Thread: Livescope for Spider Rigging

I know members that use it when single pole fishing, Spider Rigging, and when Pushing jigs.

The main "plus" that I can see with using it when Spider Rigging is being able to "scan" ahead (with a slight turn of the transducer) in order to see the cover prior to getting to it, either to avoid running all your lines into it or to check and see if there's even any fish on it worth your time to fish it. Since Spider Rigging is a relatively slow movement method, you'd have time enough to scan the cover prior to your baits reaching it ... but, as far as "watching each rod to see the fish bite", not gonna happen. You're going to have to depend on watching rod tips in that scenario.

You "can" get a Garmin unit, like say a 93sv, with the transducer (SI/DI) and hook the Livescope system up to that & have split screen capability. The downside to that setup is the same as with any split screen system ... each section of screen is small & may be hard to see much in the way of detail. (not to mention that the 93sv transducer adds nearly $200 to the overall cost of that system combination)

Many simply use the Garmin unit of their choice to run the Livescope ... and a separate unit (with GPS mapping) to add waypoints as they are found or use those previously found to plan their routes. Some have the whole screen on map, others may have a split screen of map & sonar (2d/DI/SI ... depending on the capabilities of that particular unit).

I don't Spider Rig, but I know a local guide that just recently added Livescope and his main fishing method IS Spider Rigging .... if that tells you anything.

Mike Baker has a good video on spider rigging with LS YouTube
I used a LS this year for first time spider rigging. As stated I used it to look ahead to see fish and head towards them. I would watch the rod straight a head and was able to make some strike by raising when they came up to it. I think number one thing it helped me not to fish where there were no fish. It teaches you alot about fish behavior and what spooks them. If I had to do it again I would buy again, but I plan on single pole fishing also.

I spider rig a lot and I love mine it gives you a real good view on what the fish are doing, caught many fish this pre spawn by seeing them hugging bottom and putting my rig right down on them, best investment I ever made!!

Thanks guys! That confirms pretty much what I was thinking. Maybe not as helpful to a spider rigger in the same way it is to a single poler but definitely worth the investment. I run a HB Mega off the TM and love it but like I tell everyone in the boat looking at it with me is that what you see is old news that is already gone past the minnows. The LS will give me that forward view the HB Mega cant plus the LS gives at least some live action that the 360 doesn't really do.

Do you think there will ever be a Livescope 360? I would settle for a livescope 45. Anything with a wider view to hopefully capture a few of my trolling rods in the pics instead of just one.

Originally Posted by Missouri Bushwhacker

...Maybe not as helpful to a spider rigger in the same way it is to a single poler but...

I cannot imagine spider rigging without LS! The ability to see out front as you move through/around cover is invaluable.

I have my LS transducer mounted on a separate pole and I can simply scan across all of my rods to check their depth, see if fish are interested, and to watch out for cover.

I was hot to buy LS but my old Panoptic with the 22 ducer is just as good at looking ahead. If you want to see a lot of comments about LS go to Bass Boat Central. All I do is spider rig and crank baits.

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Originally Posted by Missouri Bushwhacker

Thanks guys! That confirms pretty much what I was thinking. Maybe not as helpful to a spider rigger in the same way it is to a single poler but definitely worth the investment. I run a HB Mega off the TM and love it but like I tell everyone in the boat looking at it with me is that what you see is old news that is already gone past the minnows. The LS will give me that forward view the HB Mega cant plus the LS gives at least some live action that the 360 doesn't really.

This is exactly what I like as well. With my HB mega DI I get a snapshot view and with LS it amazes me how much fish are actually moving. Whether the boat, bait or something else I have seen them move way up and down the water column or to a different side of structure. My only complaint is I have a tendency to try and catch fish that are not biting instead of moving on


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i use both forward and perspective mode with spider rigging, forward view is great for knowing what depth the fish and the baits are running at and once you get that set, perspective mode will give you a wide view that shows all baits and you know where the fish are at in relationship to your poles, so it gives you a heads up on which poles to watch for a bite on.

forward view does give you the advantage of watching ahead for structure before you drag your lines though it where perspective mode isn't as useful there.

i also have a Helix 12 on the bow next to my Livescope, i hope to get a Mega 360 transducer soon and then i can use it to scan ahead and keep the Livescope in forward view for the best of both worlds.