Trolling Crank Info

This year I have done a lot more crappie fishing than normal. The older I get the more I like to fish but I only target crappie and cats but haven’t been able to get on the big rivers for cats yet this year. So with that said, I have started to get more serious about pulling crank baits. I was watching Mike Bakers videos on LOZ and wondering a couple things and hoping you guys will help me out. First, do you or do you not use a swivel? I typically tie everything right to the line but it sure would be convenient to have a swivel to quickly switch crankbaits

Second, will crappie tend to like the same colors at different lakes? Today at LOZ they seemed to prefer a chrom or shad color. Chartreuse, pink, etc didn’t draw many bites. Are there some go to baits I am missing. These are my 300s but only have a couple 200s so I figured I can work on getting both.
Thanks for the help
Mike Attachment 344923Attachment 344925


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It seems to me that different colors work on different lakes at times. But you will also find it will change from day to day and even hour by hour at times. You need a couple more darker colors like chrome/black, black and pink, black with some green, I find a purple and chartruse works good at times. Just don’t go overboard like a bunch of us do LOL. I have over 200 and that’s a drop in the bucket to what some guys have. On the 200’s unless you fish a lot of shallow water use your 300 and just shorten up the amount of line out. You can make them run a lot shallower

Use Duo Lock fast snaps and darken up on your colors. Only time I use barrel swivels is when I'm on a lake that produces a lot of catfish bites on cranks. I'm not a fan of chrome, could give me a box of them and I wouldn't fish with them ever. To each man their own and every lake is different, need at least 100 cranks to give it the college go. Different actions, brands, colors makes all the difference some days from going home with a mess of fish or going home empty handed.

I always use Duo Lock fast snap swivels. It makes changing baits a lot easier plus it eliminates line twist. As Cray said, different colors work better under different conditions. I’ve had some colors not get a bite all day, then a cloud blocks the sun and that color becomes the hottest one. One color will destroy the fish one day, then they won’t touch it the next day. I usually keep 500-600 crank baits in my boat when trolling. Granted, a bunch of those are of the same color and style. I’ll have my go to colors out every time but if one isn’t producing, I’ll change it. If one color is out fishing the rest, I’ll put out multiple baits of the same color until it stops producing.


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I have yet to see a day where anyone has put all of the same color on and fish . Many say they let the fish tell them and switch to it . I have found through trial that changing baits every 20 mins without a fish has not produced any more than choice by water/light and living with it all day unless change needed due to sunlight and wind chop . Contrary to most I believe Crankbait bite is 80 % a reaction bite . Yes,I would paint ten thousand colors if I sold them . lol

If I'm pulling in clean water, I will only run a Mustad Fastach clip to attach to the crank for reasons posted above. I also feel that them being a 1-piece vs. the normal snap makes them stronger (probably all in my head).

If I'm pulling water with weeds (fairly normal up here) or trash floating in the water, I'll add a barrel swivel about 24-36" above the fastach/crank to catch some of that trash instead of it gumming up my crank.

Finally......... channeling Speck's note above if you don't have 500+ cranks at the ready, you ain't crankin! It is simply terrifying when Dad and I pull out our collections when deciding what makes it in the boat for any given trip and at the end of the debate, we take them all! HA!

U

If your trolling six rods just mix the colors up until you know what's getting hit more. I like chrome and natural colors on sunny days and dark colors or some bright colors on cloudy days. I think color gets overrated but sometimes it defiantly makes a difference. I use a BPS fast lock snap just bc they are suppose to make the bait work harder but idk. Now I have found that certain baits sometimes work better. I have had days where flicker shads catch more than bandits and vice versa so mix it up a little. Another good bait is the strike king 3XD, arkie's at walmart, and rebel has some good cheap cranks.

Very Helpfull everyone thanks. I picked up a few more baits today but I thing my first priority will be getting 4 rods/reels. I really want to find a white or yellow rod so I can see it better. I was having a hard time seeing the rods at dark the other day and found I was leaning over to keep them on the skyline. I want all of them to be the same so I can rotate them and not have to worry about different rod length in the rod holders.

Also, for those taking 100 plus baits, do you have anything special to keep them organized? I like my water noodle piece on the rod holder so I can hang a few on there while fishing but what do you store them in? I like the couple Plano boxes I have but wondering if there is something better.




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I’ll post up some rod/reel combos tomorrow but honestly, you want to watch your line, not your rods. Flat line = dragging a fish.... if one smokes the bait, you’ll know, regardless of the color of the rod. An old cat fishing tip is use bells, somewhat helpful when trolling solo.

U

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Originally Posted by Marine4life

Very Helpfull everyone thanks. I picked up a few more baits today but I thing my first priority will be getting 4 rods/reels. I really want to find a white or yellow rod so I can see it better. I was having a hard time seeing the rods at dark the other day and found I was leaning over to keep them on the skyline. I want all of them to be the same so I can rotate them and not have to worry about different rod length in the rod holders.

Also, for those taking 100 plus baits, do you have anything special to keep them organized? I like my water noodle piece on the rod holder so I can hang a few on there while fishing but what do you store them in? I like the couple Plano boxes I have but wondering if there is something better.




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You could just have the assortment pictured above and catch plenty of crappie without ever buying anymore cranks. I would just add some Flicker Shads. You can also buy expensive St. Croix's or Berkley Lighting rods at Wal-Mart and the result would be the same...at least for trolling cranks.

