Thread: spider rigging in my yak

Really interesting watching you guys come up with some very nice rigs. Since Ditchbasser and I both have sit IN yaks, all we really have to work with is the area immediately on the front rim of the cockpit. I know the Scotty's are $25 a pop, ....a chose to go with the ones that mount on TOP of the hull, Ditch's mount THROUGH the hull, but they both pull completely out (his is then flush, mine is 3 inch out) and are very adjustable in horizontal and vertical angles. There are a number of reasons why - many of which (like wind) you've touched on, but keeping your rod tip no more than a foot above the water is a KEY point. Sometimes crappie "push" your jig - either to the side or upwards such that the tip barely moves at all - - but with all your lines at the same scan line in front of you, you'll SEE your line move much easier and be able to set the hook on 'em. This is the #1 reason Ditch out fishes all the rest of us yak'ers when were all in the same spot. Ditch keeps talking of going to a Sit On Top - but I occasionally get out on Madison County lake or a few other places where I'll find some big wind chop or ...worse yet, powerboat wakes. This year, I've fished my yak about 15 times, and my 17 ft Bass Tracker (with a 75 Merc.) exactly twice.

Oh sorry, yah, I guess installing some sort of thwart (cross beam) wouldn't work so well with those traditional kayaks. Setting rods down spider rigging works pretty well with my decked pirogue though since the thwart and the deck are flat and at the same level.

Regarding my earlier picture with the rods sitting on the boards on the green SOT kayak, it would take a lot for a fish to pull the rod out of the boat. The reel hangs down and would hit the board in front of it. Also the drag is set loose enough nothing is going to move. Perhaps a big blue catfish could yank the rod out of the boat if the drag locked, but the same rod in a holder with a big catfish would probably snap if the drag isn't working assuming the line didn't break first.

I fish a lot of bridge columns and it is easy to get distracted and let the poles get pushed into the columns by wind. I am not sure if any store bought rod holders would release or avoid have the rods snap if they directly run into a concrete column. With my setup the poles just get pushed to one side if I run into something.

Originally Posted by Tony from Oak Point

Oh sorry, yah, I guess installing some sort of thwart (cross beam) wouldn't work so well with those traditional kayaks. Setting rods down spider rigging works pretty well with my decked pirogue though since the thwart and the deck are flat and at the same level.

Regarding my earlier picture with the rods sitting on the boards on the green SOT kayak, it would take a lot for a fish to pull the rod out of the boat. The reel hangs down and would hit the board in front of it. Also the drag is set loose enough nothing is going to move. Perhaps a big blue catfish could yank the rod out of the boat if the drag locked, but the same rod in a holder with a big catfish would probably snap if the drag isn't working assuming the line didn't break first.

I fish a lot of bridge columns and it is easy to get distracted and let the poles get pushed into the columns by wind. I am not sure if any store bought rod holders would release or avoid have the rods snap if they directly run into a concrete column. With my setup the poles just get pushed to one side if I run into something.

Interesting thread, and it gives an idea of the many situations you encounter while spider rig fishing. Had not thought about fishing the bridge columns with
the spider rigs set up, but can see the reason for being ready for whatever situation occurs. Not one solution for every situation kind of thing. Guess it does
depend on the type of fishing your do the most of and being versatile enought to change when you need too. If your going to fish open water without the
obstructions, a certain kind of rod holder would work for your kind of spider rigging, but around structure you need to be more cautious about where your
rod tips are sticking out. Makes me think more about how I want to set mine up. Thanks for sharing your ideas and looking forward to more ideas.

Yes, I guess every lake is a bit different. Here on Lake Lewisville in Texas, I don't think anyone is catching on traditional spider rig techniques right now. There are a ton of bait fish (especially with no shad die off last winter) so most crappie are lazy and tight to cover in ~85 degree + thermalcline. However that doesn't keep me from spider rigging anyway for sandbass and largemouth between spots and sometimes I'll still get a crappie this way.

Well, this is some funny redneck engineering for sure, but I epoxied / glassed 1/2 of a graphite rod onto a piece of plywood I've cut into a paddle shape. The total weight is just ~1/2 a pound. I think I'll paint the paddle fluorescent green and then this will double as a safety "flag". I've been trying to find an emergency paddle that was light enough not be annoying to carry and also that would fit in the rod rack. However, I think this one will get some use too crappie fishing too.

I have used Ping Pong paddles and even cheapo frisbees as emergency paddles in my yak.

I've been using one of these for some time. I think they have a newer one coming out but this works very well.
Piranha Kayak Fishing Hand Paddle

Originally Posted by Tony from Oak Point

Here is my simple wooden "cross bar" method of holding rods parallel for spider rigging and other use. I am using slide bolt door locks that slide into the metal "bungee" hardware that came with the yak locking the boards in place. The wood is just high enough to allow my feet to slide under.



I'll put together an ultralight paddle next. I'll post a pic once it is done.

You better throw a leash around that fish finder before it ends up at the bottom.

Originally Posted by kcbrown

You better throw a leash around that fish finder before it ends up at the bottom.

X2 on that leash