Pro Tip of the Week: Make sure those crankbaits run right

By Charlie “Turk” Gierke 

The very best way right now with hot water temperatures, especially on a new (to you) body of water is to troll wide-wobbling crankbaits.

When walleye trolling, I target the bottom 90 percent of the time. An occasional bottom tick on sand or gravel is often better than a consistent pound of the bottom.

The big KEY, though, is to run crankbaits that track dead straight. All crankbaits can become out of line over time with use. A fact: some won’t run right out of the box! A tuned bait trumps all. Off Shore Tackle makes a great product for tuning crankbaits called the EZ Tuner. Otherwise, needle-nose pliers can also be used.

Gierke is a multi-species guide on the St. Croix and Mississippi rivers . Check out his website at www.croixsippi.com or reach him at 651-208-2811.