Crankbaits for crappie???

I know a lot of people use Bandit 300. Are there other brands, model, etc. crankbaits for crappie. Never done it but watched a guy out fish me ten fold at Taylorsville today. And that almost never happens. He was pulling crankbaits.

I long line troll with spinning reels. Have lengths up to 14 feet. Dont want to buy a bunch of new reels because I know mostly people use baitcasters. Can it be done with spinning reels? Line size? Distance of line out from reel? Any help appreciated. Watching this guy today made me wanna try it.

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We run the bandits. 200 and 300. Arkie 350’s. Bomber cranks. And picos mostly. Lately the PICOs have been doing it. On any given day one will don better than the other. Some days one beats them all. Cranks for crappie is about as good as it gets this time of the year. But if you are doing it without the right equipment you are wasting your time. Gotta have line counter reels to fully succeed and stay on em!! But from now till the fall it will be hard to compete with someone that knows how to crank with crappies!!

I used my old bass fishing rods when I first got started pulling cranks 15 years ago.....decided I liked it and then bought dedicated poles and line counter reels etc.....You need rods with some backbone. I like the PICO Int. crankbaits ....My favorite colors are Zombie, Chrome Clown, and Geezer Clown.............click here Pico INT Crankbaits

Me and the wife were out there today. Doing a shakedown of the old pro crappie 175. I have caught crappie on lots of different crank baits. I use spinning gear all the time. MRDUX can probably give you more info than most. Best of luck

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PICO Lures..... Attachment 341824

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Nice. Gives me different brand of lures to try. I missed most of the crappie season with home being remodeled. Dumb planning on my part. Did get three trips to Wiess Lake so stacked with filets but still wanna catch some fish. Will do some night fishing but watching this guy pull cranks was awesome.

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This spring I have tied on Bandit200,300
Bomber 6A
Arkie 350
c55
Flicker Shad
PICO INT cranks

Absolutely every crappie I have caught on a crank has been on a variety of colors in PICO INTs.

We have placed in Crappie USA in 60 degree surface temps and Crappie Masters in 63 degree surface temps.
Most folks won’t think about trying cranks in less than 70 degree water and that suits me just fine.


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Originally Posted by M R Dux

This spring I have tied on Bandit200,300
Bomber 6A
Arkie 350
c55
Flicker Shad
PICO INT cranks

Absolutely every crappie I have caught on a crank has been on a variety of colors in PICO INTs.

We have placed in Crappie USA in 60 degree surface temps and Crappie Masters in 63 degree surface temps.
Most folks won’t think about trying cranks in less than 70 degree water and that suits me just fine.


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Can I use my 14 for b&m trolling rods with spinning reels or what?

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I use Shakespeare ATS 15 linecounter reels from Northwoods Wholesale Outlet. They are less than $30. I use 7’ Berkley Cherrywood Rods off the shelf at WLMart for less than $30. I also use 10’-12’-14’ Southern Crappie Rods. T models if available.


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by M R Dux

I use Shakespeare ATS 15 linecounter reels from Northwoods Wholesale Outlet. They are less than $30. I use 7’ Berkley Cherrywood Rods off the shelf at WLMart for less than $30. I also use 10’-12’-14’ Southern Crappie Rods. T models if available.


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Thank you. Very helpful.

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Of course I second what dux says I use same equipment all southern rods and Berkeley rods and the ats reels with PICO baits they are awesome

It’s my favorite technique to target crappie. Today I fished a mix of PICOs, flicker shads (size 5&9), and bombers. I’m slowly swapping out my Okuma reels to Shakespere ATS linecounters. 8’, 12’, and 16’ BnM PST rods and 7’ UglyStick medium action trigger rods. 10 or 12lb Berkeley Big Game mono in solar color. #10 duolock snap swivels to connect lures.

You can make it as complicated or as simple as you’d like and your budget allows.

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Originally Posted by Jigboy

Can I use my 14 for b&m trolling rods with spinning reels or what?

