Category: Smallmouth Bass

Trolling with Crankbaits at Merritt Reservoir

7/30/2020

Fishing with a friend - We caught 4 smaller Smallmouth Bass and a ½ doz. Bluegill using this technique, no keeper walleye. We then tested the trolling rods as we hooked on a couple crankbaits, a # 7 Flicker shads and a #11 Flicker minnow. We spooled out 125’ of line on the line counter reels and pulled them in the 2.5- 2.7 mph range. Trolled the 11-13’ depths, couldn’t buy a bite on the cranks after covering a couple miles of shoreline while often banking the bottom! We searched numerous locations and found some fish so we anchored up and jig fished over 10-12’ depth. Caught small walleye, a nice yellow perch and always fun on ultralight large Channel catfish on #4 test line. Yep, 2 trips around the boat with that cat but kept him out of the troller and the anchor rope.