Wanting to try spider rigging

Going to start spider rigging and I have a few questions. I just built my own 18in tall and 24in wide t-bar with 4 rod holders. Wanted to start small then build me another one so I can run 6-8 rods after I get the hang of it. Anyway I was wondering what size rods should I go with for fishing shallow to 15’ of water. I’ve decided to get 14’ length but was wondering if I should go with light or medium action?? Any info would be appreciated


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The "action" of different brands are not all the same. You could get a "med" action in one brand of rod & it could be exactly the same as a "lite" action in another brand.

I've got three 14' rods that I push jigs/cranks with ... one BnM PST and two BnM Capps/Coleman rods. The Capps/Coleman rods have a lighter action on the tip, but it's not real noticeable until you go above 1/2oz of weight. When I'm pushing, it's not really that big a deal, since the speed is higher than if I were Spider Rigging & the bites are much more noticeable.

If I were looking for "Spider Rigging" rods, I wouldn't go by the "action" listed on the rod. I'd ask how much downward bend the rod has with the amount of weight I intended to use. Some brands have very whippy tips, so the rods would have to be pointing "upward" out of the holder to keep the tips out of the water ... or they bend to their max at the tip with only minimal weight. My buddy, Chucky, uses 16' Capps/Coleman rods & 3/4oz weights ... and all he does, mostly, is Spider Rig. He's the reason I have C/C rods ... even though I wanted PST's. He got them at discount during a CUSA tourney, and C/C rods were all that were left by the time he got to the sponsors table.

I'm not recommending any particular brand, just letting you know that some actions are listed the same ... but aren't the same.

Lol I figured as much! Thanks for the information sir


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Get you a set of 14 ft southerncrappierods. Best rod for the money out there. They will work good with 1/4 oz to 1 oz weights, very sensitive tip and great backbone for that type rod. Fairly inexpensive compared to some of the other poles out there.

:hesaid I agree with the southerns! I love mine! and like cray said they are not overly expensive so you wont loose much if you dont like to spider rig!
Another option is the south bend poles that monks crappie sells. I dont have any experience with the 14' rods but I have a set of 12' that I used when i first got started, they are very nice rods. Plus the one monk sells come as a combo rod/reel. SOUTH BEND ULTRAFIGHT COMBO :: Monk's Crappie

You didn't ask about this, but I've used spinning reels and I've used small inexpensive bait casters on my spider rigging rods and greatly prefer the bait casters for a number of reasons. Just my experience. And welcome to the forum from Batesville.

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Originally Posted by Mac Daddy

You didn't ask about this, but I've used spinning reels and I've used small inexpensive bait casters on my spider rigging rods and greatly prefer the bait casters for a number of reasons. Just my experience. And welcome to the forum from Batesville.

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What’s your reasoning behind the baitcasters?


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Originally Posted by jphogfan21

What’s your reasoning behind the baitcasters?


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Well I'm not sure how well I can communicate this via typing, but lets say the fish are shallow and you are using 14' poles with only 4' of line out from the tip. So you catch a fish and lift your pole up and of course the pole bows some but the fish is still say 8' from you being able to get a hold of it. So now you have to let some line out in order to get the fish close enough to you to take it off of the line. With a spinning reel most people just grab the line and pull against the drag in order to get enough line out to access the fish. But with a small bait caster all you have to do is place your thumb on the release and the spool at the same time and then only apply enough pressure as to let the fish down to take it off, much quicker, smoother and easier than dragging line off of the drag on a spinning reel. Also the same principle works when setting your lines out at the right depth. So let say your using 14' rods and you're going to fish 6' deep and you are using say a 1 ounce weight. What we do is mark our rods with colored tape measuring from the tip down to say 4' and put a piece of say blue tape, then come down another 2' and put piece of say green tape, come down another 2' and put a piece of yellow tape, and continue doing this down the rod to say 12'. Now all you have to do is put you bait on then crank it up some and then hold the rod up and with your thumb on the spool and press the release simultaneously allowing the line and bottom bait to fall down to the appropriate colored tape, in this case it would be the green one, engage the reel and set it in the holder and it's at the right depth. It's so much easier for me that I changed all of my spinning reels out to bait casters. I think I found some on sale at Academy once for about $15 each. If by chance you still want to use spinning reels, which is fine too, I might have some I'll sell you, I'm not sure how many I may have still though.

Mac Daddy I appreciate that information!! Will definitively consider that!


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I also only use baitcasters for the above reasons. However, I only use baitcasters with a flipping switch. All you gotta do is touch the thumbar to let out line and then release it to stop. Very easy and quick. There aren't many around any longer except for very high dollar reels but they pop up on ebay frequently. That's where mine come from.