Small crankbaits for crappies

[ratherBfishnJP]

Hey guys i was just curious... have any of you used small crankbaits about no bigger than 1 5/8 long like strike kinds bitzy pond minnow or any other crankbait to take crappies?? if you do what colors are the best for brainerd area? ive also heard that you can put a bottom bouncer up three foot and troll them. is this true? do u catch other fish like big gillys or bass?? any help is appreciated.

[carpmanjake]

i use small Xraps, and diawa LC shiners with good success, the diawa LC shiners suspend. and the depths they run are plenty deep enough, even for summer crappies.

small lipless cranks also work well

[Morneau132]

Salmo Hornets in sizes #3 and #4 work great for crappies. They run very shallow and troll great. I suggest the hot perch, pearl orange, and firetiger.

[Chode2235]

The hornets are great, and I am also a big fan of the Rapala Mini Fat Raps too. Theyre sinking baits and work great for casting and trolling.

[tgruenke]

I have had good luck on the Strke King Might Minner. I have landed several nice fish on that.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Mistertwister makes a crankbait called a Bigysmal Meatloaf shad that has worked very good for me at times.

[CJH]

Caught the biggest bass of my life on a Bigysmal!

[Matt Breuer]

Another vote for the Salmo Hornet. I've caught a lot of nice crappies and even some giant 'gills on size 4 Hornet's.

[ratherBfishnJP]

any certain colors on those??

[rattleL]

#4 hornets in green like the one posted above are a nice search lure also crappies will pound em when casted on the beds

[Avid Angler]

I am a very big fan of trolling #4 rattle traps in the chrome blue or silver blue color. I do this to find breakline crappies in the summer. It works very well. You catch some dandy's as well.

Avid

[carpmanjake]

sounds like im going to have to pick up some hornets.

[solbes]

I just finally convinced myself that walleyes might like the smaller #5 Hornet after hearing others opinions. Now after hearing this I may have to go try a #4 for crappies too. I'm not 100% sure all of these new cranks will even get wet this season!

[OnAFly]

I like the really small hornets too, and the smallest available rattlin' raps. Blue shad and black shad are good colors along with firetiger.

Sometimes they hit the rattlin raps more, sometimes the hornets, but usually one of the two will work on any given day.