Trolling Crankbaits behind bouncers

[Wally]

I have a new 4 stroke Merc 50 HP on a Lund Pro Angler 16 foot. It backtrolls quickly even at the slowest speeds but I've found that the walleye still will smack a crankbait.

I've been using a heavy (3 ounce plus) bouncer to get my crnakbaits down quickly ... into 20 - 30 feet of water. Is this the best approach.

Is there a better way to pull crnkbaits than behind a bouncer? Are three way swivel rigs better??????

[ETT]

The wire on the bouncers does you no good, unless you are going into shallow water or through snaggy water. Snap weights are what is designed to fullfill this nitch. Hope this helps.

[Chad]

3-ways will work fine. You could also try using 10-4 fireline with a deepdiving crank such as reefrunner, bomber, strech 20, etc...

[jerryr]

Ditto on the snap weights. They're made by Offshore Tackle Company. I'm not sure but I think their website is www.offshoretackle.com. A common way to fish them is the 50/50 method. Let out 50' of line, put a snapweight on the line and let out another 50'. You'll have to adjust amount of weight on the snap and lenghts of line depending on depth and speed, but I've successfully gotten cranks to 30' using this method. Good luck.

[Mudking]

Definately learn to use snap weights- they are quit simple to use, and you can get any lure to any depth. I've found this to be much more sucessful that bottom bouncing.

[Gilligan]

I like the bouncers when I target fish near bottom. Lake I fish dosent have many snags but lots of weeds and bouncer serves as a good stopper keeping the lure clean. Also the quite vertical presentation keeps short leads making turns easier and checking/changing lures quick.

[Trapper John]

There are a lot of crankbaits that will dive 20-30 feet on plain long lines with fireline or spiderwire thin diameter line. I get some over 40 feet. No need to use snap weights or bottom bouncers unless the crankbait is a shallow runner.