Pulling Cranks 101

Biggest reason is that there is so much timber in the rez that you are limited to certain areas to pull. The old lake beds that so many fish move to in the summer has way to much timber to pull in. Our thermacline at the rez is 10-12 feet deep, that's it and once it sets in, you won't find a fish deeper than 12 feet anywhere on the rez. You'd lose every crankbait in your box pulling in those old lake beds. now in transition from spawning to those old lake beds, that5s prime time for pulling cranks on Barnett. Well, except for winter time when you're on a warming trend, you can get into them pretty thick then to!!! I even caught a few this past winter pulling up on the North end of the lake with low 40 degree surface temp

I didn't have a trolling plate nor buckets so I was running 3.0 to 3.2 MPH and was wearing them out

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Originally Posted by DonDon

I didn't have a trolling plate nor buckets so I was running 3.0 to 3.2 MPH and was wearing them out

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That doesn't suprise me. I have have found that speed is normally your friend.:D Now if things start to slow down I may make a few "S" turns just to make sure they don't want it a little slower but then I'll start switching colors to turn them back on!!!!! Why are we working?? Let's go fishin......l

yikess, are you pulling with your outboard? If so what size motor are you running? Are you using buckets or a trolling plate?

I do the S turn as well. The poles on the outside are running faster than the one's on the inside so I'll keep up with not only the color of the crank but whether it was going faster or slower, THEN adjust my speed abit accordingly

Yikes has my vote!!! Think I am going to go from next wed to sat

Aight so when I get my new rig in late may or early June which one of you yahoo's is going to go out with me and show me the ropes? Got about 25 new cranks and prob going to get more on Saturday. Hope to order the okuma reels soon, they should be good for spider rigging to that's what I've always wanted them for anyway

duck, I will try to show you alot, but! crankin ain't one of theme things you want me to show you. BUT, if one of these yahoo's speaks up let me know and I will follow you

If my goofy butt can do it the first time I try, you can do it. You want some help and willing to watch a video and LISTEN? Go to midwest crappie and check out the sardis 1 video with Russ and Kent Driscoll. Kent goes over whey things are done the way they are. trust me, you'll be glad you watched it

and got 4 of the Okumas. That'll get me started anyways. Questions on them. How good is the drag and will they hold up to a say 15 pound catfish or 10 pound searun striped bass

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Originally Posted by DonDon

and got 4 of the Okumas. That'll get me started anyways. Questions on them. How good is the drag and will they hold up to a say 15 pound catfish or 10 pound searun striped bass

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They will handle a 10# plus hybird.:D;) You may need to stop your boat to get him in.

Will they stand up to me putting braided line on them and how much line will they hold of the 20 pound braid

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Originally Posted by DonDon

Will they stand up to me putting braided line on them and how much line will they hold of the 20 pound braid

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I use 30/8 power pro braid. I put about 150 yards of braid on top of some cheap mono so I do have to use so much braid.

Hope they get here before next weekend and the FJ

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Originally Posted by G-3 Fisherman

yikess, are you pulling with your outboard? If so what size motor are you running? Are you using buckets or a trolling plate?

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G-3 I use my Terrova but it's only good for 5 hours or so. Then I switch to my 90hp 2-stroke Merc to finish the day. Often it takes a driftsock to get my speed under control. I have a 24" and 30" but only use one at a time depending on the load in the boat and the wind conditions. Driftsocks are a lot easier to store than buckets.

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Originally Posted by duckkiller

Aight so when I get my new rig in late may or early June which one of you yahoo's is going to go out with me and show me the ropes? Got about 25 new cranks and prob going to get more on Saturday. Hope to order the okuma reels soon, they should be good for spider rigging to that's what I've always wanted them for anyway

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Me me me, can I go??? I can bring all kinds of gear to play with:D.

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Originally Posted by yikess

G-3 I use my Terrova but it's only good for 5 hours or so. Then I switch to my 90hp 2-stroke Merc to finish the day. Often it takes a driftsock to get my speed under control. I have a 24" and 30" but only use one at a time depending on the load in the boat and the wind conditions. Driftsocks are a lot easier to store than buckets.

