Name:	Billy -	Reply
Subject:	Crappie Fishing
Date:	7/19/2019 6:08:23 PM

Has anyone had experience trolling crankbaits for crappie on Lake Martin.  Been reading articles on this technique and it seems to be done mostly in the summer, with much success. Just wondered how the technique might work on Martin with its clear deep water.  Any info would be appreciated.

Name:	dogleg -	Reply
Subject:	Crappie Fishing
Date:	9/13/2019 11:01:02 AM

I plan on trying it out Monday or Tuesday. I’ve been reading about this as well and so I e rigged up per the guy in Kentucky you may have read about. I’ll let you know how it goes. Don’t know if the water level going down will affect it. We’ll see 

Name:	dogleg -	Reply
Subject:	Crappie Fishing
Date:	9/18/2019 9:51:43 AM

OK...tried out crank bait trolling for crappie. Used Bandit series 100 and 200 trolled at approximately 1.7 mph. We caught no crappie but probably because we kept catching two poundish spotted bass. So I’m a believer in the crankbait trolling...and these lures run great....but I’m still going to pursue the crappie fishing application as well. We also ran a five hook umbrella on the deeper side of the boat which caught nothing. 

Name:	Billy -	Reply
Subject:	Crappie Fishing
Date:	2/25/2020 3:48:15 PM

Sorry for taking so long to respond; I've been away from the forum for awhile.

After making the post last July, I actually tried trolling crankbaits (mostly Bandit 300) in several locations around the lake--Wind Creek, Sandy Creek and Blue Creek, to name a few.  I used the method I learned from YouTubes by Mike Baker, which, by the way, are excellent. However, my efforts, like yours, resulted in plenty of spots but, as I recall, only 2 or 3 crappie total.  I tried summer, early and late fall, but to no avail, as far as crappie are concerned.  But lots of small to medium spots.  

Since then, I have learn why, I think.  Talking with a professional crappie angler in the area, as well as friends from a couple other areas, and drawing on my own experience this passed summer, I think the problem is that crappie in Martin are almost all black crappie.  The have somewhat different habits and smaller mouths and just don't hit the crankbaits as well.  Also, more difficult to locate during the time of year when cranking is best.

Blacks do great on longlined jigs, especially from November thru March.  Bottom line, don't think Martin is going to be a good lake for cranking crappie.  However, Lake Jordan is the opposite of Martin--mostly white crappie, not as deep and spread out.  I do not know the lake well, but I'm going to give it a try starting in May.

If you check out the YpuTubes of those catching crappie trolling crankbaits, I think you will see that almost always the are white crappie.  Hope this helps, and let's keep in touch and see if we can figure this out.  I think the river my work as well (Alabama), but I don't fish the river.