Steve,

A couple good indications for the crawler bite. Time of year usually coincides with water temperature. When she hits about 55 to 60 that bite is usually on. Another indications is fish holding tight to the bottom.

When I am fishing 8 rods, I always very my setup to start out. The rods out of the back corners (down rods) usually run 3 OZ bottom bouncers with crawlers. In 17ft of water, you are usually running about 32 foot back in order to get them to drag. On my first outside planer board, I usually start out with a size 2 tadpole and run it just off the bottom. Although you can go by the trolling data, the best way I have found is to thumb the thing out until it hits bottom once then stop the spool and hook on the board. Usually around 20 to 22 feet back for 17ft running 1.3 mph. I usually run a harness on that. On the next board out, I will run either a size 1 tadpole (done the same as the 2) or, if I am running six rods, that being my outside board, I will throw a stick bait on and run it higher in the water column. Many times you will catch the bigger fish on these that you are not marking on the screen. I adjust based on what the fish are saying. More bites on one indicates a need to change. I am not afraid to change everything over to one tactic if it is working.

The big thing is knowing when to make a change. Blade color can be huge. During darker days with clear water, I'll run more neutral bait colors. But, when the sun peaks out, I'll switch over a couple to brighter colors. You really have to watch the sun and the water clarity. Another big factor is waves. With rougher weather, you can catch them right next to the boat. On clear calm days however, you will get more bites on the boards as the fish spook. One other thing is boat traffic. I would say the number one thing for me is the sun. Whether it is bright out or darker out. The other thing is running a bunch of different stuff to see what they want and at what speed. The last is not being afraid to change it all up. Anyone can go out and catch a few, the key is to find the happy spot and capitalize on it. Many people rest on their knowledge of the area and knowing that the fish were here yesterday and they caught them on this particular bait. They don't take in to account what is happening right this second.