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Tell me more about the drift sock. How long a rope do you use and how do you keep your prop out of it etc. I have a 115 Yamaha 4 stroke and it idles pretty slow...I will have to take my GPS and check it again....I checked it once before but I have forgotten.

is when you drive 2 hours to go fishing and then realize you didn't secure them and they blew out of the back of the boat OOPSY. YES, that is from personal expierence

Don several years ago I had just left the lake and had a 5 gallon bucket blow out of my boat just as I was meeting Mr. Green Jeans and hit the front of his truck.:eek: It did not take him no time to turn around and catch up with me with his blue lights flashing. I thought ohell this is not going to be good. He walks up to my window and ask me if I am going back and pick up my trash. I tell him you bet just as soon as I find a place to turn around. We talk for awhile and I show him the crappie I had caught and he tell me to just go on home and he will pick up the bucket. Sure thought I was going to get a ticket but he was a good guy after he had cooled down some.:D

Couple weeks back I got luicky to. A deputy Sheriff stopped me and my brother after he say toilet paper blowing out of the back of my boat. My brother had a roll in a 5 gallon bucket and it was flying all over the place so the cop stopped me for that. He was kewl with it all and even told me that Looks like your brother is poo outta luck to day. I bought fell out

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Originally Posted by DonDon

and got 4 of the Okumas. That'll get me started anyways. Questions on them. How good is the drag and will they hold up to a say 15 pound catfish or 10 pound searun striped bass

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Don, I've put my Okumas through some tough tests in the short time I've had them (catfish, goo, lots of whites at Enid) and they are performing very well. Only thing I have found so far is that the counter reset button will stick sometime, but if you pay attention to it just push it again and it's fixed.

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Originally Posted by G-3 Fisherman

Tell me more about the drift sock. How long a rope do you use and how do you keep your prop out of it etc. I have a 115 Yamaha 4 stroke and it idles pretty slow...I will have to take my GPS and check it again....I checked it once before but I have forgotten.

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I'll measure it when I get home. I think it's about 15 feet. I tie it around my rear seat post so it will stay in the center or the boat and it's easier to get back in when I need to move or call it a day. The drift socks have a float on one side of the opening so they will stay up and away from the prop.

DD where did you get your okumas? I'm looking for 4-6

DK....This is where Major and I got ours at. $24.99 each...can't beat that. Okuma Magda Pro Line Counter MA-15DX Northwoods Wholesale Outlet

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Originally Posted by yikess

I'll measure it when I get home. I think it's about 15 feet. I tie it around my rear seat post so it will stay in the center or the boat and it's easier to get back in when I need to move or call it a day. The drift socks have a float on one side of the opening so they will stay up and away from the prop.

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Thanks Yikess

Think after S & H is was $110 for 4 of them. Now got to order 4, 150 yards spools of braided line.

bought 2 of some charcoal grey on the back with black stripes and it's got a blue head and orange and white belly, Then 2 of close to the same color but it's got red and sky blue specks in it. Kinda looks like a redbelly bream to me. Once I got back to the office, I went to the bandit site and ordered 2 each of Grenada Shad and Hotty Toddy. THEN I orderee a spool of 500 yards of hi-vs yellow power pro braid, 20 lb test, think it was only 38 bucks

What size line y'all use for pulling and why? I use mr crappie 6lb for spider rigging, guessing that want work will it? I'm planning on useing some of my spider rigging rods is that good or I need diff ones there 14 footers

I wouldn't use a jig pole at all. I have some of the 12 foot and 16 foot trolling poles by B & M, then out the back I use spinning reels and a light weight rod, just stouter than an ultra light

Yea my bad I meant my 14 ft Wally marshel tight lines or my bnm capps Coleman trolling rods. Got a few old 6.6ft green carp sticks could I use them?

Just make sure whatever Crappie rod you use, it's a fairly heavy action on, trolling style rod. If you can put 3 oz of weight on it and slow troll jigs, it should be OK

I can't really tell that much difference in the action between the B'n'M Pro Trollers and the B'n'M Brush Cutters.

Hey All,

Well this is my 3rd year of pulling cranks and I have to agree with a lot of people, once you get the fever it can get pretty costly!! LOL My bandit bag has grown to over 500 crankbaits!! And now they've come out with the crappie series which have to have 3-4 of each color just in case..lol

The setup is home made and equipment was pretty inexpensive. The rods are Bass Pro 7'6" MH which can catch them on sale from time to time for $24.99 I run 6 cabela's depthmaster II reels which usally at end of the year can catch them on sale for $29.99. Any reel will work for front poles.

Also of importance is a good GPS/Depth finder. I run a Humminbird 797.

I'll try to attach a pic of the setup..my kids love fishing like this!! These were the 1st year of pulling. It didn't take long and if they weren't catching fish they blame the driver for not putting them on fish.. that's the reason for the GPS with HotMaps....also if you notice had a dark green line on the reels, that lasted one day and had to change to hi-vis yellow...lol

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That is a good looking setup for sure.

What are the "hot" colors for the Rez?

So far I've caught them on Hot Pink, Black, Perch. Haven't caught many yet but I think its' getting close.

May give them a try on Ross Thursday or Friday.

I'm gonna try them Friday just to see if things have changed and their moving yet

Wow what a thread! Some good info, eyes just shot now. :eek:

well i already have the rods, reels, holders and lures (just not as many lures as maj :D) and have been waiting to try this year. i guess i just need to get out there now.

Get out there and try it. By the way...this is Wannabes favorite thread.