Thread: Crank bait trolling setups???

Originally Posted by Jigging15

Speck what rods and what length are you using for cranks?

I run 4 planer boards off the back. Two on each side. The planers put a lot of drag against a rod, so you want a medium/heavy rod. Any mh bass rod will work. I use Daiwa downrigger rods from Wally World. They are about $25 each. I will put 2 planers out each side on those and have another straight out the back on each side. As I catch a fish on a planer, I rotate the set by putting the board on the long line and moving out. The rod that just caught the fish them rotates to the long line. Sounds a lot more complicated than it actually is.
I also use B&M PST's for straight cranks without planers. PST's also for pushing cranks. I like ScottV rigs with 4oz weights about 3 feet above the crank for pushing.

The mh planer rods can be any length. I like 6 or 7 footers personally. For straight cranking and pushing, I use two 10 foot and two 12 foot PST's

nobody is doing the two pole stroll with another in the holder??

Originally Posted by Lil Baby

nobody is doing the two pole stroll with another in the holder??

I have trouble handling the one in my hand let alone more in holders. I have been known to drag a fish a mile before I knew it was on the line.

By then those 4" Crappie don't have much fight left.

We run 2 sets of Perotti 4-rod holders and have bases in both the back for pulling cranks and also up front for rigging or pushing cranks. We also installed 3 Ram Rod holders on each side of the boat, spaced 3' apart which we use to run planers. Quite often we are running 2 sets of planers off of each side and 2 rods in each holder straight off the back. It's pretty impressive how much water you can cover with 8 rods out. As for the rods themselves, we have both Cabela's and Bass Pro MH rods from 7-9' in length.

When we push cranks we're using same method as Speck and Yikess....ScottyV inline weights (3 & 4 oz) but we switched over to 12' BnM PST because we were losing a lot of fish with the stiffer rods as the hooks were ripping out at a frustrating pace.

We ran the tadpoles this past weekend and they seemed to perform well. I still prefer the ScottyV's, but that could change over time.

U

I run the 360 (4 rod) rod holder from Cumberland Crappie at the front of the boat. I fan them out pretty good with 9-12 foot rods. I find turns can be tricky but once I trim the motor out of the water it is no longer an issue.

How is the crank bait trolling this time of year at Truman? I tried a few weeks ago and only caught a small White Bass. I have been jigging submerged brush lately.

I run 2 rods out each side, one 10ft, one 8 ft, ez pole holders, Tried the planer boards, seen no improvement in catch to troll time ratio, The pole holders are from a guy on the mississippi board, EZ pole or rod holder, they work great, easy to adjust, and real easy to break down and store, luck to ya

Haven't seen any comments yet and maybe you don't need it but I've learned (been taught) that line counter reels are a pretty important piece to the setup as well.

U

Originally Posted by Route U

Haven't seen any comments yet and maybe you don't need it but I've learned (been taught) that line counter reels are a pretty important piece to the setup as well.

U

Oh yeah!! Okuma Magda MA-20 DX is awesome!! Highly recommend. Try Northwoods Outlet they have the best prices.
Okuma Magda Pro Line Counter MA-20DX

How about the Okuma 15 line counters? We carry them at the store and they seem plenty big for cranks.