Spider Rigging Question

I have spider rigged multiple times and the majority of this time has been in water from 10' - 20' deep and have always tightlined. However, during my trips recently (Horseshoe and Reelfoot) I have seen multiple people using floaters of some sort in water less than 10'.

Can you guys give me an explanation as to why people use floaters and what advantage this gives you over tightlining? Do you use slip floaters or stationary floaters? How many hooks do you usually use?

Thanks for you input and answers.
J.B.

good question JB, I find it hard to control my speed with floats because i use the line angle to judge speed. But when the waves get to bouncing poles and the wind is still not hard enough to pull a chain " or i left it home" I'll put on floats to keep the bounce down a bit. I can't speak for others reasons but i'd like to hear em.

Helps in keeping your bait more consistantly in the zone where fish are suspended.

Easy floats for winter or summer time. With floats you can and will catch more fish. As they allow you to see the light bite. That you will not see tight lining.. Say a crappie just takes the jig or minnow and picks it up. Can you or would you see that bite tight lining? Not many of them.
But fix that float where its just there. Meaning it has enough weight that just a touch allows it to come up. Or go down. And it shows you the the fish that are just holding the bait.
For me its the best way to go in cold or hottest weather.
Pete

J.B...I personally have not used floats...YET...but will try on Reelfoot this fall/winter...by the way, how did you do at Horseshoe? If your talking about the one in Olive Branch (So. Il), I went 2 years ago and didn't do worth a darn...anthough...it does look like a mini Reelfoot....I would imagine it's flooded now? How did you do down there?

Fellow Fisherman,

Thanks for your input and answers. I am going to use this method in the near future.

Bails, The Horseshoe I am talking about is in Eastern Arkansas near Hughes. Have done well there in the past, this year has not been that good for me.