I am sure it has been talked about here before and will be again. But, I was wondering what a guy would buy to start his walleye crank collection.
My B-day is coming around quickly and the fam is asking what I want?
I thought what a better gift to have a Oct. B-day to try some crankin.
I am really clueless when it comes to crankin. I am planing a guide trip this fall on Mille Lacs to learn more but any input on a “Starter Kit” would really help.
Any advice???
Thanks John 
Where will you be doing the majority of your fishing?
Jami
Mainly Red (They bite decent on anything) Mille Lacs, the Mississippi and the St. Croix.
For the fall trolling bite on Mille Lacs I would stock up on some Husky Jerks in size 10 and 12. Firetiger, Clown, blue/silver, Crawdad, tennessee shad, and whatever else you want to try. I also like the bent lip shallow shad raps in the same patterns. If you were talking about walleye fishing in general, my list would be endless.
Thanks for the info of the Fall bite up there.
Thats what I was afraid of on the other stuff 
Bigfife has the Hj list covered.
Add some # 5 shadraps and jointed #5 in firetiger,blue,perch,and firecraw,and there arent too many places you cant catch fish on that collection.Goodluck and have fun on building your collection! 
Add some Wally Divers to your list. perch, chrome, and blue. A little less expensive so your gift buyers may get you more . They catch fish too.
Before you buy any cranks go get a Sealine 17 linecounter real and a trolling rod. It will pay for its self in the lures you save from the bottom. If your going to just longline lures put some 20/6 power pro or spider wire stealth on it.
The red river sounds pretty shallow in spots. I wonder it trolling rattle traps up there would work. They work pretty good on the shallow parts of the croix and upper mississippi. There pretty cheap also compared to some baits.
Always a guarentee are the Rapalas. You cant go wrong with them. Start with shad raps in the #5 and 7 and then dont forget husky jerks, and some tail dancers. Those are three different body styles. Good starter pack for you. Dont be afraid to buy big lures
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Dont be afraid to buy big lures
Especially for use in the fall 
For Mille Lacs, #12 HJ in Firetiger. I guarantee that lure catches more fish than any other on the lake this time of year. Then, after buying 6 of those, start buying everything you can afford. It’s an addicting passion!!
Don`t foreget to add some Frenzies in 5`s and 7`s same color patterns as the Rapala`s. Some days the Frenzies just flat out fish the Rapala`s. HHHuuuuhhh there really pretty cheap maybe you want to buy these on your own, let the elatives buy the expensive stuff.
Oh boy looks like I got my work cut out for me!
So I need what $200 bucks in Gander gift cards?
Cranks, line counter rod and reel.
I wonder if my wife would notice a couple bucks charged on the Visa???
Here’s the startup list I tell everybody.
StickBaits for spring/fall (Husky Jerks, Original Rapalas, Rattling Rouges etc…)
MinnowBaits for late spring to late fall (Shad Raps 5’s 7’s and jointeds, Wally Divers, Tail Dancers, Flicker Shads, Frenzys etc…).
I agree that a good rod with a line counter is the first step. The Diawas are great and you can find a decent glass rod for $30-$40. Gander has a good telescoping planer board rod for about $30, the Diawa Heartlands are pretty good too. Get a copy of the Trollers Bible (precision trolling), this will give you most of your dive curves.
Good rod holders are next, pick your favorite and install. Now that you have all of this, find an extra few hundred dollars and go crazy on the cranks. I have about 4 boxes of cranks now. I’m about 1/10th of the way home.
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I have about 4 boxes of cranks now. I’m about 1/10th of the way home.
I have 10 boxes of cranks, yet I think I’m about a 1/10th of the way home. 
Great advice!!!
Deep Tail Dancers for the summer on Mille Lacs. Size 11. Perch, purple clown, any color works. HJ is another good choice.
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So I need what $200 bucks in Gander gift cards?
Cranks, line counter rod and reel.
That is funny. Once you start buying crankbaits there is no end…..and they are expensive little buggers.
Did I mention that walleyes love to lie in snaggy areas??????????
Lenny would you be willing to stop by North Branch on the way to Mille Lacs to chat with my wife?????????
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That is funny. Once you start buying crankbaits there is no end…..and they are expensive little buggers.
Yep another $130 on HJ’s an Rogues yesterday before hitting Mille Lacs last night. 
Not sound to slow but would this Daiwa AccuDepth work for a line counter rod?
That’s a great reel. I own 12 of them and have yet to have a problem yet. Eventually I’ll start replacing them with Sealines as they wear out. I wanted 4 each set up with mono, fireline, and leadcore.
That is a good reel, but I just bought a couple Accudepth plus reels. I think the plus models are much better reels. I know Fleet Farm has them for about $45. Good luck!!
I have a pair of the accudepth 47 on the 6’6lc depthmaster for my leadcore rods and they do a good job. But I just got an accudepth plus 17 for my braid and I think they really improved them. If you could I would spend the money for the accudepth plus. Although it is hard to pass up a leadcore setup for 55 bucks.
Welcome to the trolling habit.
Jeff
Another $60 at Gander.
Dang it I was there Wed. night dropped $75 on cranks that the guys mentioned here for fall trolling on Mille Lacs.
Went up to Mille Lacs last night. Put in at hunters in about a 15 to 20 mph west wind
Got out there and the waves were rolling changed plans fromn trolling cranks to perch hunting. Went behind big point to hide (Wind changed to N.W.).
Did not even get to pull any cranks 
But we did end up with a bunch of nice perch. 1 small eye (released) and a 38″ Pike (released) that was tore up! I think I should have kept him to put him out of his misery! Tail was chewed on, missing a eye and the body was all scarred up.
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So I need what $200 bucks in Gander gift cards?
Cranks, line counter rod and reel.
That is funny. Once you start buying crankbaits there is no end…..and they are expensive little buggers.
Did I mention that walleyes love to lie in snaggy areas??????????
Lenny would you be willing to stop by North Branch on the way to Mille Lacs to chat with my wife?????????
No way!!!!!!!!!!! I have a hard enough time with my own wife!!
You just hafta break them in right. I spent about $150 in front of mine on hair jigs and blades last week at Dean’s and she didn’t bat an eye!
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You just hafta break them in right. I spent about $150 in front of mine on hair jigs and blades last week at Dean’s and she didn’t bat an eye!
Maybe not an eye, they are visible to the public, but did she “bat” your 
Only AFTER we got out of the shop…………. She’s conscientious enough not to embarass me in front of my friends.
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