Reef Runner crankbait are tools that allow walleye anglers to control the depth of the bait while trolling. Reef Runner crankbaits provide anglers with depth control so that anglers can match the depth of the bait to the depth at which the walleye are present. If the crankbaits is the correct type for the bait, if the trolling speed is correct, and if the line weight is correct, the Reef Runner crankbaits will be placed into the strike zone of the suspended walleye.
The depth of a Reef Runner crankbaits changes with the trolling speed of the boat. If the boat is traveling at greater speeds the crankbaits will travel more higher in the water column. If the boat slows down the Reef Runner crankbaits will travel deeper into the water.
How to Control Depth with Reef Runner Crankbaits
Different models of Reef Runner crankbaits will have different starting depths due to the different bill length of the crankbaits. The 800 series of Reef Runner crankbaits are for shallow water. During the spring, when walleye is located near the surface, anglers can utilize the 800 series Reef Runner crankbaits.
The mid-range Reef Runner crankbaits is for depths in the middle of the lake and are used during the summer when the fish are residing in the warmer waters of the lake. Deep diver Reef Runner crankbaits are used for deeper waters, but snap weights may have to be added to the line to reach the walleye if the deep water is beyond the reach of the Reef Runner crankbaits alone. The diameter of the line that is being used will have an impact on the depth of the Reef Runner crankbaits.
If heavy monofilament line is used, the crankbaits will not go as deep into the water column as they otherwise would; the extra drag from the heavier fishing line will keep the Reef Runner crankbaits higher in the water. If the line from 10 lb test to 17 lb test for instance, the Reef Runner crankbaits will lose several feet in depth. Most anglers prefer lighter line to reach the depths that they want the crankbaits to reach; however, the lighter line is less durable than the heavier lines when trolling near fishing structure or when a large fish hits the Reef Runner crankbaits.
Snap weight may be added to the fishing line to add depth to the Reef Runner crankbaits without changing the Reef Runner crankbaits. If a one ounce snap weight is added fifty feet in front of the Reef Runner crankbaits the depth of the crankbaits will increase. If a two ounce or three ounce snap weight is added, the depth will increase to an even greater degree.
The same amount of weight should of been added to each fishing rod so that the only variable in the equation change is the speed of the boat. The speed that the boat is traveling is another critical variable for the Reef Runner crankbaits. Most trolling speeds are between 1.5 and 3 miles per hour.
The boat speed over the ground should be measured so that water currents can eliminate the effect on the speed of the Reef Runner crankbaits. Line counter reel will assist in maintaining the same distance that the Reef Runner crankbaits are set back from the tip of the fishing rod. The time of year that the anglers are trolling will determine which type of Reef Runner crankbaits to use.
During spring time, when walleye are near the surface, shallow Reef Runner crankbaits should be used. During the summer, anglers may use deep diver Reef Runner crankbaits or lines that include snap weights. During fall time, when walleye begin to return to the surface, there are a variety of Reef Runner crankbaits that can be used to ensure that the bait covers the depth ranges of walleye present in the water column during this time of year.
The clarity of the water will determine the color of Reef Runner crankbaits that are used. In water that is clear, anglers can use natural shad or chrome colored Reef Runner crankbaits. In murky water, bright colors such as chartreuse or fire tiger colored Reef Runner crankbaits can be used to help the walleye find the bait.
The best color for Reef Runner crankbaits may change if the clarity of the water changes or if the baitfish begin to move to a different depth in the water column. Using a depth chart will allow the angler to repeat the successful combination of Reef Runner crankbaits, speed, line weight, and snap weights. By using a depth chart the angler will be able to control the depth of the Reef Runner crankbaits and ensure that the combination of variables will find the walleye.