Crankbaits still catch crappie!

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I think a lot of folks have forgotten tactics that have worked for years in favor of watching a screen all day.
I guide clients of all ages and all sorts of fishing skills. I also have Livescope and Mega Live on my boat. My struggle is getting multiple clients involved with live sonar. Pulling jigs or cranks allow me to do that. I can take a person, who doesn’t know which end of the pole points toward the fish, and have them catching big crappie in minutes. Try that with live sonar.
I recently saw a Crappie Connection video where Sam Heaton and Whitey Outlaw were being questioned about live sonar. My reaction to their answers was YES!
Don’t forget about the tactics that caught fish for years before live sonar!


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These pics are from KY Lake this past week.


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Awesome

First, I've debated getting live sonar for a while now. For some reason I just haven't pulled the trigger. But I love to see guys using old techniques to catch fish. I spider rig and love casting to brush piles. Great job to you guys that are still teaching the older techniques and making them better. Also, thanks to the guys who make the new ways easier for folks to learn.
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Great pick pal


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Awesome job Doug! Is that Beachball? :biggrin

Nice job !!! Look like some nice ones !!

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Nice looking fish. I am fortunate. I can't afford live sonar. So my fishing is all old school. I don't know if I'd buy it even if I could afford it. I'm happy for those who have it and enjoy it. I will find my fish the old fashioned way.


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Good looking fish there.:biggrin

I tried the livescope but found that it was not for me . I was getting my feet wet with tournament fishing and realized I was wasting my time without one . Sold out of all crankbaits/ spider rigging tackle (knew I would have to spend every hour I fished to play catch up) . Even though it was interesting I did not enjoy the Livescope world . Watching a screen all day was not fun to me . Fishing became more of a job and fishing for fun was a thing of the past . Success was all about how many over 1.5 could I catch each trip . Having coached for 32 years I realized I had made fishing no longer fun but a competition . I decided to sell the 1222 and go back to my past . I had only did anything but "true " single pole fish all my life till about 10 years ago. I have no issues with anyone using one but it is not relaxing for me so I tapped out . Retirement is better for me just going using sideview and sonar, throwing out a buoy marker and catching a few to eat . I found that pre- fishing tournament days and actual tournament days weather hardly ever line up . lol .I also have gone back to river fishing more where ten inch fish are targeted (9 inch legal )and some occasional 12-15 incher do happen . Some days I do not see two other boats all day and Saturdays are for ball games and mowing grass . Life is short , enjoy it however you choose .Great looking fish Doug and wish we could go one day . See you at " Crankfest ".

the crappie ketchn program can be as simple as you want it to be and or as complicated as you want it to be .
many folks forget days gone by, as the newest technology runs over them, sometimes simply dunking minnows at the right depth will ketch fire out of them when all else fails.
never have cranked for crappie myself, but stood on the bank one time and watched a fella in a john boat do it with 2 rods out the back and he made not too terribly many passes down the old river channel, before he was on his way home with a pile of them.
I enjoy ketchn them myself just pitching jigs , but for sure damaged a good number of them back when dunking minnows too.
nice read ....:highfive

I still have not switched and don't plan to. I catch all I want and need plus give some away to special friends long line trolling and pulling cranks. Ky lake is full of eater fish these days and I have had a great year already and not even pulled out my cranks yet. I usually wait to late June to pull mine out. I know you do way earlier Doug, but my bread and butter is pulling them jigs. I just love both methods and they are relaxing and fun. I hate when I pull up to the ramp with my limit and people automatically respond with you must have your live sonar dialed in good because I'm still struggling. Nope don't have one and really don't see the need to have one unless you are a tournament fisherman. If nothing else its great for the industry because people are spending that money to try and keep up.

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Originally Posted by BuckeyeCrappie

Awesome job Doug! Is that Beachball? :biggrin

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Yes. That pattern has been catching big crappie for me for 30 years.


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I was forced into starting cranks at 60 degrees this year due to all the trash keeping my longline jigs tangled up. I still am amazed that so many folks wait until the surface temp is close to 80. I’m catching post spawn fish now in the exact same spots I was catching pre spawn fish a week ago.


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Great job and post Doug! I wish I never bought that scope!! Had more fish in my freezer without it


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Crankin' is still my favorite way to fish. I have LS but only use it when fish are scattered or super finicky. Any type of one pole fishing takes a lot of concentration and looking at your line/rod/screen. I like to experience the surrounding environments.

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Originally Posted by Eagle 1

I tried the livescope but found that it was not for me . I was getting my feet wet with tournament fishing and realized I was wasting my time without one . Sold out of all crankbaits/ spider rigging tackle (knew I would have to spend every hour I fished to play catch up) . Even though it was interesting I did not enjoy the Livescope world . Watching a screen all day was not fun to me . Fishing became more of a job and fishing for fun was a thing of the past . Success was all about how many over 1.5 could I catch each trip . Having coached for 32 years I realized I had made fishing no longer fun but a competition . I decided to sell the 1222 and go back to my past . I had only did anything but "true " single pole fish all my life till about 10 years ago. I have no issues with anyone using one but it is not relaxing for me so I tapped out . Retirement is better for me just going using sideview and sonar, throwing out a buoy marker and catching a few to eat . I found that pre- fishing tournament days and actual tournament days weather hardly ever line up . lol .I also have gone back to river fishing more where ten inch fish are targeted (9 inch legal )and some occasional 12-15 incher do happen . Some days I do not see two other boats all day and Saturdays are for ball games and mowing grass . Life is short , enjoy it however you choose .Great looking fish Doug and wish we could go one day . See you at " Crankfest ".

