This is kind of an informal survey…I’m just wondering how most of you anglers would rate the crankbait bite VS. (key word vs.) last years or years past crankbait bite so far this season…basically how would you rate the bite up to this point as compared to years past crank bites…
If I may, I’ll chime in after a little Croix talk starts up I’m not talking Sippi – the St. Croix – and there are no wrong answers except Rivereye’s ones!!! 
Keep catchin’
Turk
slower than last year on the upper parts of the river. It looks like it might be picking up a little again. Caught a few on cranks last weekend so I will be giveing it a try again on wensday evening.
geeeez…. I get no respect!! 
so if my answer is wrong, before I write it down… I guess that gives me the opportunity to use some sort of zen answer….. like (famous oriental philosopher)…. confusion says
its now how well they are biting crank baits… but how cranky they are when biting well…. let us all now meditate upon this enlightened wisdom….. 
Hey Guy’s, I’d say the crank bite is WAY slower than last year. We smacked them from opener on last year and this year we can hardly buy a bite on them. At least that’s how it has been for me. Live bait has still been ruling for me!
Ferny.
I think it’s slower as well, but the bait bite has been good so I’ve not given it much of a chance. Interesting note for you guys, I’ve seen a couple of decent to large eye’s in the shallows following jerk baits, muskie sized that is. even heard rumor of a big fish caught recently….anyone hit the shallows with slip bobber & leech mille-lacs style?
I didn’t start cranking the Croix heavy until last fall. In my opionion this springs crank bite has been action packed in good spots but the fish are almost always short.
I’m not yet as good as the rest of the folks on the board, but I believe it is quite a bit slower than last year and I’m too bull headed to use live bait. Yet. I catch enough sheepies as it is with cranks. I have been casting and troling cranks. As a percentage I’m catching more legals with cranks this year, but fewer fish per outing.
I haven’t had any luck with them this year, at least on the lower end, around Prescott. I have never been a big fan of cranks, though. At least not this early in the year. I have always had better luck with them in the fall, but I usually have better luck overall on live bait, either a jig and minnow or lindy-type crawler setup. This year, a white or chartreuse 3/8 oz. jig has been unbeatable for me.
But after reading the posts on this board, I realize that I have A LOT to learn about fishing the Croix. Especially about broadening the areas I fish. I generally don’t make it north of the Kinnie, if I even go that far up at all. I tried up around Osceola once after opener, and didn’t catch a thing. But there had been a pretty heinous cold front the night before. Anyway, I will take any advice from anyone about new areas to try. I guess I can ask that in good conscience, since I did answer the question about crankbaits!
Cranks have been dead for me this year. There are a few exceptions of course but for the most part last spring/early summer was a lot more active. I have started using live bait now to make up for time spent on cranks. 
Well I know Turk and I spend lots of time pulling cranks on the Croix. And for me it has been a little slow. But the nicer fish this year have came on cranks for me. The big 20-24inch eyes have been coming off of the deep points in 22-25ft. What I have found is that these fish are 2-5ft off of bottom. And as of late, I have been putting much nicer fish in the boat on reefrunners vs the standard #5 and #7 shadrap in the standard and jonted models.
On a side note. Make sure you bring out the bait. I was out with a group from PA last wednesday and we had 10 legals which was a pretty good day. All these fish were caught on bait and lindy rigs.
Good Luck,
Erik Haslund
Rivereyes, thanks for being such a good sport! You ol’ zen master…
From the way the question was presented I guess you all won’t be surprised on my take about this year for cranks, and I agree with you all it has been slow as compared to regular June type crank bites – wide action, slow wobble, and the brands and models in between on the average slow… Why I don’t know? Just one of those challenges that year to year differences produce, but I sure think it is odd?!?
Thanks to all for the input and comments! I think this topic can keep on going…. On a side note the fish do want livebait and that touch fishing is always a blast and catching 50 –70 walleye and sauger a day, though mainly short or not is still darn fun! I really think this year has been odd, in many ways, and I don’t feel the “summer bite” has really hit.
Mike T. made an interesting point about big eyes chasing the muskie baits, I assume these fish came from shallow water…I used to religiously fish shallow (8 to 12 feet ) and did catch big eyes, the deeper water is so inviting though…
Good luck all,
Turk
Tried the cranks again tonight with limited results. I have not been trying live bait trolling yet. What are some of the rigs you guys troll live bait with. Most of the water in the upper strech of the river is 10′ or less and lots of snags. Seems like a lindy rig would get hung up alot. Might have to give the three ways or bottom bouncers a try.
To nights report is lots of white bass. 12 eyes, no legels Smallies seem to be taking the place of the white bass in the channels. Hitting the surface same as the whities but smallies on the line. 10 smallies. 1 flat head. 1 big huge wish he was anything else turtle. And a few extras. Cant think of a better way to spend a tuesday evening.
actually these eyes have been seen recently, in more like 2-6 feet in the weeds. vege jig and big old minnow might be deadly
I was on the river last night as well. 8 walleyes (2 legals), a couple of smallies, and a sheephead all trolling cranks.
One thing that I have noticed and has been brought up in other posts is the amount of stuff showing up on my locator. I’m seeing the screen go almost black with bait fish in some areas. As I troll through these areas I almost always get bit so I’m woundering if the eyes have so much forage out there that it’s making it a bit more difficult to entice them trolling and live bait gives them a chance to look it over. All of the eyes that I have kept are fat and in good shape, but with empty stomachs. I don’t think they’re working too hard to get feed.
Also is anyone willing to help me a bit on the size, color and anything else on trolling the ripping sticks. I feel the need to visit Fleet Farm and support the economy.
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Most of the water in the upper strech of the river is 10′ or less and lots of snags. Seems like a lindy rig would get hung up alot. Might have to give the three ways or bottom bouncers a try.
Mike…. you got it right… 3 ways work good up here… Ive used them often… and done well…. when your fishing in less than 10′ of water its often a good idea to have out around 30-50′ of line… I just get more bites farther out it seems… and of course zig zagging also helps…. thats been my experience both on the miss and up here….
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