Fine Tuning A crankbait is only effective if it runs true. Landing fish is the biggest culprit in knocking baits out of tune. This can easily be corrected by bending the eyelet or the wire connecting link in the opposite direction that the lure is tracking. This process may take some trial and error. I check the tune on my baits every time I set use them by first inspecting their running characteristics alongside the boat before letting them back.
Dull hooks are perhaps the single leading cause of lost fish when crankbait trolling.
Walleyes and especially those huge trophies have bony mouths that defy all but the sharpest hooks from taking hold. I hone my hooks to a sticky sharp point using a sharpening stone specifically designed for the task. When a walleye hits a trolled crankbait, the hookset usually occurs when the walleye shakes his head soon after realizing he s been had. Knowing this makes sharp hooks especially important for successful trolling.