Went to Banner Creek Lake last Saturday to catch some of those black 'football' crappies. Struggled spider-riggin with minners. Nota bite dipping trees. Started pulling cranks and got some hits. Changing colors and depths, not much difference. When I picked up some speed, up from 1,2mph to over 1.7mph. YESSER!!! That's what they wanted. When cleaning them, their bellies were empty . So, Ima just figurin' all the hits were reaction hits. Well ya never to old or smart enough not to learn sumptin <*)}}}><
-------------------- You'll feel the difference,,,on the end of your line!
If you don't mind....what crankbaits are you using? I've fished crappie for many years but have never tried cranking...sounds interesting, especially how nothing was working before using that method.
During the heat of the summer and during low light periods, I cast some "peanut" baits to dimples on the water where crappies are on top chasing bugs. I don't troll them much, but the small cranks/crappies are a blast.
-------------------- Plastics: making better fishermen without bait! Good Fishing Guys!
CT
Bobbyw5, I pull Bandits models 200 & 300 also Cabela's Grave Diggers. I let out 80 to 120ft of line. Pulling speeds of 1.2 to 1.8mph. When I find a area that I'm getting hits at, I'll pull several directions and speeds as well as # of feet out. Never know what colors to run but change often till something starts working better. I'm so surprised everytime out that I'm catching mostly crappies even though there are walleyes and bass in the lakes. When you hook one as you are reeling it in, it will surface and lay on it's side. Just keep it up with a steady speed and 'surf' it to the net. You'll be surprised how small a crappie will hit these too. Always watch the tips of the rods. Get use to the pulse and if it changes, pull it in and check it as it just might have some trash on it,,, or a small crappie. Hope this helps you and if I can answer more questions,,, ask away!! <*)}}}><
-------------------- You'll feel the difference,,,on the end of your line!
#5 Rapalas work well on pool 8 when trolling for crappies. I use sinking and floating rapals and as mentioned play around with the amount of line let out. Black/gold and silver/white are my 2 favorite colors.
-------------------- Bret Clark - IDO Ice Pro Staff "Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway."
Thanks Bret, I'll be getting some #5 rapalas...should be interesting....the sinking model will be the first try for me as I know of some bottom wood in 20 feet of water that will hold crappie.
I've heard of bandits but never used them...question...I'm curious why you would be going with the 200 or 300 model instead of the 100...isn't the 100 the smallest? Do the crappies prefer the slightly larger bait? Thanks for the info.
Bandit 100's same size as the 200 & 300's. It just runs shallower. I trully believe these are reaction hits. You'll be surprized how small crappie hit them too!! <*)}}}><
-------------------- You'll feel the difference,,,on the end of your line!
Yeah, I actually went to Gander Mountain and saw that the size was the same, just the bill size differed...I was wondering about that after I had asked the original question. Here's another dumb question for anyone out there but, I was wondering about something else. For casting or trolling...couldn't you just use a shallow floating rapalla for instance, and put on a split shot a foot and a half up on the line so, you would be dragging the split shot across the bottom creating a little disturbance with the lure staying a short distance behind, a ways off the bottom. In my minds eye, it seems to me like it could work, other than snagging up of course. Anyone have any thoughts?
Cool post! Can't believe I missed this one. Guess I've been away from the species specific forums for a bit to long. Definitely some lures in there that I may have to try next year. For me on Lake Wisconsin, I have not specifically trolled for crappies but we do end up catching quite a few while trolling for walleyes. We catch them with regularity on #5 jointed shad raps and #300 series ripshads.
Quote: For casting or trolling...couldn't you just use a shallow floating rapalla for instance, and put on a split shot a foot and a half up on the line so
Yepper A good sized split shot 24-35 inches in front of a floating rapala can and will get the bait in the strike zone at 5-8 feet below the surface,. try different weights. Small inline sinkers will get you even deeper.
A split shot in front of your cranks will also pick up suspended debris keeping your bait running clean longer.
-------------------- Bret Clark - IDO Ice Pro Staff "Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway."
I have had alot of success trolling a jig with plastic called a Mini-Mite with and without a waxie added. I troll them using a electic trolling motor and just casting them out about 30 feet behind the boat. Thanks, Bill
Pulling cranks for crappies
. So, Ima just figurin' all the hits were reaction hits. Well ya never to old or smart enough not to learn sumptin 
<*)}}}><
or a small crappie. Hope this helps you and if I can answer more questions,,, ask away!! <*)}}}><
small crappie hit them too!! <*)}}}><
…..just good info 
