First time cranking today. A leaning experience.

Took my dad for our inaugural run pulling cranks today at Kentucky lake. Boy, what a learning experience. Fished from 10 am to 230 pm. We only boated one crappie and lost one at the boat. Caught several yellow bass and a catfish. My counter reels haven't come in yet so we had to wing it on the depth but there is a lot going on. Had about 3 tangles that took a couple of cut and reties but I learned pretty quick about keeping tension on all the lines. Fish came on bandit 300s and the chrome and blue was definitely the color of choice even though we didn't find much action. I fished all kinds of water but just never hit it right. Fished from 12 to 23 fow, flats, ledges,you name it. All in all, just glad to finally try it but I hope to learn where they live a little better in the summer months.

Good job. He looked like he was having fun.

JJ, try not using so many poles. You'll be surprised how much easier it will be learning the technique. Everybody isn't good enough to run 8 poles at a time. Try four and add one more to each side as you get better at it. As you learned today, a lot of poles in the water doesn't always equal a lot of fish in the boat. Good luck out there next time.

About like everything else in life,the more you do it the easier it becomes.
Congratulations on your maiden voyage Crankin.......It can get you "hooked"....

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Originally Posted by chaunc

JJ, try not using so many poles. You'll be surprised how much easier it will be learning the technique. Everybody isn't good enough to run 8 poles at a time. Try four and add one more to each side as you get better at it. As you learned today, a lot of poles in the water doesn't always equal a lot of fish in the boat. Good luck out there next time.

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hey chaunc, we just used 4 that day and I've just gotten 4 counters rigged up so I fee a little more confident about it now. gonna stick to 4 until we acheive amatuer status and get past beginner status. after talking with my good friend crp4570 I believe us to be running too much line out so we were under most fish. i was dragging in 12 fow so i feel like we can do a bit better next time out. Hope to try again Monday on kentucky lake

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Not hijacking,but I made my cranking debut today,used 3 baitcasters,2 with line counters,arkie 350's.only caught 2 fish,a 10 inch largemouth and 20 inch smallmouth.I think I need planer boards on dale hollow.

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No problem. I think this is a great way to learn more about how to catch em in the summer. Good luck in the process!

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I'm getting all the equipment ready to do the same, I'm sure I will have a lot of learning to do

i bought 4 shakespeare ats 20 line counter reels. was going with okuma but found that walmart had them on sale for $31 and had free shipping so i opted to go ahead and get them. got 2 16' pst for outside and 2 12' BnM west point rods for the middle. If i can keep them untangled i may opt to use 2 of my 7' bass crankin rods to just cast out for an extra 2 baits to fan out and cover more water. and just ordered another 10 300s from grizzlyjig. if the lord is gracious enough to give me another day, im gonna try it in the morning. im also going to be on the lookout for another hi tek rod holder (used if i can find somebody parting with one) just so i can have an option to push if i have an extra fisherman in the boat, plus if i fish 3 during spider rig season i can have enough holders for everyone.

Hey JJ, if you want to use spinning reels you can. The way I use spinning reels and still be able to keep up with how much line out is to use those little strings that you would use with a slip bobber rig. The strings for a bobber stop. I get 4 of em, preferably in at least 2 different colors, I put all 4 on my line and push em up a bit. Then tie on my barrel swivel with a snap. Hook it on something and stretch out a 100' tape measure. I run one string to 90', another to 75', another at 60', and one at 45'. Cinch em down real tight so they won't move. I know when I cast out when a green string is just past tip of my pole, I've got 45' out, yellow string is 60', pink is 75', etc. I use $9 spinning reels. Cheaper alternative than line counters. Can look at dive charts for various size cranks and put baits anywhere needed, down to 15ft deep with bandit 300's at 90 ft back.