Spider Rigging

[Hogdaddy]

I'm gonna try to start fishing this year more for crappie. I've never done any spider rigging before and i know very little about it, but it looks like it is the way to go. The main two lakes i will be fishing will be Green and Barren as I'm about thirty minutes or so from both.

What is the cheapest and best way to get started?

What the best bait, jigs or minners?

What pound line do you need to use?

As you can see I'm new at this and any help would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance!
Happy New Year!

[badbrad]

Welcome to the site, you can use the search box and find answers to a lot of your questions. You'll see there are many different variations of how people do their rigging. I myself, use tite-lok rod holders and Richard Williams signature 10ft poles. (B&M now manufactures these) I use 6lb test line spooled on small spinning reels. (Most of mine are Mitchell Avocet's, purchased from Wally World)

Keep your eye on the classifieds section, often times you can find good deals on slightly used equipment that people are selling to upgrade. Good luck!

[NetMan75]

I use Driftmaster rod holders, BnM 11 foot graphite jig poles, 6# line. Sometimes minnows, sometimes jigs tipped with minnows, but always minnows.

[dave the wave]

You might want to see if you can get together with someone who spider rigs and fish with them to see what all is involved. This will let you see what you need to have to get set up. All that fancy name brand stuff is nice but you don't have to go in that deep to get started. I can't afford all that and I have been fishing for years. Dave

[wilbur]

Check the classifieds there was a guy selling rod holders. It said cleaning out garage.

[LittleJohn]

I used a mixture of rod sizes,from 9ft. to 14 footers but most of them are twelve footers. This year going to replace couple of the nine's with two more twelve's,seems like the twelve's to me is about the right size. I run eight rods on the Driftmaster holders. Another thing you might want is something to show your boat speed. Most time I trolled at .6 mph but sometimes I'll bump the speed up toward the 1 mph.
LittleJohn

[Hogdaddy]

Thanks for the replies! I'll check the classifieds out.

So do you troll in flat areas of the lake until you catch fish or do you hunt structure and try to fish it?

[gabowman]

If youre looking to start cheap check at Academy Sports for some telescopic poles (bought mine for $8 ea...13'ers) and tie on some rod eyes and tape on a walmart $5 reel. I began this way and the poles/reels are still getting the job done. I made eyes for the poles out of springs. Sounds cheap, and it is, but it looks decent & I'm still fishing with those same poles after two years and still catching crappie. You'll need some rod holders mounted within easy reach without bending to the floor of the boat on every bite too. I'd begin with 6 rod holders at a minimum with room to expand (if the law allows you to fish unlimited amount of rods). A depth finder mounted to the front of the boat is nice (almost a must have)...you'll see the fish, bait, and structure while fishing. And it goes without saying you need a front mounted trolling motor. With that, youre ready to fish.

OH! And welcome to the boards.

[gabowman]

Thanks for the replies! I'll check the classifieds out.

So do you troll in flat areas of the lake until you catch fish or do you hunt structure and try to fish it?

It helps to locate bait and/or fish before you unroll the poles and get set up to go. Not really worth fishing "dead water" if you know what I mean. If youre idling around in a place you suspect is good for fishing and dont see anything on the graph then I'd look elsewhere before putting hooks out.

[Hogdaddy]

Check the classifieds there was a guy selling rod holders. It said cleaning out garage.

I couldn't find this ad. In the classifieds on this board?