Trolling crankbaits

[cray]

How far above the walleyes can you pull crankbaits and still get bit? I tried it last week on a snaggy lake and lost more baits than i caught fish. I tried to stay right on the bottom of a lake full of jagged boulders and deadheads. My tackle box is a little lighter as a result.

Help.

[riverrat56]

I've seen eyes come up 5' in the winter time to smack a jigging spoon.

If the waters fairly clear I wouldn't be worried as long as your within 3' of the bottom. On "clean" bottoms I like to stay closer to the bottom, even grind into it. On rocks though if you tick one every now and then thats close enough to the bottom. Also some types of cranks will hang up much less, the shorter and more square the bill will help deflect of snags.

[knutty]

We trolled over the tops of weeds in southern MN with some success last week with shallow SRs...Fish were coming up out of the weeds to hit it.

Knutty

[Borch]

I like to be the middle of the water column or a little lower. Exception is if I'm pulling over weeds. Walleyes don't have any qualms about coming way up to hit a bait. Even 10+ feet at times. For instance up on Cass Lake a few weeks ago we had good luck on #5 SSR as deep as 12 fow.

FYI,

I used to lose a lot of baits in the rocks too. I think I've lost maybe 3 in the past 10 years and I fish a lot of rock. No need to be banging the rocks. Sometimes an occasional tick off a weed or rock can be a trigger though.

[ryanmitchell]

Are the Church tackle TX-12 mini planer boards good enough to pull cranks like reef runners, shad raps and the like? I would like to do some more trolling.

[rattleL]

i agree with borch if they are hungry they will come up and whap it, ive fished SSR #5s in 15 feet with extreme weed cover and have had good luck. Fish can always see above them, but have trouble seeing what is below them. Usually in mid summer as well fish are chasing suspended baitfish that are cruising up in the water column.

[Northlander]

Are the Church tackle TX-12 mini planer boards good enough to pull cranks like reef runners, shad raps and the like? I would like to do some more trolling.

I wouldnt try them on deep divers or bigger baits. Go with the origenal size offshores and put a tattle tail flag system on them.

[rattleL]

speaking of the minis has what is everyones secret method for pulling spinners on em with bouncers do they work well.

[JohnMickish]

I use the full size boards and snap weights to pull spinners. It works and it's easy. I am not sure why you would want to go with the mini boards, I've had walleys take my or-12 boards under water like a bobber.

[hound32]

the mini boards can handle the 600 series reef runners just fine as long as you dont have em out there too far. if ur running 4 boards put the 600 with the mini planer on the inside

[DarthBaiter]

I'm new to walleye fishing, grew up trolling for pike and bobber fishing panfish. So I'm wondering when trolling rapalas or reef runners for walleyes do you use a steel leader as I do trolling for pike and clip the rapala on or do you tie your line directly to the lure? Thanks for any setup advice.

[PerchJerker]

When trolling crankbaits you do not want to use a leader. At times it may not matter, but at other times it will make a huge difference in reducing the number of bites you get. I saw it again first-hand on two different days earlier this week ---- we were trolling cranks for pike and the rods with leaders were not getting the bites.

I use a small snap ---- speed clips are the best and the only ones I use ---- and no leader with my crankbaits.

[riverrat56]

I'll second what PJ just said, no steel leaders ever. If pike are numerous you could try adding a florocarbon leader, but don't go much heavier than 10 or 12lb line. I usually use a small crosslock snap. No swivel.

[Mike Stark]

i like to use a fireline leader...its enough to keep pike from taking your $8 rap.

[tacklejunkie]

Same here.

I use no leaders and at times not even a snap. The rapalas I will tie with what's called a Rapala knot.

The leader is just another piece of hardware than affects lure action

[DarthBaiter]

Thanks guys for the advice. I'll definetely toss the leaders aside. I have no clue what a snap or speed clip is but a trip to the C store is in order. I'm assuming I'd tie the line to the snap or clip and then it "snaps" onto the lure?

[Jim Almquist]

Here is a Norman speed clip

Here is a cross lock without a swivel.

[JohnMickish]

I also use a cross link and no swivel.

[solbes]

Berkley Crosslocks for me, size 1 (no swivel)

[Northlander]

I use a crosslock with a small barrel swivel. I hate leaders. Never had issues with catching fish trolling. They arent getting a good look at the bait and the action is just fine in my opinion.

[Seabass77]

I am currently using the crosslock but I will say that I lost a brand new husky jerk last week trolling. The fish hit the bait, I had it on for second or two and then nothing. I thought I got bit off from a pike but I reeled in a bent up, open crosslock.

[PerchJerker]

I am currently using the crosslock but I will say that I lost a brand new husky jerk last week trolling. The fish hit the bait, I had it on for second or two and then nothing. I thought I got bit off from a pike but I reeled in a bent up, open crosslock.

I've seen this happen a couple of times and have heard of it happening way too many times. That's part of the reason I use speed clips, I guarantee you they will not open up and let the bait come off.