Going to try something new !

With all the talk with all you guys pulling crankbaits. I'm going to give it a try. I am a jig fisher or float & minnow guy. But am going to give this a shot. It could end up being a disaster. I am pretty much a handyman so I am trying to keep cost down & building me own rod holders. I ordered a few pico cranks to get started. I'm wondering how I tell what speed I need to be going to pulling these & how much line I want out. I know locally Cevans seems to be a pro at this. I know this can get expensive to get into but what can't these days. Thanks for any help.

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Look forward to seeing the finished rod holders

I usually start at about 1.6 mph. Bandit has chart online with line length and depths, Picos run a little deeper than the 300 series Bandits. Hope this helps. Pulling cranks is my favorite way to fish for crappies.


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This time of the year, I would pull at 1.6 to 1.9 mph….no more than 2.0…for a starter…keep the rod tips about a ft to 1.5 above the water…If you don’t have line counter reels out…start with about 40’ of line out..and you should be running 8-9’ deep…I would try and stay in 10’ to 14’ of water running flats or near points and creek channels…or along deep water banks out where you might. see fish on your electronics…If you find bait balls..run thru them as crappie might be feeding off them. If you have stump beds or standing timber…don’t be afraid to run the edges. If you get hung up..just reel in all lines and and backtrack to the hung up bait and you will find most times you might get your crank back. I don’t loose many. If seeing fish on electronics…your electronics will give you depths the baits need to run also. As summer progresses and water warms..stay above thermoclines if you see them on electronics.

Watch your rod tips..you will be able to tell if your crank is digging into the bottom to reel line in and raise the bait. Try different depths till you find active fish also.

Attachment 429104 Attachment 429105

The second chart is for pushing from front of boat using 2 or 3 oz line weight 3’ above crankbait if you learn to push using same speeds and depths. I use 3 oz weights.

I use 10 and sometimes 20 lb test yellow power pro braid on my Okuma DX 20 line counter reels also..

Thanks for the info!

Make a 2 or 3 ounce crank knocker. Saves the wallet a little.

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That's alot of info for me to remember. Man I think jig fish is alot easier. Lol ! Let me clarify one thing I'm not really making my rod holders. I'm making the bar to hold the rod holders. I have some rod holders from a pontoon I used to have I'm going to try & use for now.
Trying not to get to much money wrapped up in this all up front. My crankbaits arrived in mail today from pico. Man they get things out quick. They sure do look like good quality. Now if I can just get a day when I don't have much boat traffic in the next week or so to give this a try.

Thanks guys for all the feed back !!!
I'm sure this will be an experience for me.

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