This is only my second year to crank for crappie and I already have more baits than I expected. At least for the 2 lakes that I fish, you only have 1 of my top 4 colors for numbers of fish in the boat. I think I have 6 or 7 of the other colors that you have, but so far, they don't stay in the water long if they are getting out fished. At least most days where I fish, color make a difference. I do see one of your colors that I "need" to purchase. Hope you have as much fun as we have!

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Originally Posted by Marine4life

Also, for those taking 100 plus baits, do you have anything special to keep them organized? I like my water noodle piece on the rod holder so I can hang a few on there while fishing but what do you store them in? I like the couple Plano boxes I have but wondering if there is something better.




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I use these. I have the model 192 4x4 boxes. You can get about 200 baits in each box.
Products - B & B Tangle Free Bait Boxes

Mike Baker has some great videos, I agree. I would love to get a chance to fish with him sometime!

I think these fishermen are giving you some solid advice. Fortunately, for cranking you dont need the newest & best rods and reels.

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Originally Posted by Speck

I use these. I have the model 192 4x4 boxes. You can get about 200 baits in each box.
Products - B & B Tangle Free Bait Boxes

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These look pretty cool. I wonder if I buy the 96 slot size if I can maintain the discipline to not obtain more than will fit in that box. Lol.


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Originally Posted by Marine4life

These look pretty cool. I wonder if I buy the 96 slot size if I can maintain the discipline to not obtain more than will fit in that box. Lol.


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Figure out how big of one you need then triple it. You will fill it up in a year or two.

I get the Special Mate boxes from FISH USA for about 60 bucks....get the small size and crankbait dividers....hold 300...350 size crank baits....tangle free and will hold 120 baits.

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Thanks again for everyone’s help. I pieced together some bass tackle I had and picked up a couple new rods and reels so things will be a bit more user friendly. I probably went a bit over board on new crankbaits but Academy sells them for a lot cheaper than bass pro and I got some darker colors.

If you could help with one more question it would be great. What is your thought on hi vis line? Does is spook fish or does it not matter? I use it a lot single pole and it doesn’t seem to bother them but wanted to check before spooking up.


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I only use Hi Vis line when cranking. It doesn't spook the fish at all

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Originally Posted by Marine4life

I probably went a bit over board on new crankbaits

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IMPOSSIBLE!

I would add one caveat to Speck's reply......... it depends the clarity of water you're fishing. I had to adapt from the muddy waters of Mark Twain and Truman to the clear waters of Lake Michigan, Lake Winnebago, Delavan, Geneva, etc...... because hi-vis line definitely has an impact. If you're staying in MO, you should be just fine.

U

Can’t wait for this week to be over - ready to go fishing. My son and I are going to fish Saturday evening and Sunday morning so expect a report following. I pulled together some old bass gear and added a couple new rods/reels and have the crank baits organized. Only problem is all those open slots in the B&B crank box are bothering me. Lol.
Attachment 345521


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Looks like you’re ready!! Go get em. Don’t worry, that B&B box will fill up in no time


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The bite at Pomme and Stockton has been good once you find the fish. From Tuesday to Wednesday on Stockton, I had to change all but one color before I started finding fish. I usually start with 4 different colors/style of lures and let the fish tell me what they want. Saturday, Monday and Tuesday were basically the same for color and lures and I limited on Pomme twice and Stockton once. (I wanted to see how Stockton compared and I was off for a few days of vacation and had time to have fun.) Wednesday on Stockton was a whole new story and had to find new places to fish, but that is part of the fun. Also, once I catch fish, I usually repeat the track until the fish quit hitting. Good luck!

Those look like pretty good boxes what’s wrong with them


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Originally Posted by GSC

Those look like pretty good boxes what’s wrong with them


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Your picture of the box for lures did not make it.

Any updates on the fishing/cranking?

As my collection grows, I am averaging more fish. It could just be more experience, but I think that the extra color options are helping. I also don't know if it is the high water or what, but lately I am catching most of my fish on cranks/colors that I didn't own last year. I am switching out colors more often when the fish are not hitting and have been surprised by their preferred colors when my "old faithfuls" were not catching fish.

My last trip to LOZ was 2 weeks ago and my son and I caught a bunch both in the evening and following morning. Certain colors were hotter than others and it changed between the first night and next morning. Depth also changed. I did catch fish on each brand of crank which is nice to know for the cheaper baits. Next step for me is to get a second one for the colors that are becoming my favorite.

Then there was yesterday on MTL. Trolled for a few hours and not a fish. Surprising because I usually don’t have problem finding crappie or white bass but the weather was very stormy. Humbling. Lol.


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I understand. I had a trip at Stockton on Father's Day with my Dad and only caught one fish. Last year, once I got the pattern figured out, I basically only used 4 colors and we caught a lot of fish over a 3 month period. This year is dramatically different with needing to use different colors over the course of each day and needing to fish new areas/patterns to find them. Each time I think I have a pattern, within a day or two it seems to change. Pomme de Terre seems to be more predictable than Stockton so far.

I pulled at LOZ Saturday afternoon/evening only caught 3 crappie. Had 8 different crank baits in water and all 3 crappie were caught on same color, white