spider rigger and trolling questions

[CrappiePappy]

Are you guys using an egg sinker for the weight or other types. I am getting ready to pull the trigger on some Southern Crappie Rods and I think pushing will be something I will want to try. I am not to good at sitting still, I like to move.

I use egg sinkers/barrel sinkers, but it's only because they were given to me by a buddy that went to the trolling sinker style (torpedo shaped) of weights. He bought his inline trolling sinkers from Crawdads Fishing Tackle, several years ago when they had free shipping. I have no problems with using the egg/barrel/whatever style slip sinker. I think you can get 25 trolling sinkers w/swivels from Crawdads for about that many $$ (weights of your choice from 3/4oz - 1oz - 1.5oz - 2oz) with lighter weights being slightly cheaper : https://www.crawdadsfishingtackle.co...sinker-weights

Now, we also have some members that make trolling sinkers w/swivels ... and they may have a better price

[1barnabus]

when pushing or spider rigger over a brush pile what size jig head should i use mostly ..1/16? when pushing with a barrel weight would i not want the jig head kinda light so it seems more life-like.

[Potatoe]

I believe you always want weight on the line, most guys are using 3/4 oz weight and then below that you have your jig or just a hook and minnow.

thanks for reply also crappiepappy on weights

[CrappiePappy]

when pushing or spider rigger over a brush pile what size jig head should i use mostly ..1/16? when pushing with a barrel weight would i not want the jig head kinda light so it seems more life-like.

The weight of the jig & size of the hook it has in it is more or less personal choice. IMHO

When I'm casting jig/plastic, I'm using a 1/16oz weedless jighead w/#2 Aberdeen Hook ... when Pushing I'm using a 1/8oz jighead w/#4 Aberdeen hook (behind a sinker of at least 1/2oz). That's just what I choose to use, and so far it's worked very well.

[1barnabus]

when fishing brush piles spider rigging what gives the bait action ,,,just boat waves with the boat bouncing and will a crappie hit a bare jig if the water is dead calm

[CrappiePappy]

when fishing brush piles spider rigging what gives the bait action ,,,just boat waves with the boat bouncing and will a crappie hit a bare jig if the water is dead calm

Most people "I know" that Spider Rig are using jighead/plastics tipped with minnows. Those that Push jigs just use a jig w/o live bait attached.

Will Crappie bite a plain jig at Spider Rig speeds ?? ... sure, under the right conditions, just as they would when casting a jig under a float. I suspect that marabou jigs are used a lot when there's calm waters vs plastics, since it's almost impossible to keep marabou from moving, but I'd just be guessing because I don't actually "Spider Rig". I mostly cast jigs & Road Runners, and Push jigs/cranks when the fish are suspended in more open water areas (like bare flats & along channel edges/drops).

[Nutbush]

Are you guys using an egg sinker for the weight or other types. I am getting ready to pull the trigger on some Southern Crappie Rods and I think pushing will be something I will want to try. I am not to good at sitting still, I like to move.

Just an FYI if you haven’t bought them yet. If you’re wanting to do a lot of pushing of jigs at speeds of .8+ you might want to consider getting the T models in the Southerns. I have the regular 14’ and 3/8 is the optimum weight for those. I put 3/4 on and they bend pretty good.


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

[Snubby]

Check out some videos on YouTube from Ed Duke, the maker of the Southern Crappie rods. It's a good bit of trial and error involved, to me spider rigging just describes the setup of your poles, typically 4 to 8 poles off the front deck. Some will utilize the front and rear deck when the front deck doesn't allow two men to fish off the front side by side. Slow trolling to me is running about 0.1 to 0.5 mph with 0.3 or 0.4 being optimum, pushing jigs, roadruners, strollr's or minners I may go just a bit faster with heavier weights 0.6 to 0.9 mph, depends on what the fish want. After that you get into what I consider power trolling, moving faster then 1 mph and using real heavy weights 1.5 ounce plus. Me personally, I don't want my lines at a 45 degree angle, I look for more along the lines of 15 to 20 degree angle, unless I'm power trolling or pushing cranks at 1 mph or greater of course. The only time I will use a single jig with no weight (egg sinker etc.) is when fishing very shallow water, 5 foot or less in depth. A good all around weight for me is a 3/4 ounce, sometimes I use a 1/2" ounce sometimes I use a 1 ounce weight. One thing I can tell you if your serious about rigging / pushing / pulling is to get graph with GPS that can tell you your speed, and a variable speed trolling motor makes all the difference in the world. It will make you a lot more consistent on your catch rate in the long run

["G"]

What snubbys just said

[Potatoe]

got my poles today, went with 12' rods for storage reasons mostly. I only have 3 so see what will happen. Rigged them up with 3/4 ounce egg sinker and used a plain 1/24 ounce jig on one. the second I put a road runner and third pole I put a tube jig. feel like a little kid with new toys. see what happens, cant get out tomorrow with son has scrimmage maybe Wednesday.