Cranking Technique...

[Travis C.]

Man my eyes were openend up with the Elite guys on Douglas Lake this past weekend. I believe BASS runs it on a week delay so the show will air this coming weekend.

The way they were fishing was new to me. The top guys and probably most the field were cranking in 30-50ft of water with Strike King Series 6XD. Almost all of them were using the same bait and hitting bottom in those depths with an unweighted crankbait.

http://www.bassmaster.com/news/long-lining-crankbait

Jeremy Starks won the event on Lake Douglas with a better than 4lb per fish average. On that lake its pretty darn good. He also said in a clip from day 4 that he could hit bottom in 50ft with his series 6XD without weight.

Talk about giving the bass something they haven't seen before...The end of a long point was where he was fishing which also had a depression on it. He said there were so many pre-spawners stacked up that he couldn't bring a retrieve in without hitting a fish wit hhis lure and at one point he had slime on his line from running through so many of them.

Check it out this weekend on Sunday where they air the show on ESPN2 (8am-9am eastern time).

[Buccaneer]

Read this BassFan link about Jeremy Starks. He had 300 yards of line out using this technique! http://www.bassfan.com/news_article.asp?id=4259
How many of us are going to try this on Old Hickory? I will. However for a BASS tourney I am sort of up in the air on this. I think as long as a lure is in the water, they should not be allowed to run the big motor.

[Travis C.]

Originally Posted by Buccaneer

Read this BassFan link about Jeremy Starks. He had 300 yards of line out using this technique! http://www.bassfan.com/news_article.asp?id=4259
How many of us are going to try this on Old Hickory? I will. However for a BASS tourney I am sort of up in the air on this. I think as long as a lure is in the water, they should not be allowed to run the big motor.

I will definitely be trying it. There are already three different ledges I can think of this will get tested on once I get back from FL. One area you might find a monster smallie or two by doing this.

What size line you think he was using? Does 25lb fluoro sink faster than 8lb fluoro?

The link said 300 yards and that could be a guesstimate but if remotely accurate that would mean small diameter to get that much out...right? The Revo reels hold what maybe 150-175 of 12lb test.

[Travis C.]

http://www.bassmaster.com/video/starks-basscam-videos

Here is Starks bass cam video's from the weekend.

[Buccaneer]

I read here he was using 8 - 12lb Flouro. http://www.bassmaster.com/news/long-lining-crankbait
Although he is sponsored by Abu and says he was using a Revo in 6.4:1 ratio. The only reel in their product line that has a 250 Yard, 14lb Mono capacity is the Revo Toro.

[thehick176]

You would be lucky to find depths on The Hick and Priest to use such a technique. Not saying it isnt possible but would it really be worth the hassle. Kinda like the Alabama rig, is the expense really worth the reward?

[Buccaneer]

I've got some ledge locations where it would be fun to find out if this technique will allow you to run the crankbait across the top and then have it follow the drop contour down to the 25' ballpark, all while maintaining bottom contact.

[Travis C.]

I am in the same thinking... a few places it sure would be fun to see. It's not really as much getting the bait to 40 ft as it is running it at 25 for 100 yards. Although where the lock are is deep and I bet there hasn't been too many cranks ran around near the base of the concrete foundations if this is possible. So its not all long points or just ledges. Also digging it across the top of a submerged island then off the tail/head into channel might be interesting. There is lots of possibilities.

I have no desire to put anything into the A-Rig or T-Rig. Its not worth the expense like you said but this is just a change in tactic for me not equipment.

As far as worth the reward.... one 6lb class fish sure would be.

[thehick176]

Nothing wrong with trying something new!

[txnative]

In fly fishing, I use a removable sink-tip to get my flies down quickly. It is a length of hollow Dacron with lead inside, similar to lead-core line. It is looped at both ends, do it could be attached to your main line at one end and have a leader of mono attached to the other. It would definitely drop cranks and still be manageable, though it would be tough to cast.

BPS carries the Orvis brand, which have 2 lengths, giving you some options on how much weight to add. I believe they are around $11 per package.


Chris

Originally Posted by thehick176

nothing wrong with trying something new!

x 2, I have performed this technique several times with a DD22 and had great success running drop ledges on spencer creek. This is nothing new it has been around for decades. It is also very effective at the mouths of deep creek channels!

[Travis C.]

Originally Posted by Tennesseejugger

x 2, I have performed this technique several times with a DD22 and had great success running drop ledges on spencer creek. This is nothing new it has been around for decades. It is also very effective at the mouths of deep creek channels!

How deep has the DD22 ran for you this way?

What size line would you run on it?

[bd-]

Wow, that sounds like a heck of a lot of work. I guess if it catches fish when nothing else will, you've got to do what you've got to do.

bd

Originally Posted by Travis C.

How deep has the DD22 ran for you this way?

What size line would you run on it?

I have got it down to 40 feet and hit the bottom, I use 20 # test Seagaur Fluoro with a 7.6 hvy action rod. When bass are stacked up on drops and ledges you can wear em out with reaction strikes.

[Travis C.]

Originally Posted by Tennesseejugger

I have got it down to 40 feet and hit the bottom, I use 20 # test Seagaur Fluoro with a 7.6 hvy action rod. When bass are stacked up on drops and ledges you can wear em out with reaction strikes.

So you'd say the heavier fluoro was a benefit over a samll pound test fluoro for this?

I have a reel that needs new line is why I am asking and a 7.6 hvy rod that's collecting dust.

Thanks.