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Yes you can, most of us now use line counters but you can take your spinning reels, make a long cast then sweep your rod a couple of times. Your main concern starting out is going to be line separation. Adjust rod holders where you can get 3-4 ft of separation between rod tips. When first starting and you get ready to make a turn just stop reel in turn then throw back out. As you get used to it you will learn to make your long sweeping turns just like longlining. It doesn’t have to be rocket science like most of us try to make it. If you enjoy it and spend more time at it then as budget allows you can start adding all the other stuff.

first i am just starting also, i use my 16' rods to spider rig but pushing cranks i use my old bass rods 7' with spinning reels.i cant say im killing them but im getting the hang of and i plan to invest in line counters soon. but you can certainly use anything you have to start . there is a formula on here somewhere and im sure one of the guys will post it soon that will tell you at what speed to travel to keep lures in certain depths but before you get into all that just go try. ps you are going to get hung up lol its just part of it i suggest staying in an area like ashes creek not as many stick ups good luck

also you need to use heavy weight to keep cranks at depth i use 2 oz sinkers then barrel swivel then 18" leader with crank

https://www.crappie.com/crappie/main...h-poles-2.html

https://www.crappie.com/crappie/main...h-poles-2.html
https://www.crappie.com/crappie/main...cks-attatched/

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Originally Posted by dannyr3_8

also you need to use heavy weight to keep cranks at depth i use 2 oz sinkers then barrel swivel then 18" leader with crank

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You do when you're "Pushing" cranks and need to make a lot of S curves or sharp C turns, because you have less line out to get to the depth you want, which makes doing those turns easier & with less chance of lines getting run together & tangled.

The guys that I've fished with Pushing cranks used 2oz trolling weights and 5' leaders (of lesser # test than main line) and at speeds around 1.8mph

You can pull cranks with out line counter reels. But you will have to figure out a way to know how much line out and be able to duplicate on your other rods. The easiest way that I figured out was using PowerPro depth hunter line. It is a braided line that has different color every 25’. There’s some advantages to braid but when you get a tangle it can be a mess. If I remember right I only put a 100’ on each of my spinning reels so I was able to spool up all of them with one spool of line. With that said I use it for one year then got line counter reels. I use the line counter for all my crank baiting pushing and pulling it’s very nice to know exactly where my baits are running and if I get bit at 82’ back I can set another one at 82’ back. Not guess that it’s about right.


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All great advice. Just one suggestion. I would get comfortable either pulling first and then work on pushing or visa versa. Trying to do both new techniques right off the bat can be frustrating. If you know someone that is skilled in pulling/pushing cranks ask if they will take you out to get your feet wet. Watching allows you to focus and maybe shorten the learning curve. Finally, this isn’t a easy way to fish. You will have days that you will tire of changing lures and the reeling in that comes with it. You will get tangles the size that will rival a eagles nest. You will lose crankbaits but it is the most fun for me to catch a crappie. In closing, nothing beats time on the water. Go have fun. Hope this is helpful.

go here and start reading ..... https://www.crappie.com/crappie/miss...-cranks-101-a/

Here is my suggestion and how I got started. I used my 7' bass rods (2) and 2 spinning rods, they had 12# clear mono. I copied the Arkie depth chart for the 350 series baits, at the time I started the bait balls were at 9 - 12'. I used my 100' tape and laid it out in the yard to measure and mark the mono with a marks a lot the 4 distances I needed. This didn't last but 2 trips then I spent money for the line counter reels and still use the same rods to troll. I must warn you it is addictive, I now pull from 6 -8 rods and have over 120 production crankbaits and have started painting my own. Oh yea dont forget the Minn Kota Terrova Ipilot trolling motor. In the begining I used the outboard motor and drug a 5 gal bucket to help control my speed 1.4 - 1.8 mph. After catching fish on the first to trips I was hooked badddd. https://www.arkiejigs.com/v/vspfiles...s%20charts.jpg

And let me be the one to forewarn you about "by catches" on cranks ... as you will encounter Catfish, Bass, Drum, White Bass, Hybrid Stripers, & various toothy critters (where available in the waters you're fishing). And don't be surprised when you reel in a Crappie (or even a Bluegill or small Bass) that's not much longer/bigger than the crank you're using !! :Rofl I think I've dragged a few of them for a hundred yards or so, on several occasions. :Doh:

Lately I have been pulling Jenko lures. They have expanded their colors and pull very straight right out of the package. I also use arkies. Best color the last couple of weeks has been this color in my pic. Alot of pros that I know use Jenkos mainly. Jenkos rods are excellent and very affordable.
Attachment 342045

Thanks guys for all the information. Also wanted to pass along that's Bandits aee on sale right now at Bass Pro /Cabelas for $5.97 each.

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Would 12' Jenko slab city rods work for pulling cranks? I'm think they are too flexible?

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Originally Posted by RoughriverRick

Would 12' Jenko slab city rods work for pulling cranks? I'm think they are too flexible?

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That's what I've been using for two or three years now and they work great. I have a 14 footer Then a 12 footer and then a 7 foot downrod. on both sides of the front. And then across the back rail I have four 7 foot rods. All line counter reels.


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