Pushing (power trolling) cranks

The last couple summers I've pulled cranks on Old Hickory lake, the challenge has been following the contours of the creek channels and hanging up when the crank passes over the tip of the points, if I swing out wide I'm not close enough to stay in the strike zone. I have read a couple articles on pushing cranks and for OH that makes a lot of sense. I can follow the contours much closer getting back in some creases I'm not able to pulling now. Water clarity is usually slightly stained so spooking the fish I wouldn't think is going to be as bad, I already have 12 foot pro staff trolling rods so hopefully I won't have to invest in 14 or 16 footers. What I'm wondering is since you are using a heavy weight to get the bait down could you not use the smaller Arkie cranks rather than the more expensive larger 350's, or 100 and 200 series bandits. I know I might not entice the larger fish but I would like to build up the arsenal without breaking the bank. I would also think on highland lakes you could get the cranks down to 20 plus feet just above the thermocline and put some fish in the live well also. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Have a good one,
Ray

http://www.crappie.com/crappie/main-...ushing-cranks/

http://www.crappie.com/crappie/main-...g-depth-chart/

Thanks, I've been following those threads and others plus reading B&M and other sources on pushing cranks. There is plenty on pulling cranks but only a little on pushing. Don't see me ever pushing in waters less than 15 feet deep so I hope I can manage with 12 footers or worst case 14 footers.

Have a good one,
Ray

I push with 12 foot PST's all the time. I really like ScottV's 3oz trolling weights. As for your other question, yes it's perfect for using smaller baits like Arkies or Bandit 200's or even 100's

On one video I watched they had the crank coming off a 3 way and the weight (5 oz) going down, he had a big bell weight, seems like that would save hanging up and loosing the cranks. I would run a 3 oz weight with this type setup. what are the pros and cons of 3 way vs inline?

Ray

I tried that rig a couple times, the problem i had was the bait wrapping the line when i caught a fish and when you put it in the water you have to really watch or your crank will wrap the line. It seems to me the crank would run close to the sinker or the line going to the sinker depending on how long the leaders are. In-line sinker there would be nothing to wrap, nothing around the crank. The smaller cranks my experience is you will spend alot of time digging, cutting and pulling out the the fishes throat. In-line or nothing for me.......... I think the more weight you can use the better off you are pushing......don't be afraid to use 4 oz. to 8 oz weights depending on how deep of water you are fishing.

Slabeye is correct about the weight wrapping around the line. Also drops through a net and is a pain in the arse to get out with a fish flopping around

Thanks for the feed back, saves me the hassle of finding out myself, appreciate the feed back!

Ray

A good place to look and compare products & prices against other mfg's is Crawdads Tackle. They have the "torpedo" (in-line) trolling weights for a pretty reasonable price : Trolling Weights

Some of our guys even use them for Spider Rigging, rather than the barrel sinkers !!

... cp :kewl

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Speck

I push with 12 foot PST's all the time. I really like ScottV's 3oz trolling weights. As for your other question, yes it's perfect for using smaller baits like Arkies or Bandit 200's or even 100's

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What he said.....been doing it this way for 8 years now.....tried other rigs but like this set up the best. ScottV is a Member Sponsor here at C.C also.

Crescent sinkers.

We can troll 3 rods here on my home lake....per person. I use one down rod with a 4 oz bell sinker then a swivel and 30 inch leader. That is my pushing rod and I pull with a 16 and a 8. I run 100's on the down rod. 200's on the 16 footer and 300's on the eight footer. When we turn we just have to reel in the 8 footers normally. If it is windy we leave the 16 out of the equation!! I myself wish they made a stiffer rod for this 4 oz of lead. Ed duke of southern crappie rods is working on it and hopefully by next year he will have me a proto type to try. It will be a 14 footer!! This setup works well for me on both sides of the boat. I put 100 feet of line on the 16 footer and 60 feet on the 8 footer. Hope this helps!!

I'm hoping my cranks and weights get here tomorrow so I can try pushing this Saturday afternoon on Old Hickory. Working in the yard and garden in the am but I've read in the heat of the day is best, will see. I'm going with the inline rig and will run 4 - 12 footers off the front (2 each side). I'm going to follow a couple creek channels closer to the dam, have only been able to spider rig these channels in the fall and winter months. Thanks for all the information, its been very helpful, I knew going to the KY board would be very helpful.

Have a great day,
Ray

I am going to try some pushing next weekend. Guess I need to get out in the shop and make some inline sinkers. I had been on the fence of a 3 way or the inlines but seems the inline might be a better way to go.

I got out yesterday a couple hours to experiment with the power pushing, I used the inline setup with 12 foot rods off the front, got the trolling speed and ran the line out till I started dragging bottom to see how the chart would work and it was within 12" of being dead on. I adjusted my lines to troll 20 deep keeping the cranks at 16 fow, (24 feet of line out) I followed the contour of the channel ledge much closer, then I moved to the top of the shelf around 12 feet deep and made a second run, third run was in 30 fow running at about 24 feet deep. With all the boat traffic and just fishing the channel (old Hickory) I didn't expect to catch any crappie and I was not disappointed, I did however pick up a walleye and four short sauger with a couple yellow bellies. one thing I did see was several hits from fish without a hookup. Could crappie be hitting the crank and the weight/ rod be tearing it out of their mouth. I was pulling with 12' Wally Marshall's which have a somewhat soft tip, just wondering. next outing is going to be in some creek channels where I will hope to put some slabs in the boat. I think the power pushing is going to pay some dividends!

Have a great day,
Ray

Thanks Ray for reporting your first experience pushing cranks.
I hope my first experience pushing cranks is as productive as yours.

Thanks
Mike

Attachment 206771tried pushing cranks for the first time this morning, caught 3 crappie and a bunch of stripers! Gonna try it again in the morning if it's not raining.

Been reading everything I can, one article was how to fish the thermocline, made a lot of sense to troll or push cranks about 4 feet above the thermo, fishing a local tourney on Tim's Ford tomorrow, if there's a thermo i'm dropping the cranks! May not catch a fish but you have to start somewhere.

Happy fishing!
Ray