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Yep I just about burnt out in 2007 fishing tournaments. Figured out I was doing my best and working my hardest for mediocre results. Saw what it was gonna take to do better.
More than I was willing or able to do.
It’s taken me awhile to enjoy fishing again, but I’m getting there. When I get enough in the bucket to feed us supper, maybe carry a couple pieces to work next day, I call it a great day.


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They sure do. I have caught many with a whole variety of the Little Rebels.
Bob

Congrats buddy. Great job

Doug introduced Myself and lil Darlin to crankbait fishing. We absolutely love it and are grateful for the time he spent with us teaching and explaining the methodology. :ThumbsUp:ThumbsUp

I too pulled cranks when I lived further north. It just doesn’t work the same here. Those are some good fish they were showing Doug. The surprise fish when trolling cranks are a gas.

Eagle1, well said.

As for electronics, I’m back to having none. I catch enough when I want to keep some and don’t compete so I’m good for right now. I’ll get a helix one day soon but I’m not fishless without it. Deep down I feel live scope and such are a disadvantage to our fish populations and we’ll see it in years to come. I’ll take my ultralights and stay busy, thank you.

Couple Ky Lake pigs today. 16.5”&15” caught on Pico Beachball behind Off Shore Tackle OR12 boards. Attachment 458079Attachment 458080Attachment 458081Attachment 458082


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Absolutely beautiful catches! Your clients chose well.

Some real nice ones there.


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I’m gonna get down that way some day.
Been 40 years and I’m sure a lot has changed. I’m only 3-4 hours away but just can’t force myself to drive that far.
Great job putting your clients on some awesome fish.


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Originally Posted by M R Dux

I was forced into starting cranks at 60 degrees this year due to all the trash keeping my longline jigs tangled up. I still am amazed that so many folks wait until the surface temp is close to 80. I’m catching post spawn fish now in the exact same spots I was catching pre spawn fish a week ago.


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I have always started 2nd or 3rd week in may and pull until the end of aug.I still do it all,even though i have livescope.When its hot outside i usually pull cranks,the rest of the time i spider 2-4poles or single pole.The reason i only spiderrig a couple poles is because with livescope you see the fish,no need for a bunch of poles.

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I'm still on the fence about live sonar too but I do still LOVE longline trolling jigs. That's just sooooooo easy! Ha!:)

I do pretty well with a conventional depthfinder pulling cranks. I did well without jumping on the color selector bandwagon and don't see myself adding live sonar to my kayak anytime soon. I get that it could improve my catch, but part of being on the water is about enjoying the outdoors. I get enough of looking at screens throughout the day. While I'm at it; Hey you kids, get off my lawn...

Jim

Nice ones !! Looks like I need to buy myself a beachball.

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Thanks for the heads up Doug. I thought it might be early for cranks but that doesn't seem to be true. I will switch back to my crank poles if I ever get to go.

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Originally Posted by deltarat

Thanks for the heads up Doug. I thought it might be early for cranks but that doesn't seem to be true. I will switch back to my crank poles if I ever get to go.

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I've started in the low 50s some years.

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Pulling Off Shore Tackle OR12 boards with Pico DayGlow cranks and others. Three boards per side. One board on the right started backing up from a strike, then a 2nd one next to it, then the 3rd, all one same side. All 3 of us grabbed a rod and I grabbed the net. Netted all 3 of the fish without lifting the net. Never had that happen before with boards.

Lost my Outlaw net soon after. Sunk like a rock! Pool noodle from now on!!


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Use a BIG pool noodle and test it. The Outlaw net is a beast.

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Awesome catches and beautiful 4 fish holds on those slabs. Hate to hear about the net. Those nets are nice!

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Originally Posted by Eagle 1

I tried the livescope but found that it was not for me . I was getting my feet wet with tournament fishing and realized I was wasting my time without one . Sold out of all crankbaits/ spider rigging tackle (knew I would have to spend every hour I fished to play catch up) . Even though it was interesting I did not enjoy the Livescope world . Watching a screen all day was not fun to me . Fishing became more of a job and fishing for fun was a thing of the past . Success was all about how many over 1.5 could I catch each trip . Having coached for 32 years I realized I had made fishing no longer fun but a competition . I decided to sell the 1222 and go back to my past . I had only did anything but "true " single pole fish all my life till about 10 years ago. I have no issues with anyone using one but it is not relaxing for me so I tapped out . Retirement is better for me just going using sideview and sonar, throwing out a buoy marker and catching a few to eat . I found that pre- fishing tournament days and actual tournament days weather hardly ever line up . lol .I also have gone back to river fishing more where ten inch fish are targeted (9 inch legal )and some occasional 12-15 incher do happen . Some days I do not see two other boats all day and Saturdays are for ball games and mowing grass . Life is short , enjoy it however you choose .Great looking fish Doug and wish we could go one day . See you at " Crankfest ".

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:ThumbsUp

Good stuff!

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You’re smokin em Doug! Congratulations and thanks for sharing with us

Always love a sauger bonus!


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Originally Posted by J White

Always love a sauger bonus!


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We had a bigger keeper sauger come off the crank in the net then jump out of the other brand net and ploop-gone! Hate it when that happens.

Picked up two Crappie Monster Outlaw nets today from Jeremy to replace the one a client knocked off the boat last week. No flops out of the Outlaw.


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