Trolling Technique

[CshurleyLT]

Hello. I am trying to learn the best way to troll minnows for crappie out of a boat. I have a 1648 john boat and I have 2 rod holders on each side of the boat. I was thinking about about having rods rigged up on a drop shot type rig with maybe double hooks and then use my trolling motor to slowly push the boat. Is this an ideal way to do this? I used to fish this way out of my kayak and had decent luck. I am still learning how to crappie fish consistently, primarily with jigs on brushpiles and docks but would like to try trolling from the boat as a fall back when other methods are slow. Thanks for any help.

[CrappiePappy]

You're basically talking the Spider Rigging technique, which is very popular & successful. But, IF I were going to do this technique, I think I'd lean more towards a single hook rig (or single jig) ... or possibly the Capps/Coleman minnow rig setup, if you choose to use a double hook rig.

[CshurleyLT]

You're basically talking the Spider Rigging technique, which is very popular & successful. But, IF I were going to do this technique, I think I'd lean more towards a single hook rig (or single jig) ... or possibly the Capps/Coleman minnow rig setup, if you choose to use a double hook rig.

So just a typical single hook with a split shot above it? If so, I did do that in my kayak and when I fish anchored, just find it harder to keep the baits directly under the boat without sufficient weight. Also figured the weight would help keep the bait where I like in the water column.

[CrappiePappy]

So just a typical single hook with a split shot above it? If so, I did do that in my kayak and when I fish anchored, just find it harder to keep the baits directly under the boat without sufficient weight. Also figured the weight would help keep the bait where I like in the water column.

Most Spider Riggers that "I" know are using 1/2 - 3/4oz weights above the hook and the boat moves less than 0.3mph ... and to be sure, they're using 12-16' rods in their spread. But you're right ... the line does need to be more or less straight down from the rod tip.

My late buddy, Chucky, started out with 14' rods & 1/2oz weights, and eventually went to 16' rods & 3/4oz weights. He also used up to 1/8oz jigheads + 1.5" to 2" plastics + a big minner under those weights.

If you look at the Capps/Coleman minnow rigs, you'll notice they come in weights from 1/2oz to 2 ounces.

[jjue1979]

I often spider rig with two 1/16 oz jigs per line on my 14’ and 16’ rods, which are generally B&M BGJPs. I have sometimes used weights, although I also use line length and speed to play around with depth. I may swap to B&M ProStaff rods if I use heavier weights more often to reduce the extra bounce that I get with the BGJP, which I do like with lighter weight jig heads.

[RogerA]

This is what I use for spider rigging which I have done for over 20 years. I now use a Roadrunner type jig on the bottom instead of the minnow hook.