Pushing Cranks - Questions

Been searching on this forum. A wealth of information!
Looking at pushing, as the lakes I fish are smaller.

- Up to 3oz weight for a crankbait? Correct?
- Do ACC and BnM still have issues with breaking? When in normal use.
- Anyone have experience with HH Rods (Hurricane Howard Pushing Poles)? Saw them on midwayusa.com. Other brands I should look at?
- Length's? 12, 14, 16, 18 ? A length to start at? Then progress, or jump in, feet first?
- Do some brands handle the weight\not bow as much as others, for the same rated weight?
- Rod Holders - Individual? T-Bar? Pro's and Con's
- Length of net handle?

I use #3 Off Shore Tadpole diving weights on my Southern Crappie SCR143T rods with great results. I personally use a shallow running crank like a Pico Squarebill for my dropper rods. I want my weight to dictate how deep my bait is running. I use a Crappie Monster Outlaw net that has an extension slide handle that gets out 12 feet or so.

Ive had good luck with Southern Crappie poles as well, and the prices are right. Question for M R Dux how does the #3 Shore Tadpole differ from say a egg weight? does it dive more?

Yes. The tadpole dives to the level you allow it then it “trips” when a fish is on Attachment 436128so you feel much less weight when reeling it in.


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Thank you both! I’ll look into the southern crappie rods and the crappie monster outlaw net.

I have some questions, also. Please go easy on me, I am slow.
People run planer boards ro get their lures further away from the boat to run in water away from the boat , the thinking being the boat spooks the fish.
But yet you push cranks next to the same boat that just spooked the fish in the above scenario.
I am slow and confused.

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Originally Posted by slowhand

I have some questions, also. Please go easy on me, I am slow.
People run planer boards ro get their lures further away from the boat to run in water away from the boat , the thinking being the boat spooks the fish.
But yet you push cranks next to the same boat that just spooked the fish in the above scenario.
I am slow and confused.

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The boat doesn't "always" spook them, so the down rods are there to put a bait in the face of those fish that aren't spooked.

I've Pushed jigs & cranks with as little as 20-25ft of line out and caught fish. (& I have a 16ft boat)

My clients have caught some of our largest crappie of the year with 15-20 feet of line out on dropper rods.

There are times ( like Crankfest on Grenada in August) when the planer boards absolutely make the difference in a good day and a not so good day.

It’s just a matter of having the knowledge and equipment to make changes in tactics while on the water.


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Tadpole Diving Weights - YouTube

Found this looking for info on the tadpole weight. You made a very good presentation

M R Dux - I took your advice, just placed an order for three Southern Crappie, 143T rods and an end section.

As for the net, my net has a fairly long handle, and a rubber net, gonna try it first.

Rod Holders - Single? T-Bar? Dare I ask....Brand?

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Originally Posted by skunked again

M R Dux - I took your advice, just placed an order for three Southern Crappie, 143T rods and an end section.

As for the net, my net has a fairly long handle, and a rubber net, gonna try it first.

Rod Holders - Single? T-Bar? Dare I ask....Brand?

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I use Millennium holders, both singles and SpyderLock, depending on how many are fishing.

In your video you spoke of other pico lures. With these work with regular crank baits or will it trip them?

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Originally Posted by Jthompson

In your video you spoke of other pico lures. With these work with regular crank baits or will it trip them?

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I’ve used OR38 boards with c55 size cranks. Either OR12 or OR38 will accommodate most cranks. I like the Pico Squarebill cranks behind Tadpole weights because they are a shallow diver and I can set my lure depth with the Tadpole.


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The rods and spare tip showed up today! I'm itching to use them, unfortunately, have honey-doos to do for awhile. And I need to get a rod holder bought or made, minor details !!

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Originally Posted by skunked again

The rods and spare tip showed up today! I'm itching to use them, unfortunately, have honey-doos to do for awhile. And I need to get a rod holder bought or made, minor details !!

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I've had a couple different brands of rod holders on my boats in the past, but have settled on Millennium's, they adjust real easy and without any tools, both vertically and horizontally easily. I have 3 plates mounted on my boat 2 in the back corners and one in the center of the bow, this allows me to longline or spider rig and keeps the boat deck clean.

What's a dropper rod?

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Originally Posted by Crappieawlogist

What's a dropper rod?

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I believe that's usually considered a shorter rod with more weight on the line than the other (longer) rods, which is used to run the baits below the boat or closer to the boat ... to shorten the gap in the spread of rods across the boat path. That's my explanation, but I defer to the trolling experts for a more comprehensive answer.

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Originally Posted by Crappieawlogist

What's a dropper rod?

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I run a stiff 10 foot rod off each side in a Millennium single rod holder. I've used 4-5oz static weights but my go-to is the #3 Off Shore Tadppole diving weight. I run a shallow running crank 4-5 feet behind the Tadpole. This makes the dropper bait the first bait the fish will see and it is almost even with the transom when running 1.7mph.

My stiff rod is a 12 foot (SCR122) Southern Crappie Rod that I've cut 2 feet off of the tip. I put a catfish rod tip on it. It still has enough action to let you know there has been a strike.

Going to second the Crappie Monster Outlaw Net. To me it might be on the little expensive side, but oh dang that reach!! Especially when long lining or just need to really scoop the fish. I like how the its fast to change from 6 to 12 feet, the actual hoop quickly disconnects from rod for ease of storage. I also like the net and with its decent size holes, can really move through the water with not that much drag