I use mostly jigs and Crankbaits for walleyes on the Winnipeg River. I like using crankbaits the best, and I always seem to run into periods where the crankbait bite is unbelievable on one particular crank. ex. reefrunners.

Usually it stays dynamite for 2-3 days assuming the weather is stable, then it goes back to just plain productive.

What is the first thing I should look at to stay on this dynamite fishing? Crank size? depth? troll/cast speed? I realize that you can't have awesome crank fishing all the time, and there are many different techniques, but there must be some variables that you look at first before anything.

Find where the bait went and the walleyes will be on their tail. After that I put more emphasis on depth than any other variable. Good luck.

I agree with the ETT man, find the bait.Try a little variation to your trolling,maybe a little deeper or near-by structure. Good luck,and see you on the water!

Dont forget about bottom bouncers and spinners. We use crawlers and minnows with big thumper blades up there.

Also, cranks with rattles.

Chad

River_eye.
First off, consider yourself extremely lucky to have good fishing success, (as you said) during most all trips while trolling cranks. The rivers I fish (Tittbaawassee/Saginaw) only/mostly produce fish on cranks during optimum conditions. That being the right water depth/flow, clarity, and temperature. These right conditions (on most all rivers)will most always put the river eyes on the aggressive crankbait feed when presented in the right fasion. The tough conditions though, will often put those aggressive biters belly down or tucked away in some river hiding/holding spot. Nothing works better for me than keeping whatever I'm offering in their faces. That being the jig and minnow most times. Often times I'll drift and cast Rap's or blade baits to selected shoreline hiding spots. This pinpoints where the less aggressive biters wait for an easy meal.Good luck, "I Fish" "Therfore I Am". Capt: Dan.