Ky Lake north end beginner questions

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08-19-2019, 08:35 PM
crabbcat

Ky Lake north end beginner questions

Hi, I live over in the Big Bear area by Kentucky Lake. Ever since reading and watching videos about trolling for Crappie with crankbaits i'm hoping its the ticket for me to catch fish. I recently bought a boat after a long time being boat less. I've been picking up equipment for the last several months along the way thanks to lurking here as money comes available and i think i'm be ready to troll cranks now. I'm not a rookie fisherman but i am new to trolling.
Due to my seasonal work I can't fish in the spring much, but summer through december i'm good to fish. I plan on pulling with 6 rods. 2-16' 2-12' 2-7' with line counter reels. I recently got a Elite TI 7 to hunt with. As a beginner i have a few questions if any of you all could help out.
1. I will mostly be putting in at Big Bear. Should i troll in that bay at all as its pretty shallow? Would it be better to go out into the secondary channel on the main lake, the other side by the main channel or do you have a general area around Big Bear where you suggest i troll? Not asking for your spots just a general area of the lake...lol
2 Would it be better for me to troll in say 25ft + of water to avoid snags etc until i get the hang of it?
3. Should i scout several areas before i even fish or just follow contours or flats etc and scout as i troll...
4. Do you troll into Dec or switch to pushing jigs etc in my area at a certain time? I'm sure i'll have more questions along the way.
Thanks! JD
08-19-2019, 09:48 PM
ccollins

M R Dux on here pulls cranks a lot on the north end he should be able to help you out.
08-20-2019, 04:20 AM
wannabe fisherman

Quote:

Originally Posted by ccollins

M R Dux on here pulls cranks a lot on the north end he should be able to help you out.

For sure, just book a trip with Capt. Doug, listen to all he tells you, make notes, and hen go practice what he preaches. NO ONE is better at trolling cranks
08-20-2019, 07:00 AM
redearhoosier

Book a trip with Doug Wynn, nuff said
08-20-2019, 08:35 AM
M R Dux

You're putting too much thought into it. Just find a contour break, put your spread out,follow it, mark every piece of structure you see and enjoy yourself. If losing cranks is a big concern, you might consider something else. You WILL lose cranks on KY Lake. The ledges in the mouth of Big Bear can be good, the secondary channel and the bays on either side of Big Bear.

I'll pull cranks until the water temps are 60 or just below. Then I troll with jigs and roadrunners much slower.
08-20-2019, 09:50 AM
perchjerker108

crabbcat, I agree with others. IF you are going to spend the money/time to set up your boat for 'crankin', hire M R for at least one guide trip. If you catch fish or not,(you will catch something) the things you will learn with him, will set you up for success if you watch and listen to how he does this.
08-20-2019, 10:25 AM
artcarney_agr

I started trolling this year myself, and have trolled in Big Bear and had more success at the mouth with the channel breaks, I tend to catch more bass than crappie in that area.

From what I've learned, finding the shad/bait is critical, and finding brush is critical. You have to set your trolling route so you troll right by the brush as close as possible to entice the crappie to come out and chase your baits. If you're not trolling by some brush, you're not being very effective. It takes time to mark a lot of brush in an area and figure out your best trolling routes. It's not an instant success thing, every time I go out I find a few more brush piles to mark, the more time you put in and the more brush you mark the higher your success rate is going to be.
08-20-2019, 11:24 AM
crabbcat

Thanks for the replies! I'm not worried about loosing lures as much as starting out as a rookie in areas where i don't get tangled up every 5 mins. I had actually thought about booking a trip with Capt Doug for me and my sister so he can show us how its done. I watch his videos and tips which are pretty cool.
Now that i have a decent fish finder i can start marking brush too.
08-20-2019, 12:26 PM
crp4570

Quote:

Originally Posted by crabbcat

Thanks for the replies! I'm not worried about loosing lures as much as starting out as a rookie in areas where i don't get tangled up every 5 mins. I had actually thought about booking a trip with Capt Doug for me and my sister so he can show us how its done. I watch his videos and tips which are pretty cool.
Now that i have a decent fish finder i can start marking brush too.

money well spent and will shorten your learning curve immensely. He will answer every question.
08-21-2019, 05:57 AM
stormcloud

Most guides would not give you as much information as Doug Wynn just did. They would be giving away knowledge (money) that took them a lifetime to acquire.
Book a trip with him and worry him to death with questions. He's the real deal.
08-21-2019, 09:28 AM
BIGBADDAD

Not true..

Quote:

Originally Posted by stormcloud

Most guides would not give you as much information as Doug Wynn just did. They would be giving away knowledge (money) that took them a lifetime to acquire.
Book a trip with him and worry him to death with questions. He's the real deal.
08-22-2019, 06:46 AM
rnvinc

I really don't think stormcloud meant Doug was the only guide that shared uncompensated info - just 1 of very few ...

Rickie