Terminal Tackle Tweaks You Should Be Doing

 Ross Robertson with Big Water Fishing takes a deep dive into some terminal tackle tricks that can improve crankbait fishing for walleye. Crankbaits are really a three-season tactic: spring, summer, and fall.  Crankbaits aren’t always perfect out of the box, and what he has learned through lure development is that outside factors really influence their performance. Pairing up certain terminal tackle with a good crankbait can make a huge difference in how that lure moves and performs in the water.

Obviously, there is a ton of terminal tackle options, but I prefer a plain VMC duo lock number two snap on my crankbaits when walleye fishing.  It gives the lure an extra bit of action.  A size one snap is quite a bit smaller and a size three is quite a bit larger and can chance the action of the crankbait in a negative way. 

When trolling crankbaits, I like to use a short leader using about 4 feet of the same monofilament I use as my main line.  Then I tie it to a small VMC swivel, and tie the main line to the other end of the swivel.  This will eliminate any line twist while I’m trolling cranks.

Whether you’re battling line twist, lure action, or fine tuning your crankbaits, terminal tackle can make a big difference in your performance on the water.