Thread: rookie question

When spider rigging, I use a 1/4 oz egg sinker about 18 in. up the line from my jig and with limber rods you can see the strike pretty good.

Thanks I was using 1 1/2 ounces that must have been the problem.

I use 3/4 oz. Seems good shallow and deep unless the wind is really blowin.

Originally Posted by deedoe

I am new to trolling and spider rigging. can you use too much weight slow trolling minnows? caught 11 keepers today but lost alot of bait that i did not see a hit. any thoughts? thanks

if you caught 11 keepers sounds like you are doin jus fine.....

I use a one ounce weight. You have to really watch the rods close.....its easy to miss a hit.

I use mostly 1/2 oz or 3/4 oz. I know some people who use up to 8 oz weights, and they catch fish.

I started out with heavy weights, but have since backed down to 1/4 or 1/2...sometimes 3/4 in wind. Usually the 1/2. After some experimenting, I decided that I was missing the bite due to the rod being more loaded from the weight and/or the fish were more easily detecting the resistance from the weight and letting go quicker.

95% of the time, I have the weight in the middle with the bait above and below. I will rig weight on the bottom in heavy, heavy cover though to help with getting unhung, but I think weight in the middle is the best way.

Wannabe...

The lighter the bite the lighter the weight . Lighter weight will allow you to detect the nibbles better. Sensetive rods help out too/