Summer Crankbait Crappie Trolling

Summer and early fall used to be one of those times I could not find crappie and resorted to catching what bream and other various fish I could convince to bite until I began trolling crankbaits.  I set up my trolling rods with 8 or 10 lb line and I use smaller crankbaits.  I did not spring for the expensive brand that most people recommend because I do not like spending that much on pretty much any baits that I fish, but I have had a great deal of success using the cheaper knock off brands.  I always put on a small swivel with each crankbait as I found in my first attempt to troll with them that not doing so leads to massive line twist and thus horrendous tangles.  It just so happened that I ended up through breaking various rods, with a 10’ and 7’ rod on one side of my kayak and a 12’ and 9’ rod on the other side of my kayak.  I have a track system on both my kayaks and depending on which water I fish I use one or the other accordingly.  If its water that I have to walk a long way to or drag across a great deal of mud or up and down steep banks I take my lighter smaller kayak, and if it’s a spot I can easily launch and do not have to carry far to get into I will take my heavier pedal drive kayak.  I place my shortest rods in the holders closest to me, and my longest rods in the front rod holders closer to the bow of my kayak.  I also cast out my shortest rods first and thus do not have to worry about getting tangled in my other lines as much.  Once I cast my first two I generally will motivate forward letting the line go taut and then cast my others.  Once all four are in action I will paddle or pedal around 1 mph.  

Green Carp Indicators

I generally try to stay out in the main river channels and if I find fish I will continuously sweep back over that area until it stops producing.   When I first began I just had it in my mind where I “knew” the crappie would be and so I caught several where I “knew” they would not be as I passed and went on to that fertile ground I was very confident in.  It did not pan out at all and I didn’t so much as catch a single fish, not even a green carp.  (bass to those not familiar).  The next time I went back I continued on in the areas I had caught crappie the previous trip and I was able to consistently put fish in my boat.  I’ve landed all manner of other species with this method of fishing as well from catfish and bream to plenty of those green carp I referred to earlier.  Those I use as indicators of my speeds.  If I’m catching several spotted bass especially it usually means I’m moving too fast.  Crappie will still prefer a slower presentation and also a tighter wobble on the crank bait. 

Use Ice

A few folks I know will not eat crappie caught in the warmer weather as they say the fillets have a mushy consistency.  I find that placing them on ice for a while firms them right back up and I have not had any complaints, nor will I turn them down as table fare.  I have generally not caught my bigger fish in the summer, but the smaller “eater” size are fine with me.  They fry up nice and crispy.  God made the fish right at home in the water, just as God gave us the brain power to figure out how to pull them out of the water and put them on the table.  They aren’t as easy to catch generally in the summer as in the spring or fall, but there are a few ways, and trolling crank baits has fast become one of my favorites. 

Genesis 8:22