Pushing crankbaits

[lahotwood]

I am also going to give this a try in 2017. I have been slowly buying a few crankbaits. Great info guys.

[M R Dux]

The Southern Crappie 143T rods are by far the best I've ever used for pushing. They are 14 footers that are rated to carry 2 oz of weight but I've used 3 oz weights with much less rod bend that other rods I have used and owned. I thinks a huge variable for pushing cranks is using cranks that are shallow runners, even flat baits like rattletraps. These give you much better depth control.

[CrappiePappy]

The Southern Crappie 143T rods are by far the best I've ever used for pushing. They are 14 footers that are rated to carry 2 oz of weight but I've used 3 oz weights with much less rod bend that other rods I have used and owned. I thinks a huge variable for pushing cranks is using cranks that are shallow runners, even flat baits like rattletraps. These give you much better depth control.

Doug ... you ever use "jerkbaits" (minnow shaped cranks) for Pushing ??

[M R Dux]

Doug ... you ever use "jerkbaits" (minnow shaped cranks) for Pushing ??

Yes, I've used Rapala minnows in floaters and countdown. I recently ran upon an insane deal on some off-shore stick baits that are about 4" long that will be death pushing. 45 baits for $39 on one of those instant here and gone deals. It only lasted a couple of hours.I have some super shallow shad raps cranks from my green carp days that work well. I want a bait that puts the least amount of strain on the line and rod when pushing. I know some folks do OK on 200 bandits and Arkie 220s and I have also when I want the bait a little deeper with more wobble.

[Speck Beck]

Does pulling cranks and chains in windy conditions work okay?

Mike

[M R Dux]

Does pulling cranks and chains in windy conditions work okay?

Mike

I don't pull chains nor do I know anybody personally who does. Too much hard work done to put out cover to have it all ripped up by chains IMHO.

[Rees Guide]

I don't pull chains nor do I know anybody personally who does. Too much hard work done to put out cover to have it all ripped up by chains IMHO.

Lot of that depends on where you are dux, pull through brush from time to time but never have I pulled up the cahains with a brush top tangled to the end of it, drift sock is a whole nuther ballgame.
Think his question is would you pull them while pulling or pushing cranks, not a need for it, if the wind is blowing the back end around some turn the steering wheel to compinsate, if the wind is blowing so hard you can't keep the speed down fish into the wind or put her on the trailer. Cranking affords you more days on the water, specially hot days and I just don't fool with it if the wind is going to be a real pain.

[Speck Beck]

Ky. River just one big long brush pile on both sides from one end to the other in the pool I fish in, and use chains that lets me stop out from the brush in which I use a long pole to reach the spots without hopefully disturbing the fish and take off without pulling up the chains to move to next spot. I haven't had any problems hanging into the brush. The chains just seam to slide thru okay.

This year I started pulling and pushing cranks for suspended crappie at the lake in deeper water from a pontoon and want to slow down from 2.3 to 1.8 mph using the chains to adjust my speed with the wind. I will try the bucket method don't want to disturb any natural or man made crappie habitat but don't think the chains would cause any problems.

[CrappiePappy]

Chains would likely not hurt heavy, thick, or solid wood structures/cover ... but, the more flimsy limbs and branches would likely be destroyed from the weight & motion of the chains dragging over them.

[M R Dux]

Much of the structure that is placed in KY and Barkley Lakes are of what we call "bucket beds". These would be easy to turn over on their sides and essentially render them almost useless. As somebody who has spent countless hours placing these, I want to see them last as long as possible so everyone can benefit from them.

I just think there are much better, less damaging ways to slow a boat down. I can see if chains were used on a stump flat where they aren't likely to pull stumps up, they could be useful if no other means of slowing the boat down are available.