pulling cranks in the weeds?

[Acemac]

is trolling cranks through the weeds an effective use of fishing time. even if you are pulling weeds off every couple of mins?

what are the thoughts about trolling a crank verses casting and retrieving?

[muddpuppy]

I like to cast more than pulling. I think you have more if not better angle casting also easier to control retrive vs 1.2 or 2.5 mph in a straight line at who know what depth... My $.02

[hhguide]

It can be very effective but what I would recommend would be to get a crank to go right over the top just ticking the weeds. If there are just clumps here and there then I would recommend cast cranks, Move around a clump bringing your bait by all sides of the clump and move to the next!

[tunrevir]

I would opt to troll cranks through the weeds if I could run over the tops of them without continuous fouling but if it was thicker clumps or cabbage then I'd cast around and through it with my cranks. I ran into a great bite one year casting #7 shadraps into newly emerging milfoil beds. When the plug would make contact with a stalk I'd pause the retrieve 1-2 seconds and give a sweep of the rod three to four feet to clear the weeds and continue with a slow retrieve. Fireline works great for this because you can feel the wobble of the bait after the sweep and know if you have weeds dragging with. The fish would often hammer the shadrap right after the sweep just as I began to slow roll it back to the boat. Rattle raps/traps are great baits for buzzing weedbeds as well as twistertails and swimbaits.

Tunrevir~

[Borch]

I troll cranks over and around weeds all the time. Very effective technique especially if fish are scattered. If you find a concentration of fish then stopping to cast is a great approach.

[PerchJerker]

I troll cranks over and around weeds all the time. Very effective technique especially if fish are scattered. If you find a concentration of fish then stopping to cast is a great approach.

I agree 1000% - troll to find fish and if you find concentrations then slow down and work them. Don't be afraid to troll in, over and through the weeds. You obviousely can't get through thick weeds, but weed edges and scattered weeds can be dynamite.

A real key is to use a no stretch superline like Power Pro (or others) --- it will give you instant feedback if the bait gets fouled, and usually a sharp jerk on the rod will clear the bait.