Tuning Crank-Baits
Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 7:06 pm
With all the action on the Bay of Quinte it is a good time to offer a trolling tip. I have watched many anglers set-up beside me during a trolling run and not catch a single fish while my boat landed a few on every pass.
When trolling deep diving cranks with the wind in big waves, the in-line planer boards add a tantalizing racing away and pause action to crank-baits. This action can make walleye strike on days when nothing else will work. The problem is if your crank-baits are not tuned, they will kick-out or roll on the quick increase in speed. If the bait does not run straight you will not catch fish.
Tuning the crank-bait by bending eyelet left or right.
Tuning is very simple, at trolling speed use needle nose pliers to move the eyelet of the crank in the opposite direction in which it runs out of tune beside the boat. If the bait runs or rolls out to the left, bend the eyelet to the right and do the opposite if it runs to the right. Now the next step is give the rod a quick sweep forward with the bait running beside the boat to see how the bait is tuned for a faster running speed. The bait should track and dive straight while following the rod tip during the forward sweep.
Eyelet side view.
To increase your hook-up results and maximum diving depth, get into the habit of tuning your crank-baits at boat side.
Now go catch some fish with true running cranks.
-s
When trolling deep diving cranks with the wind in big waves, the in-line planer boards add a tantalizing racing away and pause action to crank-baits. This action can make walleye strike on days when nothing else will work. The problem is if your crank-baits are not tuned, they will kick-out or roll on the quick increase in speed. If the bait does not run straight you will not catch fish.
Tuning the crank-bait by bending eyelet left or right.
Tuning is very simple, at trolling speed use needle nose pliers to move the eyelet of the crank in the opposite direction in which it runs out of tune beside the boat. If the bait runs or rolls out to the left, bend the eyelet to the right and do the opposite if it runs to the right. Now the next step is give the rod a quick sweep forward with the bait running beside the boat to see how the bait is tuned for a faster running speed. The bait should track and dive straight while following the rod tip during the forward sweep.
Eyelet side view.
To increase your hook-up results and maximum diving depth, get into the habit of tuning your crank-baits at boat side.
Now go catch some fish with true running cranks.
-s