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Tuning Reef Runner Cranks

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1.8K views 14 replies 12 participants last post by  Jim Stedke  
#1 ·
What is the best way to make sure that my reef runners are running properly? is there a machine or something that tunes these?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
#4 ·
How ya doing today rutty? Are the fish still biting? I'll be calling you for a report for the weekend after next.

Anyway, I had a problem with one of my new reef runners running outward, so I just plugged in my muskie trolling experience and did what I do then. I took the lure and bent the eye that the O ring is attached to the opposite way the lure is running and that fixed my problem. Used needle nose plyers to bend the eye. Caught a fish soon after, then got it snagged up and lost it!! ARGGhhhhhh! Take care!

Paul
 
#6 ·
The older Reef Runners need tuned right out of the box, and I've even needed to tune them after catching a few fish on them. The newer ones I've purchased run pretty true right out of the box.

The best way I've found to tune them is to kick up your speed a little faster than what you will be trolling. Let about 8-10 feet of line out. If the lure runs to the left, bend the eyelet to the right. If it runs to the right, bend it to the left. A little goes a long way when bending the eyelet, just a little pressure is all it usually needs to correct it. Pliers will work, but I've found that the tool they sell works very well.
 
#10 ·
Tim is right on with that tip, I run it off the side rather than the back to try and replicate what the lure will be doing behind the board not the current from forward motion of the boat and prop wash.

I have noticed all my newer Reef Runners that I got over winter did not even need to be tuned, they ran good for the most part, when cranking them in fast at 3-5 mph they where coming in pretty straight.
 
#11 ·
How fast do you guys troll these usually? or does it all depend on certain conditions and things, like most fishing?

I usually flat line troll all my cranks or use jetdivers, but I have bought planerboards this year and this will be the first time using the boards.
 
#12 ·
got this from an article:


48-52 degrees .8-1.2 mph (GPS)

53-60 degrees 1.3-1.6mph (gps)

over 60 degrees 1.6-2.0 mph (gps)



This weekend my hookups came on purple/black reefrunners at 1.0-1.1 and it was 48-49 degrees on the fishfinder


as for distance behind the boat, that depends on depth desired, but speed does affect that too.....the faster you go, the deeper it pulls
 
#13 ·
How fast do you guys troll these usually? or does it all depend on certain conditions and things, like most fishing?

I usually flat line troll all my cranks or use jetdivers, but I have bought planerboards this year and this will be the first time using the boards.
Shawns speed vs. water temp. conversion is pretty close, but bottomline you have to let the fish tell you what speed they prefer. For example if you make an "S" turn and the board on the outside of the turn takes a hit then maybe the eyes want the speed a little faster or if the inside board takes the hit then maybe a little slower. Very rarely do I keep the same speed for extended periods of time. I get more hits on turns and fluctuations / reductions in the trolling speed. This triggers the eyes into committing versus following behind the bait swimming along at the same constant speed. A lot of people take the trolling Captain for granted when they are working the rods, but the trolling Captain can make a mediocre/ bad day into a great one.
Hopefully Frank (fishon) will chime in here cause he is the man on the turns / trolling speed from what I witnessed last Saturday. Don't think I didn't notice !
 
#14 ·
Quote- Krusty

"Hopefully Frank (fishon) will chime in here cause he is the man on the turns / trolling speed from what I witnessed last Saturday. Don't think I didn't notice !"

Finally i get some love and credit...LOL

But seriously.. speed and getting that "reaction bite" is everything from a slow day of fishin, to making it happin into a decent or even great Day or nite on the water... we try to vary our speeds.. using that same base formula as metioned above... and use the "S turns".. and even trolling straight and slights bumps in speeds.. we even go neutral @ times.. to stall them out a bit but just for a second or two..the turns and vary from "long sweeps" to more erratic zig zags.....

I just started doing these trolling tactics because i was bored and Kevin likes to catch all the fish..LOL j/k bro... when we first started trolling i have awfuyl boat control.. we were all over the place and every time we mad a mistake or the boat would verr off my straight course or i get distracted and veer off we got a fish... or a tankel and we stop for a second .. bam another fish...i thought it was just randam coincidence but than i starting reading articals and seeing guys and charter captins doing the same few years ago while nightbiting... I use to get upset in our little boat because i thougt these big shots were doing on purpose to keep us little guys(boats) off the lake... or we were in there way.. all i was trying to troll straight... and i get ticked off becuse they were not trolling straight.. but now i know why they were trolling this way.... Just another little tib bit to get them fish going.... nothing worse than just sitting there with no fish biting.....


Frank
 
#15 ·
Here's a post I put on WC. Thought it may be helpful here as well.
Reef Runners have a built in horizontal hunting action. That's kinda like saying they are not going to track perfectly straight and true. A slight variation in speed will often cause the lure to dart left or right momentarily. This is a wonderful trigger for any following fish and frankly I believe it is what makes the lure so effective.
So how do we tune a lure that has a built in horizontal hunting action???

You start with the lure beside the boat at trolling speed, with around 10' of line out. Pull the lure and watch to see if wants to hang too far left or too far right. Using needle nose pliers or the Reef Runner lure tuner, bend the line tie in the bill just slightly the opposite way the lure is running. (running left - bend right or the reverse). Keep making tiny adjustments until the lure pulls fairly straight.

Now rip the lure forward with the rod, such as would happen if the board was coming off a wave. The lure will likely kick right or left. Pull it several times and make tiny adjustments untill you get it to kick both left and right about equally.

The secret is to sneak up on the sweet spot, and not rack the line tie back and forth several times.

Hope this helps ... it is critcal for propper lure performance.