Trolling crankbaits in the midday heat

[Cuervo Jones]

Summer is in full swing here in the lone star state and most guys are fishing early and late in the day or dragging Carolina rigs and jigs in the midday sun. I've always done well trolling crankbaits for bass hanging offshore and chowing down on shad. My wife and I decided to take a quick midday trip to the local lake yesterday so she could watch the birds and I could maybe catch some fish.

My Ranger 680t saw lots of walleye in Wyoming 20 years ago, and plenty of them were caught trolling cranks. When I relocated to Texas, I decided to try doing the same down here. And it works well for the local green fish, but nobody seems to do it.
We started close to the ramp because most folks launch and blast across the lake thinking the fishing's better on the other side. Like grass being greener. We watched the boats racing by as I started trolling across a 12' hump next to a 20' creek channel. It didn't take long.

First bass was 21" long and around 5#.



Not bad considering I had heard from a couple of folks at the ramp that fishing was slow and only little bass were being hooked. Maybe they were just spreading false information? Maybe they weren't trolling crankbaits?

The bass kept hitting and I was having a blast hauling in 18-21" bass from 13-18' deep. The guys dragging C-rigs nearby didn't seem to be having any luck. My wife watched them for awhile and finally asked why they weren't trolling and I thought about it. I guess because bass anglers have a tradition of doing what tournament guys do. And trolling isn't allowed in tournaments. Maybe. Possibly.



But it's one of the best techniques I've used over the years for midsummer bass. By the time 2:30 rolled around, it was HOT and we decided to call it a day and head home to make pizza.

A quick stop at the supermarket to get fixings and we were on our way.

Hope you're having a great and safe holiday weekend and catch a few fish.



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[Mike Cork]

Thanks for sharing a great outting. Are you in northern Texas?

[Cuervo Jones]

Southern. Between Houston and San Antonio.


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[Mike Cork]

I did a small stent at Wichita Falls in Northern Texas and the lakes look a lot like that. I'm sure the same trolling ideas will work anywhere 

[SteveTX]

How do you select what baits to use? Ive never trolled and have no idea how. What rods/reels are you using? How do you set them up? Do you set the drag loose?

Nice catches 

[Cuervo Jones]

How do you select what baits to use? Ive never trolled and have no idea how. What rods/reels are you using? How do you set them up? Do you set the drag loose?

Nice catches 

I base bait selection on water depth and where I'm seeing fish on the sonar. Usually, I just grab a DD-22 or equivalent in shad or crawfish color (or one of each) and go. Sometimes I use a shallower diver if they're in water less than 12'. Then I do S-curve paths from shallow to deep and back until I start catching fish. Then I try to refine color, depth, whether they want it bumping bottom or mid-water, and so on. For rods I use medium-heavy bait casters with 12-20 lbs mono and enough flex to not yank the baits out when they jump. So about a medium to medium-fast action. Not a working or jigging rod! I keep the drag locked pretty tight so they set the hook themselves when they grab it. Don't really need to set the hook that way. Just sweep the rod forward and keep cranking. I do loosen the drag as they fight so when they jump or dive, they don't rip free. Hope this helps.


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[Lee Smith]

That GREAT information for us lurkers       


Thanks!

[Capt. BassinLou]

Great post, and nice bass, appreciate you sharing your outing with us. 

[SteveTX]

I base bait selection on water depth and where I'm seeing fish on the sonar. Usually, I just grab a DD-22 or equivalent in shad or crawfish color (or one of each) and go. Sometimes I use a shallower diver if they're in water less than 12'. Then I do S-curve paths from shallow to deep and back until I start catching fish. Then I try to refine color, depth, whether they want it bumping bottom or mid-water, and so on. For rods I use medium-heavy bait casters with 12-20 lbs mono and enough flex to not yank the baits out when they jump. So about a medium to medium-fast action. Not a working or jigging rod! I keep the drag locked pretty tight so they set the hook themselves when they grab it. Don't really need to set the hook that way. Just sweep the rod forward and keep cranking. I do loosen the drag as they fight so when they jump or dive, they don't rip free. Hope this helps.


