Dialed -in cranks

[eye guy]

I have been problems with my crankbait presentation lately, and it is hurting my confidence. which is a big factor in my success. Anyway, I've been out trolling a few times and can't get a handle on the whole line out- feet down deal. I am running daiwa linecounters, and using precision trolling guide with 10/4 fireline. BUT say I'm pulling a #9 and (for the sake of argument) the book says 100' should be down around 15' I try it and not even close. Prime example---Reef runner Deep Down Jr. Should be getting 14-15' EASY... I had 130' out and still couldn't rub bottom!!!!!!! Last year I was confident at were my baits were running... What could have gone wrong, I do have a new depth finder and paddle wheel. Could that be the problem if so how do I check it (my speed).. I am getting quite frustrated and feel trolling cranks is becoming a waste of time as I don't like to fish 100% on luck. ANY HELP--------------

-altough we did nail em on cranking on waubay didn't have a clue how deep the bait was but found what they like.

-also how come sometimes it seems I can get a crank to start hitting bottom at 15' and then I move out to deeper water, and the little sucker seems to still hit bottom, and I know it is in deeper water. like 18 or so. Seems every once i awhile they grow a bigger bill......

thanks-

[ETT]

Eye Guy,
Tune the cranks (any and all of them). Be fussy and make sure they are right on. Then use the chart in Precision Trolling to adjust the depth according to line dia. Play with your speed (it rearly hurts) and make sure you keep the trash off the lures. Don't know what else to tell you unless you in a current situation and that is messin you up. Good luck.

[eye guy]

Always-Religously---do I tune, and clean my crank(crankbait),LOL,
As well as zero out the line counter.. And I make sure my partner (fishing)at the time has tuned and clean crank--bait--

[Dave S]

ETT is correct that very small changes in lure tuning can make a big difference in depth that the same lures dive. I have taken identical lures on the same weight line and line counter reels, one on each side of the boat and trolled a flat. You would be surprised at the diffence in depth that the same supposedly identical tuned lures would dive. No two lures are identical!

[cranker]

Are your spools completely filled?? It makes a difference. The problem you stated happens to me quite frequently even with a tuned bait. Line counters really help with being able repeat the same depth even though it may not be exactly what the book says.

[Fish-on]

Sounds like you don't have enough line on your reels. Take them out a a football field and check them out with the yard lines and see how close you are to actual distances. You might be suprised how far off you can be just by not having enough line on the reel.

[REW]

My guess is that you have either
a: Incorrect line length, or
b: Incorrect speed .

Check your line length on a foot ball field or simply with a long tape. Check the distance that you normally run - and verify what the number on your reel really is. It actually doesn't matter what the number is. You simply need to have a repeatable number - that you can always repeat. Thus if you need 200 feet of line out - measure out 200 feet of line and verify the line counter to see what it says. It might read 150, or it might read 500. It might even read 200.


Check your trolling speed with your gps. It actually works just fine to check your trolling speed as well.

Take care

REW

[eye guy]

thanks for the help... After you mention how much line I had on the reels, I remembered refilling my line counters and don't believe I calibrated them or actually measured accuratly.

Does anyone here have problems with fireline fraying, or lookig wore out... I will be out fishing and be running my trolling rods and a buddy will have a rod along and run his, and I notice almost instantly that his fireline is nice and smooth and "new looking" and mine is turning gray, and showing little strands breaking. I know I fish alot more than him, but I just put new line on in May... Just another concern I have.

[Dave S.]

I use Fireline on several trolling rods and after time it will fade and loose its color. Fading will not affect the line quality that I have noticed. After being used allot it will start to fray as you mentioned at which time I pull off the 100 yards of Fireline I have on each reel and flip it end for end. One typically only has about 150 feet of line out so the other 150 feet of line has not been in the water much prior to that. One nice thing about Fireline is that it does not develop any kind of set like mono does after being wound on a spool.

[Dave S]

It is my understanding that the lengths of line shown in the Precision Trolling Book are "Lengths of Line in the water". Depending on the angle of your rod with the waters surface you could easily have 30' - 40' of line out in the "air" before the line enters the water.

[BradB]

Now I didn't know that! I have had similar concerns and wondered why I didn't hit bottom in 30 feet when I theoretically was 35 feet down. Line in the water may have something to do with it!

What about turns? Does anyone know how quick turns effect the running depth of cranks?

[Dutchman]

It's been my experience that the outside crank will rise up slightly in a tight turn. A slow turn doesn't effect them much. The inside line also slows down and will almost stop in a tight turn. This is where suspending cranks shine....