Thread: Spider Rigging 101

I ordered me a variable speed Minn Kota maximize for my trolling motor. It should be in this week. Maybe that will let me get down to the right speeds. Right now I do about .6 mph on the lowest setting of my trolling motor. Wouldn't it be nice if it was that simple?

Speed is one of the main factors for sure !!!! You will enjoy being able to control your boat better!!

Originally Posted by MEATGETTER

Speed is one of the main factors for sure !!!! You will enjoy being able to control your boat better!!

Speed, weight, and depth are the main factors. Get these right and you will catch fish on most anything. I use 1/4-1oz weights mainly depending on wind and depth.

I have what I call my Go to speed and that is CREEPING. Guys nothing in nature maintains a constant speed in the water. SO it stands to reason your best bet at producing a natural presentation

Is creeping along...bumping your trolling motor 10-20 feet and stopping for a bit letting my baits rest. Then bumping my trolling motor again. Some times with erratic turns to the left or right to give my baits a natural looking movement in the water.

If I see that I am getting more bites when bumping the trolling motor ill keep moving till I dial in the speed too what they want.

If I see I am getting more bites when the baits are still. I slow to a crawl. Most of my bites come as my baits come to a rest or as I start another bump on the trolling motor. If wind will allow... this is my most productive method of catching fish when spider rigging.


If you are new to spider rigging this is the way to start learning. And I will bet that CREEPING will become your Favorite speed too. Tight Lines.

Originally Posted by CrappiePro

Speed, weight, and depth are the main factors. Get these right and you will catch fish on most anything. I use 1/4-1oz weights mainly depending on wind and depth.

I have what I call my Go to speed and that is CREEPING. Guys nothing in nature maintains a constant speed in the water. SO it stands to reason your best bet at producing a natural presentation

Is creeping along...bumping your trolling motor 10-20 feet and stopping for a bit letting my baits rest. Then bumping my trolling motor again. Some times with erratic turns to the left or right to give my baits a natural looking movement in the water.

If I see that I am getting more bites when bumping the trolling motor ill keep moving till I dial in the speed too what they want.

If I see I am getting more bites when the baits are still. I slow to a crawl. Most of my bites come as my baits come to a rest or as I start another bump on the trolling motor. If wind will allow... this is my most productive method of catching fish when spider rigging.


If you are new to spider rigging this is the way to start learning. And I will bet that CREEPING will become your Favorite speed too. Tight Lines.

I am about as new as it gets when it comes to Crappie & bass fishing . I just got my aluminum boat and have never tried Spider Rigging before. The fishing I did in the past was mostly salt water or blue water lakes and rivers out west. I moved to TN back in 2008 and got into Kayaking. Then in 2010 I took a job in Colorado and just returned to TN. I can see I have lots to learn as this is a completely different type of fishing from Albacore, Halibut, Salmon, Steelhead, trout and sturgeon.

I am in the process of setting the boat up and Crappie is one of the species I will be targeting. I am still debating if spider rigging will be a method I use but I do thank you for the information you provided. Your post included some of the details a beginner needs to know and was the most informative. Now I will go look to see if that 101 thread was ever started.

Just cause your fishing in 20 ft of water doesn't mean fish 16 ft deep. Biggest problem I see is people staying below em especially early in the spring and on cloudy days

Summertime I look for the thermocline , that will give you a pretty good idea how deep they will be, most of the time the crappie are right at or a few feet above this depth! Good starting point anyway !

Originally Posted by Crappie Greg

Summertime I look for the thermocline , that will give you a pretty good idea how deep they will be, most of the time the crappie are right at or a few feet above this depth! Good starting point anyway !

How good of a depth finder do you have to buy to see the thermocline?

I think you can see it on most any , I've had real cheep ones that I was able to see it on

Do I have to adjust the gray scale, as well as, the sensitivity?

What about rod options? Looking at Capps and Coleman. What lengths to buy?