trolling cranks

[John]

I am looking for some info.I have been having problems with fish hitting the front hooks and twisting off while trolling.Is it better to remove the front trebles and miss bites or lose fish from spinning?THANKS

[Steve(CO)]

I am not trying to be snide, but how do you know they are hitting the front hooks and twisting off? Do you actually see them get off when trying to net them or something? Removing front hooks on most cranks would change their action considerably, I would think. Better to replace all the hooks with some of the newer, better gripping trebles (e.g., Mustad triple grips, Excalibers, VMC Barbarians, etc.)

[Dutchman]

Steves right on about the hooks, put the stickiest hooks on you can buy. I'm wondering ?Do you slow the boat down when you get a fish on, or continue to troll at the same speed? If you're not hittin' the brakes then you're rippin' the fish off with the boat speed. Next how tight are your drags? You gotta have some give when trolling cranks or the initial shock will rip the hooks right out of their mouths. Next don't horse the fish in bring them in slow or they'll be too green when they get to the boat, a big eye will shed a crankbait with one good head shake and tight line at the boat. when you have a large fish on, bring them in so their asking to get in the boat by the time they get there.....:)

[scott]

me and my buddys use mustad triple grip hooks on are crankbaits, we have good luck with them! they are made with each hook bent in to hold the fish on.they sale for around $4.00 a package,4 treble hooks in a package the size we use are #4.we did are shopping this year and we ended up with 12 packages extra,i will sell them to you for 2.50 a package ? if you are enterested or have any questions call me at 319-391-3780 ask for scott. GOOD LUCK FISHING !!!!

[wow]

I paid $ 4.00 for 11 triple grips

[chuck]

Do I understand that u change boat speed when u have a fish on?
I never head of that, seems that would cause trouble. Also how much does that interfer with possibilty getting another fish on right away?

[Hawgeye]

I tend to agree with you Chuck about maintaining boat speed. That is what your drag should be set for. I seldom miss fish while cranking and I keep the boat speed constant until I have rod in hand and a hand on the handle. I then may idle back if there is any idling back to do but never take it out of gear.

I do replace the treble hooks that come with the cranks because that is where all the manufacturers really cut costs. Go with sharper hooks!

[BILL]

YOU GUYS NEED TO CHECK OUT NET CRAFT. UNDER $10 FOR 25.

[Leo Kam]

10 for $3, 100 for $22.50, $150 for 1000 from StaminaInc.com

[Sparky]

I have heard bout the triple grips but my sources were expensive. These prices sound better. What size triple grips do you put on your different cranks? Thank you.

Sparky

[catch&release]

checking your drag is important,but also consider soft glass rods which i have found to work well with fireline, i do not adjust my speed to land fish

[GORD]

Triple grips are great hooks. Fire line is the line of choice for most trollers. It's no stretch feature has a down side tho. It doesn't have that built in shock absorbing action like mono does. When using fireline you have to back your drag off. Something has got to give. There are a lot of walleye swimming around out there with their lips ripped off.

[Dutchman]

I usually troll cranks from 2.5 mph up to 4+mph. I do keep my drags loose and at times only use the clicker depending on the pull of the crankbait. I always slow down but don't stop. At these speeds a small fish will pop up to the top very quickly and normally are skied in to the boat. A larger eye will stay down and it's been my experience that if you don't slow down they will tear themselves free from the crankbait. The game changes when trolling cranks with leadcore or snap weights, speed with this type of presentation is slower (3/4-1.5mph) and there normally is no need to slow down. I keep my autopilot down and use the electronics for searching, and maintaining boat direction when I slow down with a fish on, the boat control eliminates any lines from fouling the others. I also keep my lines spread with planer boards. There have been many occasions when I've hit the brakes that another eye will hit one of the other rods. Hope this helps.....Jeff

[Leo Kam]

Larger cranks that dive 15+ ft. or more usually require a #2 hook size. Medium size cranks that dive 10-20 ft., a #4 hook and shallow cranks a #6 hook. These are just generally rules, the larger the crank the larger the hook. Obviously you're not going to use a #6 hook on a #9 size shallow diving Rapella.

[Backwater Eddy]

Add the complication of barbless hooks as is the law in MB Canada and hook replacement choices become even more critical.

Wide gap and slightly oversized replacement hooks has upped my catch rate considerably for trolling barbless hooks on crank baits. Replacing factory #4's with #1's or #1's with #1/0's with wide gaped hooks such as Triple Gripe or Excalaber's.

Jumping up a size or two for me has helped considerable.

Backwater Eddy

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