Convince me, please!

[catchNgrease]

I consider trolling a team sport and is best with two people. I mainly push. I can go from jigging to trolling in 5 minutes. I carry my 8 poles on a horizontal rack and I always roll & unroll them the same way so there isn't any tangles. It's usually my wife or my son with me and we have it down to an art rather a job. There is a finnese to trolling that most people who don't do it won't understand. I still prefer the one on one sport but trolling has it's place. And I usually have to trick my wife into going when I troll because she finds it boring.

Sent from my E6810 using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

[LittleJohn]

ET lot of times your crappie will be out in open water either suspended or chasing bait fish. This is when your spider rigging,long lining and pulling cranks works the best. I seem to catch bigger fish doing these three. There is times they don't want these three presentations. I have had to search out brush piles and set up on them a many time. If I had my pick would rather do the trolling may it be jigs or crank baits.
LittleJohn

[ET Fish]

Thanks to everyone that replied. Lots of good advice!

[yobuck]

There are many methods and they all work, and some better under some type conditions than others.
And some better for some people than others, depending on the mindset of the person.
I personally don't much enjoy reeling in a Crappie from behind the boat after he caught my lure.
Same goes for Walleyes and most others for that matter.
If im going to troll for Crappies, id much rather it be on a short line from the front of the boat.
I prefer a long single pole with a jig, with a minnow attached if necessary, while I move very slowly along the edges of weeds or other type structure. I frankly don't cast well enough to keep my lure away from the tree branches like Richard Gene does.
I have found that if I put a second rod in a rod holder on the opposite side I catch more fish, especially if it wears a minnow. If that rod starts out fishing me, I add another, and maybe yet another till I can no longer use the one im holding because of all the others. When that happens I will try one with just a jig without a minnow, or just a hook with a minnow. Point is that method has helped me see there are other ways that work and work well.
And, although I have some very long rods for that use, I don't use them because of the storage issue.
I have several 3' sections of 3" pvc pipe zip tied to my console with telescopic rods stored in them and they work just fine for that. Just have some different length rigs premade and wrapped around sections of foam pool noodle and use snaps to attach to the rod and the hook or jig. I usually just leave them on the rod when it's folded up and wrap a short pc of Velcro over the hook as I do with my others also. Try using them when it's windy with floats attached also and just drift with them all around the boat. Just bump the motor as needed, and maybe drag a pc of chain.
If I were a dedicated troller, I would no doubt use the long rods and leave all the others home, but im not, and since it is my second choice, this works well for me.
Fact is though some of the locals around here do prefer trolling and drifting, and guess what rods they use.
Bottom line to the O P is that I would recommend trying another method without going overboard with cost in order to do so.

[chaunc]

Or you can get the best of both, trolling and jigging. Watch this video I did with Russ Bailey in season 4.


YouTube

[ET Fish]

Or you can get the best of both, trolling and jigging. Watch this video I did with Russ Bailey in season 4.


YouTube

I like the way you’re thinking! That method has some merit, for sure!

[SuperDave336]

Or you can get the best of both, trolling and jigging. Watch this video I did with Russ Bailey in season 4.


YouTube

Now I really enjoyed watching that! Thanks for sharing!

[agruss]

If you love the feel of the thumb why change? I love shooting docks, its all i do sometimes i do really good and times not so good. But its the way i enjoy fishing, yes i like to catch crappie like everyone else. But my limit is 20 in the livewell and no more. The last thing i want to do is clean 30 crappie our limit in Al. The point of fishing is the enjoyment we get from the thumb or watching for the line to twitch or what ever. We spin a lot of money on our sport so enjoyment is where it is at.

[moskeeter56]

Hire a guide that spider rigs and get the layout and info from someone that makes his living catching fish in the way you are curious in learning. May be money well spent in making up your mind.

Sent from my XT1710-02 using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

[ET Fish]

Hire a guide that spider rigs and get the layout and info from someone that makes his living catching fish in the way you are curious in learning. May be money well spent in making up your mind.

Sent from my XT1710-02 using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

A couple of days ago, I received a pm from one of our great members offering me a seat in his boat to show me the ropes! Kindness like this is what makes this site so special!