Cranking , Pulling or Trolling Questions for Ross Barnett Rez to help a Newbie ?

To begin with I only try asking these questions here because this group seems to be fair and willing to share your know how . Unlike Bass fisherman where even if you have fished on Ross Barnett 40 years . Your fishing someone's spot if your sitting there when there making a milk run as they call them . My first job out of the service in 1969 was on the dredge on the Ross so there aren't to many spots I haven't fished .
I say this so you'll understand I don't want to know your spots . I want to know if I ought to consider spending the money and time to try the above type fishing for crappie on the Rez ? First off what is the proper name for dragging a 300 series crank bait ?
I have fished The Rez before it filled up for Bass and Crappie and Catfish but I have never tried trolling for Crappie in any way . So I don't know much if anything about it . And if some of you would speak up you could save me time , money and trouble with your know how on what tackle I would need and know this without me buying something and get the wrong stuff and have start again .
I have always fished for crappie with some type long pole with live bait or jigs , with and without floats so that tell you what I know about Crappie fishing on Ross Barnett .
I have read your post but I always come in on the middle of discussion so it is confusing in some ways .
Lets start with I have several long poles 8 to 14 ft long . But I think I need rods with more back bone in them . What lengths and could I use my bass rods ? I see that some of you use reels with line counters is this a must and which brand works best ? . What line mono or braid ? How many poles , I have a bass boat and I mounted 4 rod holders on some steel plates that are heavy enough to stand up and not turn over . I have two of the systems . I did this so I could move them to different places on boat and not have to drill holes here and there .
I need your help on this type fishing from start to finish . I like the idea of not sitting nin one swpot and even moving 11/2 to 3 mph your moving and I get bored quickly .
I don't type so it has taken me over a hour to get this for with this post .
So if you have the time please throw in your ideas I want to learn a new way to fish for me but trying to get some good advice on what I need to use and how to do it . And is the any thing on youtube are tv that I could watch . Thanks for letting me babble !

Take a look at the stickys at the top of page....there is one called pulling crankbaits 101

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Like G said OP, checkout cranks 101 in the sticky threads. I don't know much about Barnett, but we have pulling or pushing cranks (no dragging that I'm aware of), rather that be under floats or planers, pulling or just straight line, then using weights pushing out the front. I personally prefer 4' of separation on each rod. Backbone counts, but no use for heavy or medium bass rods (you want sensitivity).. ideal would be 16' 12' and 8' trolling rods if you asked me on pulling cranks. It still requires patience, even though moving along quicker it isn't necessarily a guarantee for success.. hope this gives you some idea an I'm sure others will offer advice when they have a few.

I was on the Rez, opening day, fished it until 4 years ago. I love the Rez but I am in Bartlett, TN now, Reason- a great woman. There is some great reading here, just go for it. Trolling the river around Oil Can woods to big lake will work, you will also catch a lot of stripes. Big tip- troll the old trace road way.

Quick rundown here cause reading that crankbait thread will take you about 6 months. 4 poles is fine to start learning with. If you have 6 foot poles and 14 foot poles. perfect. That's 8 feet difference so you won't get tangled on the turns for now. I've ran 8 poles in the past, 8,10,12 and 16 foot poles and talk about a mess with a cross wind. Onve you get the hang of it, add in a 10 foot pole on each side. Put 2 poles out each side of the boat, one long and one short. Then on the short pole, put out about 50 feet or line, then the long pole about 75 feet. Troll the same areas you caught fish in prespawn. Drops and ledges out away from the spawning grounds. Clear lake, North of the 43 bridge, and where ever else you may have caught them. They'll be there for a couple more weeks. Then they'll be in their summer haunts. Adjust the line lengths for different depths. Just remember that once summer gets here and the Thermocline sets up, don't fish deeper than 12 foot on Barnett. That's the thermocline depth on the rez

I can't speak for the crankbaits but I can for trolling/spider rigging in the summer....stick to the river ledge and you will catch fish. I will be out there about 3-4 days a week(depending on weather) and all I do is troll the river ledge. They are there year around. One day when I buy a bigger boat that has a 24V trolling setup I may try cranking. With that said, if you have the setup for cranking I think you will really enjoy it. One day 3 Summers ago I was just learning how to fish Barnett when it is really hot and I was fishing right at the 43 bridge on the welfare hole side(catching absolutely nothing) and a beautiful fiberglass boat that had Mississippi State Logos all over it came by with lines all out the sides and back of it. The drug by me using crankbaits 3 times and I watched them catch at least 15 crappie. I was in awe and swore I would learn how to do it. I later found out that was Paul Johnson and he is one of the best at pulling cranks but it definitely works on the Rez if you know what you are doing.

yep, that B Paul. He gets to hootin m hollaring at times lol

All this talk of cranks has give me the itch. So here I go, off to see if I can find a few this Friday like I did last week. I ain't got no plans this evening (won't have to leave early) so crappie you best look out, them treble hooks will get ya.. :yikes