How Much Line Should You Let Out When Trolling For Crappie?

Drop a

⅛-ounce jig

into the water and let out 30 feet of line. Clip a Mini Planer to the line, then let out more line until the board swims 20 feet from the side of the boat. Next, let out a board with a 1⁄16-ounce jig 10 feet from the same side of the boat.

What speed do you troll for crappie?

Trolling speed is critical when it comes to crappie, and Duckworth bases his speed on water temperature. Right after the spawn when water temperature is 65 to 70 degrees, he trolls at 1.8 mph With water temperature between 70 and 75 degrees, trolling speed is 2.5 mph.

What is

long-line trolling

?

What is Long-Line Troll Fishing? Long-line trolling involves pulling jigs and soft-plastics via a rod spread positioned at the back of the boat Chappell trolls baits roughly 60 to 80 out after making a “really good, long cast.” Chappell does long-line trolling between 1.0 to 1.3 miles-per-hour (mph).

How far behind the boat should I troll?

Bait Position and Distance Behind Boat Proper distance for most boats will be anywhere from 20 feet to 150 feet behind your boat. Whether you have inboard diesel or outboard gas engines, your power dictates the distance you troll your baits and lures.

How deep are the crappie right now?

You’re likely to find the crappie hanging out in waters 6 to 12 feet deep and remember, finding structure is not as important as finding food for the crappie.

What is the

best month

to catch crappie?

The

best time

of year to catch crappie is during the spawning season which takes place from February-May During the spawn, both male and female crappie move from deep locations into shallow and concentrated spawning areas. This makes them very easy to target, as they are actively feeding and defending their nests.

What time of day is best for crappie fishing?

The best time to fish for crappie is at early dawn and dusk But during the colder months it can be at the warmest time of day in the afternoon. Crappie generally feed most actively in low light, so this leaves the night as another great time to catch them as well if you have the opportunity.

How do you troll for crappie in the winter?

Push the ledges – In lakes and rivers with steep banks, the ledges leading up to the shallows are excellent places to find late winter crappie. Pushing multiple baits in a wide swath parallel to the bank affords the angler to fish from shallow water to mid-level depths.

How fast should you go when trolling?

The best trolling speed depends on several factors including the type of fish, water conditions and lure choice. In general, trolling speeds between 1.5 and 2.5 mph , as measured by GPS, are a good starting place for most species like walleye, trout and salmon.

Does trolling speed affect lure depth?

Trolling slightly faster or slower , the wind pushing the boat sideways, waves rocking the boat (tugging back and forth on the lures), underwater currents, water temperature, line diameter, variations in the lures (even though they look identical) and other factors all combine in very complex ways to affect a lure’s.

How do you troll for crappie in the spring?

Place a small split-shot a foot or two above the jig and trolls through the creeks and mouths of coves at approximately 1 mph Cane poles and fiberglass crappie poles can also be used with jigs or live minnows. Fishing over brushpiles is a good bet, and fishing around and under docks can also be productive.

Can you troll for crappie at night?

Go slow at night until you find ’em Fishing vertically is the best technique for catching summer crappie after dark, either slow-trolling vertically or setting over fish and dropping baits directly down to them.

When should I spider rig for crappie?

Late winter to early spring is probably the most exciting time to spider-rig, with crappie at the peak of their growth cycle before the spawn, often moving into shallower waters, and extremely aggressive.

Citations


https://www.acmetackle.com/blogs/news/crappie-fishing-with-kalin-s-long-line-trolling-technique


https://www.fieldandstream.com/ultimate-crappie-trolling-setup/

A Guide to Long Line Trolling for Crappie