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Reply With QuoteMy first choice is vertical jigging structure. If fish spook easily, I back off and cast to them with jigs mainly but will also cast minnows under slip cork if this works better.
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If you have FFS, then you might do better Pushing jigs, rather than Spider Rigging ... simply because you can cover more area faster, plus the FFS will help you avoid running over those brushpiles & other snaggy obstacles. (plus you'd have time to correct your boat path, even with lousy boat control problems)Originally Posted by Auston22688
Honestly, I haven’t caught enough fish to say which technique I prefer. I’ve caught fish single poling by just dropping it on their head but that’s all I know how to do. I’d love to scope open water fish but my boat control sucks. I’m thinking spider rigging may help me cover water and identify productive areas faster otherwise I ride around looking for the perfect brush pile that I’ve yet to find
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But, of course, Pushing always works better when the fish are following/chasing baitfish out in open water. Spider Rigging works best when the fish are staging or hanging out on cover.
Crappie.com Legend
My first choice is vertical jigging structure. If fish spook easily, I back off and cast to them with jigs mainly but will also cast minnows under slip cork if this works better.
Yes, as a matter of fact, I do have a retirement plan...FISHING!
Slabmaster II
maybe pushing is what I mean. I assumed they were the same thing. What is spider rigging then?
Crappie Wall Hanger II
I usually start with a technique that can cover a lot of water and find the concentrations of willing fishes. Then, I narrow down my technique to which one best suits the location, depth of fish, and density of the schools. Spider rigging and/or pulling cranks or longlining is where I start. When a suitable number of bites occur, I hone down the manner of presentation. Casting to them or scoping with a long rod is the final approach. All of this supposes that you are on a lake where you are not experienced as to the best spots or techniques that have worked before.
Hope this helps.
Crappie.com Legend and AL Moderator
I’m a homebody. I like my home lake , my technique lines up with what fish are doing at a particular time or season. If I venture off my lake I go with a guide which knows what the fish are doing at that time.
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Spider Rigging is multiple rods out the front, usually with minnows (sometimes with jigs tipped w/minnows), with 1/2-3/4oz sinker, going very slow to keep the lines mostly straight down.
Pushing is multiple rods out the front, with jigs (or cranks), with 1-2oz sinkers, going from 1mph (jigs) to 1.8mph or more (cranks). Keeping the line at approx. 45deg angle you can estimate the depth of your lures. (0.6x's the length of line out under the surface ... or 3ft of depth of the lure for every 5ft of line out below the surface)
You usually want slightly lighter action rods for Spider Rigging, than Pushing, because you're watching the rod tips when Spider Rigging, but there's usually little doubt you've got a bite when Pushing (& you need the heavier action rods for Pushing due to the heavier weights & speed).
You can easily get away with spinning reels or baitcast reels when Spider Rigging, but Line Counter reels are a Pushers best friend.
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When I Push jigs ... I'm using four 14' rods - Line Counter reels - 1oz trolling sinkers - 1.5ft to 2ft leaders of 6# mono - @ ~1mph
That's just how I was taught to do it. When I "first" started Pushing I used what I had, which was a 7' rod, two 14' rods, and a 10' rod with baitcast reels & a spinning reel (as seen in pic below)
I just included this pic & my starting arsenal of rods/reels to show that you "can" use varying lengths of rods & types of reels and still be successful at Pushing jigs ... as evidenced by the slime marks on the carpet of the rod locker & floor.
S10CHEVY LIKED above post
Crappie Wall Hanger II
OP , to answer your technique question, it really depends on your goals for catching fish.
Do you want to quickly fill your freezer ?
Or just enjoy the outdoors while learning what you like best.
Personally, I can accomplish both during the spawn and spring using 12-14 foot jig pole and only jigs.
I pitch to trees, brush, above and below sight. Also vertical jig the same cover.
But , I’ve been fishing a long time and have 3 different size boats depending on where I fish.
I fish the way I do for the challenge and most people don’t have the patience to work the heavy brush, so even in a highly pressured area I can still catch fish.
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Slabmaster II
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I hate to admit it but, spot and stalk with livescope and power brakes.
Slabmaster II
Right now, I just want to catch fish. I keep some to eat all along but I’m not keeping fish every time I go. However, I want a technique that will somewhat help my confidence that I’m in the right areas. I’m no good at any technique.
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For me, it really depends on the time of year and what the fish are doing. Spider rigging is a solid choice for covering water, especially in the spring when they're moving around. I also like vertical jigging around structure once I've located some fish.
