Catching Crappie With Crankbaits

Crappie are an excellent summer fish to catch with crankbaits, especially during early June when crappies tend to move shallow and deeper as the sun rises.

When fishing with crankbaits, try using a combination of weights so the lure runs at different depths. This will help you determine where crappie are holding and what they’re feeding on.

How do you catch crappie with crankbaits?

Crappie fish, also referred to as specks, white perch, sac-a-lait or slabs, are one of the most sought-after panfish species for anglers and anglers alike. While you can catch them using various baits such as crankbaits, they provide the most consistent results when hooked.

Crankbaits are hard-bodied lures with a diving lip that will swim when trolled. They come in various sizes, colors and weights.

Crankbaits have a slight wobble when trolled, which makes them more appealing to crappie than other lures. Crankbaits come in various colors; however, most fishermen find the most successful hue is close to what crappie typically consume.

Crankbaits require a rod with a soft, slow tip for accurate casting; without one, these lures may yank themselves out of the water before reaching their intended target. Furthermore, monofilament rods with more stretch than standard models could also prove advantageous.

Crappies typically congregate in shallower waters around cover such as brush piles and overhanging trees during the springtime. By staying calm, these fish won’t spook easily, allowing you to get closer and make more accurate casts.

Crappies often venture deeper into the water during summer and fall, often up to 20 feet deep depending on weather conditions. They will typically seek cover such as weed beds or docks for protection from predators.

What color crankbait is best for crappie?

Crappie are a common fish found in many lakes throughout the year, but they can be challenging to catch without proper techniques. One of the best ways to attract crappie is by using crankbaits.

When picking a crankbait, there are numerous varieties to choose from – the key is finding ones that complement your fishing technique. By understanding the characteristics of crankbaits, you can pick one best suited to your needs and boost your chances of catching more fish.

You can learn how to utilize crankbaits by reading guides and listening to expert anglers. They will provide tips and tricks on how to catch more crappie with crankbaits.

In addition to knowing how to use crankbaits, you must also know when and where they should be used. For crappie, the ideal time for using them is during the spring when they are spawning.

Another way to entice crappie is by using a jig. Jigs are an ideal method for catching crappie since they can be used in all kinds of fishing conditions.

When jigging for crappie, it is wise to have a variety of jigs available. Make sure your selection includes different sizes and colors so you can always find the ideal one according to your situation.

Another way to attract crappie is to add scents to your baits or lures. Some anglers use WD-40 or other cover scents which imitate the smell of shad or other live prey, while others spray their baits or jigs with commercial scents tailored specifically for crappie.

What Size Crankbait to Use

Crankbaits can be an effective tool in the summertime for catching crappie. But it’s essential to learn how to use them properly.

One of the best ways to use crankbaits is by trolling them. This method works best during summer months when water temperatures are high, and oxygen levels are low.

When trolling for crappie, it is recommended that you use a 2000 or 2500-size spinning reel loaded with six-pound test line. The leader should be 48-60 inches long and tied with a clear fluorocarbon line in the four to six-pound test range.

When trolling, it’s wise to pull the crankbait directly behind your boat so that you can observe what’s going on beneath the surface. Doing this will allow you to determine at what depth fish are holding.

Once your crankbait is cast at different depths, you can determine which color pattern or bait works best in your location.

Another option is to run your crankbait lengthwise along a feature you know contains crappies, such as a spawning bed. This will attract fish from the cover and create an exciting vibration that will draw them into the area where you are fishing.

Crankbaits can also be cast around manmade structures like docks and bridges to attract fish. These are popular fishing spots during the summertime.

Crappie-specific crankbaits exist. These baits feature more vibrant colors than their bass and striper cousins to elicit a reaction bite, plus they’re more durable so you can use them even in murky or cloudy waters.

One popular option is a shallow-running crankbait with a diving bill. These baits are easy to rig and have been designed by professionals specializing in crappie fishing.

These crankbaits boast true tracking right out of the package. Additionally, they are manufactured by a company that has been an industry leader for years. There is an impressive selection of baits, including various sizes, colors, and even hybrid options.

What pound test line should I use for crankbaits?

Catching Crappie with Crankbaits

Crankbaits are an effective way to catch crappie, whether you’re trolling for them or casting them into the sun. Utilizing the correct size and pound test line will determine how well you catch these tasty sport fish.

