Multiple Rods and Lures for Pre-Spawn Crappie by Brad Wiegmann

[Slab]

Can you have too many rods and lures during the pre-spawn? Not according to Charlie Brewer’s Slider Company pro Kevin McCarley. The Alabama Slider pro likes to spider rig 8 rods out the front deck or might change up using multiple rods in the front and back deck.



“This time of year I like spider rigging down on Guntersville for crappie. It’s a deep water pattern bite for crappie right now. So, I’m targeting black crappie around any current breaks on the secondary channel as they start to move back in the creeks,” said McCarley.


Usually, McCarley will start fishing a spider rig keeping the boat right on the ledge. The key he believes is to keep the lures just off the bottom or about a foot off the bottom. Using a double jig rig keeps his lures near the bottom, but also the top jig just a little farther away where crappie might be feeding.


McCarley uses BnM Poles (www.bnmpoles.com) Pro Staff Trolling rods or Buck’s Graphite Jig Pole rigged up with 8 pound test fishing line. He’ll have 4 fishing rods to the left side and 4 fishing rods off the right side of the bow of the boat. By keeping his boat on the ledge, McCarley can cover the sweet spot where the crappie are located.


“I use a double jig rig on all of the 8 rods; however, I will stagger the presentation from rod to rod. The outside rod will have two jigs on it with 1 ½-inch Slider soft plastic grub rigged on a 1/8- or 1/16-ounce Slider Ball Head Jig. The next rod may have just two minnows rigged a 1/8- or 1/16-ounce Slider Ball Head Jigs that the next rod may have a mixture of live and soft plastic Slider Grubs and I continue to mix it up with each rod,” said McCarley.


When it comes to color patterns, McCarley likes to use Junebug, Blue/Chartreuse or the new Mardi Gras in the 1 ½-inch Slider (www.sliderfishing.com) Grub. Normally, he will use a similar color pattern Slider Jig Head.



If the deep pattern is not producing crappie, McCarley will switch and try fishing shallow water around 8 feet deep. When fishing this shallow around the grass in Guntersville, McCarley will use up to 8 rods at the bow of the boat and 4- to 6-rods out the stern if it is more than just him fishing. Instead of using multiple lures McCarley uses a single jig.


“I will use a split foam cork on the rods when fishing shallow. The cork will keep the lures just above the grass usually 3- to 4-foot under the surface. By using a cork your lures have a completely different action than just hanging straight down off a rod and incites crappie to strike,” said McCarley.


Having a deep water plan and a shallow water plan keeps McCarley from having a bad day out crappie fishing. However, if all else fails and the crappie are not biting McCarley has one more trick up his sleeve. “If I can’t catch them using multiple rods and lures, I will just single pole one jig. I have been spending some time learning more and more on how crappie look plus how skittish they can be some days with Garmin Livescope. I’ve had good days and bad days, but I know it’s just one more way I can catch crappie,” said McCarley.


Not surprisingly the Alabama crappie angler usually catches the majority of his fish using multiple rods. Being able to fish deep and shallow will definitely help out when he is fishing this year in the Alabama CrappieMaster (www.crappiemaster.net) tour on Lake Martin.

[BuckeyeCrappie]

Thanks Slab!

[Slab]

That cork technique will be worth trying here in FL for sure.

And please support those that support us:
Charlie Brewer Sliders Rock.

[trypman1]

I have been using corks for years spider rigging. They help with slight bites and keeping your lines out from boat.