am just starting to get a handle on "pulling" jigs for crappies. Biggest key to remember is that the faster you go - the more fish you put the lure in front of.

Slab
Next question is, how fast you ever go, with some success, using jigs and also cranks?

Tommy Skarlis
Again - I am a little new to trolling jigs - that being said - up to 1.5 mph
Now with Cranks - that is a different story - with speeds up to 3.5 mph showing success!!!

Blueball
what size tadpole would u recomend to start with,thanks

Tommy Skarlis
I feel that the #1 size tadpole will be able to cover the majority of the crappie anglers needs - Bigger ones like the # 2 - #3 and the Magnum would only come into play with speeds over 1.5mph when combined with depths of over 15 feet

Blueball
may be fishing a tourny sat. on ky lake,water is supposed to drop a foot between today and saturday and muddy any suggestions for cold muddy water,thanks

Tommy Skarlis
Baits the rattle - like crainkbaits such as the Berkley Flicker Shad or the 4.5cm Salmo Hornet. Also - rattling jigs or jigs with large (2-3inch) plastics such as Poerbait Grubs - Ripple Shads - stuff that makes noise - slow don to @ one mph so the fish can find it!

Cmj
I am primarily a single-pole fisherman, but have had lots of people try to get me into pulling lately. What advantages does pulling have over vertical jigging?

Tommy Skarlis
The advantage of "pulling" (especially with the use of Off Shore Planer Boards) is that you can place lures in front of fish that are spooked by the boat. The "Thump" is replaced with the visual of the Off Shore getting "yanked" back.

Jackie53
Getting started fishing Tour for crappie. What how would be the best way to start out fishing tournaments for crappie,sponsors ect?

Tommy Skarlis
First - I would start fishing the:
1. Tournaments on bodies of water you want to learn the most from.
2. Tournaments on bodies of water you think you can be the most competitive on.
The biggest thing that needs to be considered when it comes to sponsors - Can you give them a return on their investment.

"G"
hich do you like the best .....the full sized boards or the mini boards ? And why ?

Tommy Skarlis
I prefer the Big ones - the OR 12's. Mostly because that is what I have been using for over 20 years. The nice thing about the OR-34 minis - is that you can use them with any rod - any line - any equipment and that they are more affordable. But - let's look at planer boards in the true light - they are a ONE-Time purchase. (unless they get stolen or you lose them) the Best ones on the Market are the OFf Shore OR-12's - American made - virtually indestructible - I know guys that have kept the same two pairs for over 20 years - lotsa folks! The minis are a big part of my game plan when there are little fish involved or when the ish seem to "feel" the big board and "drop" the lure.

Brian Stucker
When trolling what trolling motor do you use primarily use ?

Tommy Skarlis
I use the Minn Kota Terrova a lot. I also use the Minn Kota EM-101 (Engine mount that is mounted on the cavatation plate)

pescador
Most of the Lakes I will be fishing, have depths less than 15'. What size jig heads and how far from the boat, would you use the OR34 Mini Boards?

Tommy Skarlis
I would use 1/8 to 1/32 and get them as far from the boat as you can.

pescador
Do you prefer mono or braid for line and what # test?

Tommy Skarlis
95% of the time i prefer to troll with 10 pound Berkley Trilene XT (monofilament) in Lo-vis Green

Brian Stucker
Can you use braid?

Tommy Skarlis
Sure you can use braid - especially if you want to use a thinner diameter line to get baits deeper. I occasionally use Berkley Trilene Braid 10 pound test strength (@2pound test diameter). Just remember that braid doesn't stretch and sometimes it effects the bite.

Brian Stucker
What kind of rod holders are you using?

Tommy Skarlis
I use Tempress Fish-On Rod Holders when trolling planer boards.

Feeshrman
If you had to start from scratch, what brand/style of boat would you prefer?

Tommy Skarlis
After running Rangers for over 20 years - that is easy to answer! I own both a big one (620 VS) and a "little one" - a Ranger 1862 with an Evinrude 90 hp E-Tec
If I had to own one........................A Ranger 620VS

Smokercraft
How long are your leaders for jigs and cranks while using the tadpoles

Tommy Skarlis
6 feet of Berkley Trilene 10 pound test

Smokercraft
How do you go about resetting tadpole if a fish comes off or short strike a jig or crank

Tommy Skarlis
All you have to do is reel the Tadpole in reset it at the boat.

GABowman
As the water starts warming late winter/early spring at what temperature do you begin getting serious about longlining or is this something you do 12 months of the year? Thanks.

Tommy Skarlis
I prefer to long line and troll with Planer boards 12 months a year.

GABowman
My questions are what do you look for and have to see on your sonar before you'll go to the trouble of putting out lines? Also, what kind of sonar are you running on your boat? Thanks.

Tommy Skarlis
I am fishing with Raymarine electronics now - Knowing your sonar "intimately" is important - in other words - knowing what crappies look like makes all the difference. Down South it is a little easier - especially when you get into an area where you know the big school of fish is a "pod" of crappies. Once we find crappies - we start fishing. The one exception to the rule is when the fish are really "high" in the water column. Sometimes you just have to set your lines and start trolling (or pulling) and once you catch fish - "turn and burn" on the school.
As far as Off Shore Planer boards are concerned - the biggest advantage is the boards spread your presentation and take your baits out to the side of the boat and present them to fish that flat lines wouldn't