What is the shortest line length anyone uses successfully to pull cranks for crappie when they're shallow? I was wondering if you can pull cranks when the fish are shallow?
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What is the shortest line length anyone uses successfully to pull cranks for crappie when they're shallow? I was wondering if you can pull cranks when the fish are shallow?
5 foot of line out last weekend
I pulled Arkie 350's today with 30 ft. of line out......at 1.8 mph they were running about 8 and a half ft. deep.
Really.......Nothing but a crank bait and 5 feet of line? How fast?Quote:
Originally Posted by Rees Guide
1.7 mph, 5 foot of line in the water, prolly 10 off the end of the pole.
Dang it boy!! Go get em!! I have pulled 15-20 feet with 300 series, but never nothing like that..... Live and learn I guess...thanks for the info. Has it been working for ya?Quote:
Originally Posted by Rees Guide
Yes sir, ole man at the ramp said he had been fishing in 8 to 10 foot of water jigging about 2 foot deep and doing pretty good.
Get some planer boards and you can run them 1 ft deep
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Crappie will hit cranks at .8 mph, have not tried less. The tiny Wee r's work great, run about 2/3' deep, at that speed.
Small 1.5" to 2" rapalas can run that slow also and not run very deep.
Absolutely!!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by torch
I've tried running them really shallow but never caught any that shallow unless I was using planer boards. I think the boat spooks them when they are that close to the surface.
Been catching a few bigguns running 6'-8' of line IN THE WATER on cranks (2' or so deep), straight line to lure. Cruising brush with big motor.. Fish ain't seemed to mind it yet. Post spawn crappie and reluctant to take a hook aggressively. Any less then 2-3 feet deep, then yeah probably gonna need them fancy boards.. but I got a few fillets in the freezer from fishin' shaller cranks thus far.
Are you pulling them or pushing them doing it this shallow or with that much line out? I always throw mine out the back an troll open water but would love to push them out the front or from the sides without using weights just the bait itself when in shallow water. Just assumed that the boat would scare them. Thoughts?Quote:
Originally Posted by Snubbys
Been catching them for over a month in shallow water pulling off the side
Pulling them off the side of the boat (2 poles off each side). If I have company, I throw two out the back behind the boat and run them a tad deeper than the side poles. I been fishing cranks shallow, but in 10' - 12' of water over and on the edge of submerged and visible brush. We had to shallow up cause the water is dropping so fast, plus the full moon had the fish higher in the water column this weekend seemed like.
I didn't have much confidence in it at first either Xpress, until the poles started to bend. The boat doesn't bother them IMO, I was more worried about the engine idling, but seems like it stirs them up a bit. And possibly may make them hold to the brush a bit tighter. It could have just been perfect conditions, who knows, but it did catch some fish. Oh yeah and the two poles out the back we're dubbed the dink and white bass poles, since that's all they caught... Lol oh yeah and one drum :-)
Edit: Before you try your luck in or near brush you need to know the area, top to bottom. I constantly watch my FF and note brush and structure along with depth. If you just go out pulling cranks around that stuff without knowing the layout of it your gonna have a bad time and possibly lose some cranks. Don't want no angry mob coming after me with lanterns and pitch forks.... LOL
What type/size of planer boards are you guys using??
Good info.
These are the ones I use. They're just like Off Shore but a lot cheaper.Quote:
Originally Posted by jimp
Opti Tackle Ultimate Large Planer Board w/Working Spring Flag System
I'd like to find some that are smaller, but haven't yet.
Opti makes a mid size board and a mini also. Yikes uses the mid size and really likes them.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mac Daddy
Thanks Bill, I didn't know that, I'll check them out.Quote:
Originally Posted by BigRiverMarine
Attachment 240970yesterday, thursday, running 15 feet of line out the side of boat
This thread is bad. Haven't even touched my 200 bandits and strictly,running 300's this year and buying more. Short lining definitely is working in Indiana too cause of reading all of these posts. Keep em coming! :cheers2
Nice fish MS!! I wanted to go yesterday as well, cloudy almost no wind. Heck, wish I could have snuck a few hours in this morning before the rain moves in, but work calls once again.. lol.
And yes cevans, the 300's were the ticket for me as well and glad it's working for ya'll up there also :-)