For most trolling applications, 10 to 14-pound test monofilament lines are ideal. These strong, abrasion-resistant lines boast exceptional knot strength and controlled stretch. Furthermore, their thin diameter allows lures and diving devices to reach great depths without fear of breaking or snapping line.

Serious trollers often opt for Berkley’s Trilene XT in 10-pound test, then Berkley’s Big Game in 12-pound test and Stren Original in 10-pound test. With these three lines in your boat, you’ll have the best chances at pulling crankbaits to desired depth while maximizing your time on the water.

Anglers sometimes opt for lighter fluorocarbon line to help their baits penetrate deeper waters. Fluorocarbon absorbs and sinks slightly, allowing the bait to glide through the water more easily.

Although the thickness of a line does not affect a crankbait’s depth diving characteristics, some trollers find thinner lines offer greater sensitivity to vibration – an important factor when fishing. A thinner line allows your bait to vibrate more naturally, attracting fish faster.

How Fast Do You Pull Crankbaits

Crankbaits have seen a meteoric rise in popularity on the crappie fishing circuit over recent years and have proven to be an effective tactic for catching these fickle fish. But they require some dedication and set-up in order to be successful.

A sturdy rod and well-designed rod holder system can make all the difference when pulling crankbaits for crappie. You may need to experiment with different weights, depths, and crankbaits until you find what works best.

Though this type of fishing may take some time, the results are worth the effort. You will have an easier time identifying areas with crappie that you wouldn’t normally target, and you might even catch some on your first try!

The speed at which you pull your crankbaits can be an important factor in your success at this technique. Most anglers prefer to stay between 1.5-2 mph when trolling crankbaits; this ensures the baits run true and don’t veer off course.

It’s wise to practice pulling crankbaits before trying this technique, to understand how fast you need to be for them to run at the desired depth. This is especially true if you are new at this technique.

When learning how to pull crankbaits for crappie, practicing on smaller lakes first is wise. That way, you can gain confidence before venturing into deeper waters.

When fishing for crappie, the time of day should be considered. When fishing during low light hours, crappie is more likely to venture shallower to stalk baitfish with their large eyes; conversely, in daylight hours, they tend to dive deeper and pursue deeper-diving lures.

Summertime gives fish an advantage as oxygen levels drop and water temperatures rise. This gives the fish more energy to fight off predators, making them more eager to strike hard when threatened.

B’n’M Pro Staff Trolling Rods offer the ideal solution for this type of fishing, featuring various lengths to prevent lines from getting crossed and enough backbone to handle even the biggest slab crappie on the end of the line. With these rods, you won’t miss a beat while crankbaits at speed!

Where Do You Pull Crankbaits

Crankbaits are one of the most reliable ways to catch crappie. They can be used in both fresh and salt water, with increased productivity during summer trolls. Furthermore, crankbaits serve as excellent scouting tools, marking potential spots for fishing at a later date.

When fishing crankbaits, it is essential to remember that these lures are designed to resemble minnows, shad, and other small baitfish – which makes them so effective. But to catch these fish effectively, your lure needs to be run deep enough so the fish can bite.

As a general guideline, when casting a crankbait for crappie you should aim to cast it at least 6 feet and preferably 12 feet deep. This is because the bait will imitate the erratic movement of minnows that crappie feed on.

Furthermore, ensure your crankbait has the proper lead weights to dive deep enough. These can come in the form of adhesive-backed lead strips or dots or pieces of lead with an eye to secure it into place.

Selecting the proper lead weights for a crankbait is essential to get it to drop down where crappie feed, imitating their favorite minnow. You can also add belly weights for extra depth if desired.

B’n’M pro staffer Kent Driscoll recommends trolling crankbaits around the thermocline when fishing crankbaits for crappie. He explained that both main lake bodies and underlying reservoirs typically experience 12-20 feet thermoclines as water temperatures increase during summer.

Driscoll noted that by trolling around the thermocline, he can effectively target suspended crappie, which are typically hard to catch with slow methods. By continuously moving his crankbait around, Driscoll is able to intercept these fish and trigger strikes from them.

While trolling crankbaits for crappie requires some practice, it can be an effective tactic in catching large schools of slab crappie. Furthermore, trolling crankbaits is a great way to scout out new lakes and quickly identify potential fishing spots.