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Ok Sunday was my first time pulling crank bait. I caught 3 but only landed 1. Not sure why I was not able to get the other in boat but pop off about haft way back to boat. I try to reel maybe a little fast to skim the across the water. I did learn I need 40 acres to turn the boat around. Had one hour of untangle hook. lol Also when get a crank bait hung how to you get them unhooked or just break them off?
Never stop the boat if you hang one up or you'll end up with a tangle that will take more than an hour to undo. I just put the pole straight in line and hope to straighten the hook before the line pops. As far as keeping the fish hooked just keep steady tension while reeling one in and once it gets on top speed up enough that it can't go back under the surface. If your losing fish you may want to slow down a bit and see if you start getting the hook set a little deeper in their mouth. Some days they just aren't as aggressive and will barely hook themselves.
That's one of the cons of "Pulling" cranks .... so much line out = more chance for fish to pull off, and those 40 acre turns.
That's why I prefer to "Push" cranks (& jigs) ... shorter lines out = quicker landing of fish & shorter turns.
When Pulling cranks ... you can (sometimes) turn around and get on the other side of the hangup and pull the crank free, or you can use one of those "lure retriever" devices to knock it free, but that requires reeling in all the other rods to avoid them getting hung up in the process. Otherwise ... yeah, you're just gonna have to sacrifice that crank (as is the usual case when Pushing) unless your line is strong enough to pull the crank free (or bend the hook open). :twocents
SOME OF THE REASONS I DON'T LONG LINE CRANKS ARE. 1. TAKE THE WHOLE LAKE TO TURN 2. LOSE A LOT OF FISH JUST LIKE WHAT YOU SAID (JUST POP OFF). 3. A BIG TRASH FISH CAUSES A TANGLED UP MESS A LOT OF THE TIME.. START PUSHING 4 POLES WITH HEAVY WEIGHTS AND 4 POLES OUT THE SIDE WITH HEAVY WEIGHTS. THEN YOU CAN TURN ON A DIME, YOU WILL LOSE 20 X LESS FISH. WILL CUT DOWN ON THE TANGLES WITH TRASH FISH BUT UNFORTUNATELY, YOU WILL STILL HAVE SOME TANGLES FROM THEM...
Run heavy power pro main line with small swivel on end. Above the swivel put a bead and 1 oz egg weight. Then go with 3 feet of 10 pound fluorocarbon line to snap swivel to the bandit. This let you get bait down with half the line out and more quickly. Cuts 40 acres to one 1 acre,
My $.02. I troll extensively for multiple species of fish. If I hook a good fish I immediately kick motor in neutral and start bringing it in. I will bump back into forward gear as needed to keep any other lines trailing behind the boat and separated. I will get an occasional tangle but not usually too bad. I also land a very high percentage of the fish I hook. Similarly If I hang a crank I do have my drag set to pull line as opposed (hopefully to breaking). Again quickly into neutral and try to whip/bounce it off the snag. If unsuccessful I will retrieve any lines and return to attempt to retrieve my lure. If a cheap lure I won't worry about it much but will give my Rapala's a little extra effort. This is just the way it works for me. Not for everyone.
My guess, water temps are still a little cool for crappie to chase a crankbait down and slam it. You can try slowing down a bit to 1.3 to 1.5 and see if that helps. Once they get in the mood you will lose a few fish, but most will get atleast the rear treble good. Some will swallow them and get both!
Your correct on getting them to the surface quickly and skiing them in. I have to explain to first time crankbaiters that we aren't trying to play the fish, we are welcoming them into the boat as quickly as possible.
Getting hung happens, I use 40# braid and 80% of the time can tighten the drag and bend the hook. If not I let line out roll other poles up quickly while maintaining a straight line and go back for it or them if more than one. Easy by myself with 4 poles and with an experienced hand in the boat not bad with 8 rods out. Also, if you have 4 feet of separation on each pole you shouldn't need 40 acres and a mule to turn. Just watch what your doing and adjust as need be. I make long sweeping turns in fairly tight coves all the time. Just watch your rods cause it often triggers a bite. It will get easier as you do it and it's trial and error basically.
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If it's windy you have to get in the motion to reel on the down part of the wave and wait on the hill of it. You will figure it out. And keep the net handy if you barely have them hooked and they make it to the boat.
I always swap out the hooks on Bandits, Arkies, etc.. Those little red hooks are easier to straighten out if you get hung but swapping to an extra short shank #4 seem to keep them pinned better. Also, switching to EWG hooks seem to snag a little less than the typical round bends that come from the factory. I run braid to a swivel then make up 3 ft flouro leaders that end in snap swivel that connects you to your crank. I keep 20-30 of them pretied and wrapped to a pool noodle so it's an easier deal if you break off.
My experience shows that when they hit light and slow and do not get hooked good....speed it up a little they will hit it faster and harder and get hooked better. I almost never have one get off.
Will if it not a heave rain out this weekend I try them again. Thank for the help guy
Put a half oz. weight on one of your poles closest to the boat . With the same amount of line out on the two closest the boat they will scissors by each other . This will allow a quicker turn .
Always turn away from weighted side . :twocents
There’s smart people on here?? [emoji848][emoji848]
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The biggest two reasons folks lose crankbait crappie is
1. Trying to reel them in too fast. I ease the fish to the top and keep them coming so I can see their mouth and the bait. Lots of folks get excited and try to skim or tumble them in.
2.Folks watch WickedTuna and think they have to pump a crappie in like a tuna. Give that fish ANY slack and 75% of the time it comes off.
My boat never stops unless somebody falls overboard and can’t swim fast enough to catch up. Hang-ups are pulled loose or broken off. There are days the fish hit timid and just don’t hook up well. That’s fishing cranks.
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Are you pulling cranks yet? I’ve been pushing RR’s at Sardis and am just about convinced I need to move to the back tomorrow and pull cranks. I’m’ going back and forth on it. I waited too late to switch over last year and feel like I missed some opportunities.Quote:
Originally Posted by M R Dux
We did great on Sardis last year pushing RRs until the water warmed above 80 degrees. Our best day last spring with RRs was May 27 when water temp was 80 degrees. Yesterday the water temp was 72-73 degrees. I'm staying with RRs for awhile.
Thanks. Might stick with them then a few more weeks.Quote:
Originally Posted by CatchumDeep
I’ve been pulling cranks in KY and Barkley for over a month. Attachment 376041Attachment 376042Attachment 376043
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Them some nice fish off cranks.
Heading back this weekend and have a lot of tips to try. I thing my wife is hook on pulling them. We came by Grizzly this week on a quick try I had to do for work. She bought 8 widow makers for the front of the boat and 4 line counter reels. She said I had to move the T bar to the back for this weekend
Our water temps are just getting to 70. They were 60 when I started this year. Lower than that when we finished 2nd in Crappie USA on Barkley last year. Picos all the way.
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Water Temps here (Mid South, Memphis) running around 80! Colder on the River..
Pulled cranks on Sardis yesterday. I didn't do as well as I've been doing pushing Road Runners. Water temp was 74 to 76 degrees.
Started pulling crank baits last year. Been pulling from the back of the boat. Is there any advantage to pulling from sides of boat. Thanks
I pull off the sides and transom. I run Southern Crappie Rods SCR143t on each side. It lets me cover a wider swath of water with each pass.Quote:
Originally Posted by jp2
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:hesaid I do the same with two 14 ft PSTs straight out the side of boat plus three more rods on each side off the transom. That allows me to cover a 33 foot swath of water. For me that produces better than when I push cranks.