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Great info thanks for sharing. A few more questions if you will. When your trolling what do you do with the rods? Are they on rod holders or in your hands etc? Are you trolling with the TM or big engine? What speed are you typically trolling at?

I would not have done it near as you described and probably wouldn't have had near the success.    I may try it just to see how it works for my lake. Thank you for the information.

[Cuervo Jones]

This time I was just holding a single rod. This one.

I've had it almost 30 years and it still works great. A 5'6" Shimano Bullwhip Fightin' rod. It flexes nicely so the fish can't throw the hook. The other rod I use is a 7' All Star rod from Academy. Likewise, nice flex. When I'm using 2 rods, I keep one in a rod holder and hold the other in my hand. The holder mounts to the rail just in front of the seat in the rear. Usually I use the big motor since I want the baits moving from 1.5-2.5 mph. But I'll get up to 3 in the hot summer. I do use the trolling motor if I'm trolling with bottom bumpers like jigs or Carolina rigs though. If I find a concentration of fish, I'll stop and cast for awhile. If nothing much happens, back to trolling. A surprising number of times, the fish prefer a trolled lure to one cast and retrieved.



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[SteveTX]

Awesome thanks for the tips. I think I have some rods that fit the bill. I also have some screw in rod holders that came with my boat that should work. Im going to give it a try as most of the lake has no structure in the deeper parts.

They are gonna think I'm drunk driving, my lake is only 1000 acres.

[Cuervo Jones]

It really is a great way to locate concentrations of fish. Another tip is to pull the rod forward a couple of feet and then let it fall back so there's slack for a moment before the forward movement of the boat pulls the lure forward again. A lot of times the fast dart forward followed by a pause and suspension stimulates and bass that have been following to bite. They'll typically hit during the pause so when the slack is pulled tight, there's a fish on!


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[Captsteve]

I will definatly try this. one more question.  How far behind the boat do you put the bait?

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[Cuervo Jones]

I will definatly try this. one more question.  How far behind the boat do you put the bait?

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A good long cast behind the boat and then another few feet so that the bait is ticking along bottom in whatever depth the fish are smacking it.
I should also add that I do the same from my kayak as well as my boat. Trolling works no matter what your watercraft is. I used to see guys in Wyoming trolling from jet skis.

[Deadeye]

Trolling has become a lost art, mostly because of what you mention: Bass Tournaments.

Many year ago when I was a young Kid, my Brother went to Canada to fish with one of my Dad's Work Partners. They went every year and always brought home fish. He told me all they did was Troll or Back-Troll using the Big Motor. (Back Trolling is done with the Big Motor in Reverse. Supposedly it is easier to do to maintain speed and you can go slower)

Today we all have been trained to Cast and Retrieve. Even using a Live Bait is looked down on, while 50-or so Years ago it was the Norm.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and the way you fish. It has grabbed my Interest and I may just give it a go this summer myself.

[Deadeye]

I'd like to add that when I was working in a Sporting Goods Dept I had one customer that often told me of his Trolling in Lake George and the St Johns River. He liked to use Rattletraps and claimed to have caught both Bass and Stripers up to 12 lbs doing it.

He called it "the lazy man's Bass fishing".

[coldfront]

How do you select what baits to use? Ive never trolled and have no idea how. What rods/reels are you using? How do you set them up? Do you set the drag loose?

Nice catches 

steve,
I look for baits that 'pull' easy and get to desired/target depth.

minnow baits fit that bill.  some of the big, wide wobbling cranks don't.
storm makes some good baits.

[SteveTX]

steve,
I look for baits that 'pull' easy and get to desired/target depth.

minnow baits fit that bill.  some of the big, wide wobbling cranks don't.
storm makes some good baits.

Thanks for the tips. Work is keeping me busy but Ill eventually get out again.