switching to crawlers

[Cheers]

I am/was a diehard minnow fisherman ,I would like to switch to crawlers , what is the best way to fish with crawlers ? I like to troll spinners and still fish with jigs . What is the best presentation ?

[harvey lee]

I have been fishing for eyes, sunfish and crappie with a crawler harness and a crawler for the past month. Sometimes a crawler on a Lindy rig also.

My best technique for bigger gills is to use a crawlers harness and a weight or a lindy rig with a crawler. Just the other day I did very well again for the eyes and gills. I was fishing for bigger gills and the eyes were the bonus fish.

I do not blow air in my crawlers, tried it a few times but I did not see any huge difference in my catch rate versus a regular crawler.

Just mentioning this as you may already know but keep the paddle of the crawler to the end of the harness. I fished with a guide on Mille Lacs that would not use a crawler if the paddle was bit off the crawler. I use them and they may not catch as many but I have not found any huge difference.

I also like to use a slow death rig with a half crawler in the summertime also.

I have tried the Gulp crawlers but they did not do as well of a job for me as the real deal. I wish they would but until I can catch just as many fish, I will stick with the real ones.

I do not know that these are the best presentations using crawlers but they serve me very well.

Make sure you have different length snells when fishing the bottom for walleyes. I also have numerous different weights for the rigging as it will take more weight to get to the bottom on deeper water or a windy day.

I like to keep my line at about a 45 degree angle when my bait is on or near the bottom.

[RiverFish]

I will also use crawlers on whistler or thumper jigs. I will typically hook the crawler twice through the middle so I have to ends of the crawler trailing the jig.

[tacklejunkie]

I have tried the Gulp crawlers but they did not do as well of a job for me as the real deal.

Same here. I have had no luck with the GULP!! crawlers. Even on harnesses. The GULP minnows work fine.

As for crawlers, a fat, juicy crawler on a harness is unbeatable IMO

[ImaTeacher]

I have fished with crawlers most of the time. I like to use a spinner rig, with 1/2 ounce weight. Move slowly, (2 MPH and under) and use a jig technique. I have caught Walleye and some bonus large sunfish.

Crawler harness is a must!

[Rick G]

Crawler's on jig's like the Northland Gumball with the long shank have been putting walleye's in the boat for me most of my fishing life. The last few year's I have also been having good success with the Northland Fireball jig's, they have a second loop on the bottom of the head so you can add a stinger hook. This can be a great way to get em' if you are in a small area, same as jiging with minnows.

[paceman]

I have been doing quite well lately with a simple lindy rig. 3/8 oz slip sinker, 4-5 foot snell and a floating gum-drop jig. catch just about every kind of fish with this set-up.

[Stick in Mud]

As others have said, you're probably limited more by your imagination than anything else. I've fished them under bobbers, on Lindy rigs, on jigs, on three-ways with crawler harnesses, and even as trailers on crankbaits. And I'm probably missing about ten other ways to fish them.