Early spring trolling

[Tippecanoe41]

If you are fishing very early spring, let's say water temperature between 45 and 55, what sort of setups would you be using? Would you spider rig? What weight you using? Minnows or jigs?
Or would you longline? Jigs, spinners, etc? Using planer boards?
What speed would you be travelling in that water temp range of 45-55?

[Lund]

[Snubby]

Spider rigging, double minnow rigs, 1/4, 3/8, 1/2 oz weights depending on speed. 0.2 mph to 0.5 mph.

[jjue1979]

While I typically spider rig winter or spring, I did notice on my trip last Sunday that you pretty much had to bump them in the nose with it to get them to bite.

[Tippecanoe41]

While I typically spider rig winter or spring, I did notice on my trip last Sunday that you pretty much had to bump them in the nose with it to get them to bite.

Do you like to spider rig with jigs or minnows?

[Tippecanoe41]

Spider rigging, double minnow rigs, 1/4, 3/8, 1/2 oz weights depending on speed. 0.2 mph to 0.5 mph.

Do you just use a regular hook or do you try to add some color with the minnow? Seems like I've seen a lot of people use a jig or a fly with a minnow on it?

[silverside]

Double 1/16 or 1/32 jigs with small bodies on planer boards. Run them slowly in warmer shallow water away from the boat.

[jjue1979]

Do you like to spider rig with jigs or minnows?

Usually just jigs with a nibble or other scent attractant--I don't live close to a bait shop unless I drive out of my way to one or go to a specific boat ramp that has a bait shop. I usually run 2 jigs that are 1/16 oz each.

[Chuck Adams]

I quit spider rigging when Livescope came out but when I did I used double minnow rigs at about . mph on gps.
Still have all my gear when I take the grandkids if they want to sit side by side.
Just too slow for me. Takes half the day to cover the length of a foot ball field. Lol
I guess it’s a productive method but way too much hassle.
Good luck.


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com

[Tippecanoe41]

Double 1/16 or 1/32 jigs with small bodies on planer boards. Run them slowly in warmer shallow water away from the boat.

How much line do you put out behind the planer board? I had been thinking of putting a little weight with a couple jigs or minnows and only putting out maybe 5-6 feet behind the planer (just something to try so I don't have SOOO much line out) but I didn't know if this would be too close and the planer would spook them at that point?