Go Pound Sand 4 Eyes

Pounding sand for walleyes

By definition, trolling crankbaits that are constantly pounding into the bottom. Rod tip slamming back aggressively with each bottom contact.

A tactic that I learned of early this spring and has put many eyes in the boat for me this year, as well as other species worthy of hitting a crank.

I have had best luck using larger lipped baits that prevent hooks from grinding into the bottom catching on stuff.

2-4 mph have been good speeds with my preference falling above 3 mph for best pounding actions.

I typically use leadcore to achieve good bottom contact. I use braid leaders to retain vibration detection but mono offers better abrasion resistance to the line being roughed up.

Sand, gravel, rock, and a combination of each preferred bottom content.

It’s been a fun and productive tactic for me this year.

What tips and tricks can you offer in regard to pounding ‘sand’ for eyes?

Great tip

Pounding bottom has been a tactic many use for quite sometime.

On the river, I almost feel like I’m doing something wrong if I’m not making regular bottom contact with a crank. It sounds like you’re a little more aggressive with it than I normally am, though. What specific cranks and depths work best for you?

I have had luck with blade baits, trolling at 1 mph and jerking them up every time they contact the bottom.

Get rid of those rod holders. All they do is hold you back from catching more fish.

Make sure to keep changing your boat speed. Many fish seem to follow while trolling. Quick speed up, troll down or even come to a stop may get those followers to hit.

There is more directions than up river to trolling a crank. Second most popular would be down river. You cranks will dive deeper this way so adjust how much line is out. If trolling a large enough area you can also troll cross current. On slow days Ive even followed barges.

“Go Pound Sand 4 Eyes” would make a great fantasy football team name – I thought you were trash talking some guy with glasses.

Will Roseberg wrote:

“Go Pound Sand 4 Eyes” would make a great fantasy football team name – I thought you were trash talking some guy with glasses.

Lol. Had to read it twice before I got what you are saying.

Will Roseberg wrote:

“Go Pound Sand 4 Eyes” would make a great fantasy football team name – I thought you were trash talking some guy with glasses.

x2 lol, I was a little disappointed in the actual thread…but yes pounding the sand with cranks is a great method.

john23 wrote:

What specific cranks and depths work best for you? waytogo

I have a heavy preference to jsr-5 &7’s. Sunday clackin crank 610 was killer.

Depths…I just run where the fish are.

I use this tactic mainly on pool 2 in fairly shallow water – usually less than 10 feet. What I struggle with is how much bottom contact to maintain. I usually move the boat in and out of different depths or change speeds if I feel like I have too much contact for prolonged periods of time. How do others do this?

There is nothing like the thrill of snagging the bottom going down current at 4mph and trying to get the boat turned around before getting spooled!

I find this offensive to people with glasses and find it unpatriotic.

Disclaimer: that’s sarcasm.

Great title!

I just make sure there is plenty of line on the real and a good drag. Its critical when trolling down river to let out just enough line to tick bottom. Sometimes a change of lure is in order. Want to get real good at this troll rip rap down river.

if pounding sand really works for catching fish,I should of had my limit easy the first time I tried water skiing,maybe the fish were not there??
or maybe they were off to the side choking to death laughing at me.

Matt Moen wrote:

What I struggle with is how much bottom contact to maintain. I usually move the boat in and out of different depths or change speeds if I feel like I have too much contact for prolonged periods of time. How do others do this?

I hear ya, sometimes the lure just starts to drag…I do a speed surge, 5 mph, to quickly raise leadcore lures up and off bottom and typically results in banging bottom once slowed down again, if not the lure is dirty. It’s a constant adjustment tactic.

Plan to pound some sand tomorrow for a cooler full of fillets.