Pulling instead of pushing allows me one less set of rods . Also still further away from boat .
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"What's so wrong about "Pushing" ??"
Pappy, I set my boat and gear up with the mindset of a client who is stepping into my boat without a clue of what to do. A large % of my clients are challenged by the simplest of trolling gear, much less spider-rigging gear. If I was fishing myself or with experienced friends, I would be pushing cranks a large % of the time. After I had one client drop his power-trolling rig right in front of my trolling motor prop TWICE in ONE HOUR after me telling him multiple times to not drop it anywhere near the front of the boat, and getting 2 14' Southern Crappie Rods 143Ts ground up into 6 footers then spending 20 minutes taking the prop off the Terrova TWICE, I have come to the conclusion that pulling just works better for me in most situations.
I like to "Pull". It is more comfortable in the boat. You can spread out and walk around in the boat instead of sitting spider rig style up front. More like pleasure boating. Way more room. 4 people can easily get a chance to man a rod or two so its more fun for the family instead of 2 at a time up front. If you do get snagged it is much safer on the rods in that they pull off the spool and not double and triple the rod over when pushing. Most importantly everyone can get under the bimini top where as when up on the front deck few biminis cover that far.
I use one ounce weights about 3 feet above the crankbait. This cuts the amount of line out way down. Makes turning easier. Less hang ups tangles line wraps etc. Faster reeling in and out etc. To each his own. Plus it makes me feel like we are fishing like the guys on Wicked Tuna.
Pulling also allows us to use the trolling motor transducer as almost like a forward scanning sonar. Meaning I see what is ahead of my baits (good or bad) long before the hooks get there. Watching the screen I can holler "Get ready guys we are coming up on a ball of shad or reel them up guys there is snag coming up kinda thing". We use this same scanning technique (except use the rear transducer) when backdrifting the Mississippi for giant catfish as well so we can keep our baits right on the bottom where the fish are without snagging. You don't get as much lead time backdrfiting as you do pulling but every second counts when you have 6 rods with 10 bucks of gear each heading toward a sunken barge.
I use 2oz weights weather pushing or pulling or both. With less line out, I can make much shorter turns.