What do you do when you find a baitball?

Let me start by proclaiming my newb status so bear with me.

In the post spawn months when the fish have made their way back to the deeper waters will you try to keep up with a ball of baitfish if they show up on sonar?

Do these baitfish typically stay suspended in one general area or roam around quite a bit?

ive never tried to follow the bait once they show up. I just assume they move around to much and I will come across more shortly.

When I see them....scattered or in balls....I take notice if their depth and the run my crank baits accordingly at 1.8 mph. Take a look at the bottom contour and see if they are on a creek ledge or some other feature then troll that particular feature.

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Try to stay in the general area and fish them just like G said. There will be other ones in the summer but try to mark them as you go. Yes they will move some but you should be able to stay pretty close. Fish are going to be where the food is or not far from it.

I don't know about baitballs. Put let me tell you about the cheeseball Sammy wife makes I stay with it until it's gone that's some fine stuff

I typically take note what kind of area they are holding and what depth the top of the baitball is: open flats, mid-channel, next to drops or ledges,etc. I want my cranks running in the top 1/3 to 1/2 of the baitball.

I either run a separate unit or a split screen with one of them being 2D color sonar when I'm pulling, pushing or longlining.

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Originally Posted by mrdux

I typically take note what kind of area they are holding and what depth the top of the baitball is: open flats, mid-channel, next to drops or ledges,etc. I want my cranks running in the top 1/3 to 1/2 of the baitball.

I either run a separate unit or a split screen with one of them being 2D color sonar when I'm pulling, pushing or longlining.

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Why do you want your cranks in the top half? I thought the crappie will be underneath them so you would want you bait to be towards the bottom half.

I would think to be in the top of the bait because fish typically strike from below

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Originally Posted by Perch_Jerker

Why do you want your cranks in the top half? I thought the crappie will be underneath them so you would want you bait to be towards the bottom half.

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I see a lot of baitballs on 2D that have larger fish 1/2 way to the top of the top of the ball. Crappie feed up, that where I want my bait and it has worked well for me for years. I love to come behind guys who are trolling and griping about not catching fish when I'm catching them in their wake. 9 times out of 10 I'm fishing shallower than them because many trollers think you have to get the crank to maximum depth.

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Originally Posted by slabin

I don't know about baitballs. Put let me tell you about the cheeseball Sammy wife makes I stay with it until it's gone that's some fine stuff

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Lol now that's funny right there


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by slabin

I don't know about baitballs. Put let me tell you about the cheeseball Sammy wife makes I stay with it until it's gone that's some fine stuff

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BOY you ain't right !!!