Many anglers are used to running Bottom Bouncers and spinners, a floatting jig, plain hook (both with your choice of bait), a spoon or a shallow running minnow bait. You can also run the same things on a three way. For this report I will be talking about shallow slender minnow baits such as the Orginal Rapala Raps on a three way rig.
A three way rig consists of a bell sinker with a dropper line attached to it. The lentgh of the line can be made to any depth you decided to run your Rap at, anywhere from a one foot to ten feet long or longer. Attach this to one of the loops on the three way swivel. On another loop of the three way attach it to the main line. Now comes the length of lead to your Rap. This can be three to six feet long. I like to tie snap swivels on my main line, dropper line for the sinker and my lead to my crankbait. This allows for me to change the weight of bell sinker, dropper length or the lead to my crankbait quickly without having to retie all the time.
Here is a quick tip for your dropper line. Tie your bell sinker to a four or six pound test line if your main line is eight or ten pound test. The reason you do this is if you get snagged, just back up over where you are snagged, give a quick jerk. This should free the bell sinker if not the lighter line will break and you still have your Rap.
Now you are ready to lower it to the bottom. Once you touch bottom go about twenty feet and lower the rig down again until it touchs bottom. Now you are at the right angle for your crankbait to be running. Your line from your rod tip to the water surface should be at a 45 degree angle. A rule of thumb for the weight of your bell sinker is one ounce for every ten feet down you are going. Example would be 1 oz for 10 foot range, 2 oz for 20 feet, 3 oz. for the 30 foot range and so on.
When you get a hit just drop your tip back slowly. This allows the rig to collapse and the crankbait to be taken by the fish. With a steady pull set the hook. Don't snap or jerk your rod tip as this could lead to a miss fish.
Many of you know that I love my crankbait fishing and without saying make sure you have a variety of color, sizes and styles of baits. Now you have another technique in your bag of tricks the next time you are out and having a tough time. Give it a try, I am sure you will be glad that you did as it has put fish in my boat over the years and will yours to.