Cranks and spinners

Hey guys whats the water temp when u like to put the cranks away and spinners in?

[nitecrawler128]

Where I fish, I NEVER put the cranks away, I fish them at night all year long... from opening day until ice-up. However, in the fall I DO put the spinners away when water temps are decreasing and fall into the lower 60's.

[adempsey]

I also never put the cranks away, just change which ones I use. I don't often use spinners for walleye unless you're referring to crawler harnesses.

Faster high action cranks (including in-line spinners) in warm water - summer.

Slower low action cranks in colder water - spring/fall.

Larger baits in the fall.

However, that's VERY general and just a guideline that I personally follow. I still throw out my favorites all year long even though it would go against those guidelines.

[Phil T]

We're allowed two rods/person on most of our waters. I often troll a bottom bouncer-spinner rig on one side and a crankbait that will wobble at that same speed off the other. The fish's preference of the day determines what I finish using.

[Winnie]

Originally Posted by Phil T

We're allowed two rods/person on most of our waters. I often troll a bottom bouncer-spinner rig on one side and a crankbait that will wobble at that same speed off the other. The fish's preference of the day determines what I finish using.

Phil, what cranks do you find work best at those speeds? 1-1.5 mph?

[Phil T]

I just let the spinner over the side and adjust my kicker's speed. Then I'll trial and error crankbaits until I find one that works at that speed. I've found that "over the side" is more reliable than even GPS speed.
Commonly used crankbaits include Shad Raps, Hot-N-Tots, and big-lipped Rebels. Actually the floating Rapala minnow lures work as the packaging used to say they should at spinner speeds. They are supposed to roll along the lengthwise axis, not swing their tails side to side. The attraction is designed to be the different colors flashing through the water.
Don't try Flatfish plugs. The speed where they wobble won't turn most spinner blades.

[mudpuppy]

I'm not trying to argue or anything, but maybe you're saying flatfish work better for walleye's with a slow wobble, and thats hard to deny. But we troll them a lot in rivers and in the lakes in the spring/fall for trout and salmon, too. Properly tuned you can get close to 3 mph out of one. Admittedly it's wobbling like crazy but still running true.

[Jason Halfen]

Originally Posted by Winnie

what cranks do you find work best at those speeds? 1-1.5 mph?

I run Rapala Flat Raps in the same spread as my harnesses. They have tremendous action in that speed range.

[Mr.Seaguar]

Thanks for the tips guys. Phil T- I agree with checking speed by spinner blade.