Page 6 - Crappie NOW | July 2015

Deep Summer Drop-Offs

where temperature and oxygen
levels change rapidly. Crappie
will be above the thermocline
in “sweet water” that has better
oxygen levels. If you can’t see it
on your locator do a minnow test.
When you get the minnow below
the thermocline it dies within
minutes. When you find that level
you know to keep baits above
that depth. Again, catching a few
crappie is the best way to know
you’re in the strike zone.
Boat control is critical when
slow trolling. You can make other
mistakes but you have to have
control of the boat or you won’t
catch fish. This means the proper
speed, full control in the wind and
staying with the drop-off. Going
into the wind is ideal but if it is
too windy it’s best to go with the
wind using wind socks to keep
the boat straight and at a slower
speed.
Another popular technique A drop-off is made up of more than just the drop
is trolling crankbaits. It works itself with the three main components the drop, ledge
at some lake and some lakes it
doesn’t. But where it does work, and flat. #1 is a typical crappie location with fish
it is often the best way to target suspended up over the drop. #2 is a crappie spot on
suspended summer crappie.
a PVC stakebed. #3 crappie holding spot is brush
located on the top of the drop.

The two basic tactics are swinging under the boat. Having a heavy
pulling and pushing. Pulling means that line weight that holds the line realitively vertical,
is released until the crankbait is behind the the depth is easy to set. Also, when a
boat. Serious pullers use line-counter reels fisherman follows a contour the baits follow
so when they catch a fish with 90 feet of line with the boat.
out, they can return to that exactly 90 feet. Push or pull? It’s a personal preference.
With line size and all baits exactly the same There are advantages and disadvantages
type, depth is controlled by the amount of to each tactic. Pushing gives good control
line used. for following contours but it’s work to land a
Long lining is not the easiest way to fish on a longpole. The wieght of the fish, a
follow a ledge because the baits are trailing flying sinker, along with a flopping fish and
the boat and they don’t follow the exact treble hooks makes it a challenge. It takes
path of the boat. If the boat makes a turn strength to handle everything.
to follow a ledge, the cranks will take a Typical speed is 1.5 mph. The best
shortcut toward the boat, not following the catching speed can vary greatly from day to
exact path of the ledge. day and even hour to hour. 1.2 to 2.0 mph
Pushing crankbaits is better for is the normal range for crappie.
following contours. Pushing is done with
long 14 or 16-foot poles and a heavy 2- Bandit crankbaits have always king for
to 6-ounce weight to keep the line in from

6 Crappie NOW July 2015