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Hello Folks!First post here.I joined up looking for some info...I'd like to start spider rigging...I have a 15' alum boat set up for 2 folks side by side in the front.I have ordered some Hi-Tek rod holders.My question in... Rod length?!?12' seems easier to store...Most say I would be happier with 14' rods.I typically fish lake Conway and Nimrod, but would REALLY like to start fishing Dardnelle.Can you guys give me your opinions of rod lengths and why?Thanks a lot!George!
I have 12' just started using two 16' out front.....happier with the 12's.......just my opinion. 14' might be a good alternative. Probably not much help but Good luck!
I run 8 poles, 4 to a side. I use 14s in the #1 and 4 positions. and 12s in the 2 and 3 position. It gives me a wider profile and also gives me more even spacing in the water. I've gone thru a lot of brands and the Capps & Coleman 143s by B&M are my favorite 14s. The 12s are Capps & Coleman 122s. When landing a fish the poles have the same feel. The ones you should buy are the ones you like best.
One thing to think about when spider rigging from a smaller boat is wave action. I spider rig from a 12' kayak and 10' to 11' poles is as long as I want to use because the wave action makes the poles bounce. These guys you see with 18' to 20' boats can use 14 and 16' poles because their boats are more stable. Just something to think about in a 15' boat
i'd guess a bunch of 12' poles would get tangled up just as good as a bunch of 14' poles. Get after it!
We have a 16' Starcraft and we use 6- 12' rods my boat bounces around a lot in traffic and the rod tips bounce up and down. I would think with 14's that would be worse. I'm happy with my 12's. Just Sayi'n
A lot of people start with 12s and end up with 16s. I think the further away from the boat the more bites? I use 16s. Good luck.
Welcome from Cleveland county home of meatgetter jigs and minner critters! !!! I have two sets 14 & 16 they both have there place! !!!! 14ft B N'M bgjp for the light bite in the winter and the 16ft lews for larger weight and faster speed in warmer water! !!!
I fish out of a 15' ft flatbottom and I only use 14 ft rods for riggin. The extra length really helps when fishing shallow(10ft or less) to get the baits out a little farther from the boat. This helps prevent two things, less chance of spooking fish, and keeps your lines out of the trolling motor. As for the thing about the wind bouncing your rods, there are ways to adjust for that. Some people add more weight when the wind picks up. This supposedly acts as a shock absorber on a light rod and minimizes the rod bounce. The other way is to go the opposite, use light weight on slightly stiffer rods to minimize rod bounce in windy situations. The real serious guys may even have two sets of rods, and choose which ones to use based on the conditions and the bite. Best thing to do is get in the boat with some guys that spider rig and get a feel for the different setups and styles, and see what works best for you. If not, it is likely you will end up buying several different setups before you find what you like. Just my two cents.
:welcome Welcome to the board from Conway, home of the beautiful and scenic Lake Conway.
I am from south east arkansas, and pretty much all of the water around here is shallow. It has been my personal experience, that in shallower water (like lake conway) your trolling motor will tend to spook fish before the bait is presented with a 12 foot rod. I use 14ft rods, and have alot better luck from them. 16ft would b even better, but all the ones i have fished with are too flimsy, making the bite easier to see, but miss more fish. If you primarily fish deeper water (8 feet plus) 12 footers are fine. And if you fish deeper than about 15feet, you dont have to have anything more than just regular casting rods. I have never been to Nimrod and dont know how deep that lake is.
a 14 footer will allow you to reach that distant stump to get hung on. Shorter rods require you to get closer to the stump to get hung up.
I have 2 sets of 12's and a set of 14's. They all have their place. But over all I don't see a bunch of difference in my bite or catch ratio between them. I just started this and still have some to learn but I have a set of Pinnacal limit 12's rigged with slip floats for fishing rough water. So far it seems to work pretty good. Leave just enough slack in line between tip and float that boat/rod bounce dosn't affect the baits by jerking them up and down. You will get all kinds of answers about what is best rod and most of it comes down to personal preference. I know it's not always possible but if you can fish with some different ones it would sure help. Mine are 12 Pinnacale limit,12 ft BnM PST's and 14 ft SouthernCrappie rod's. Over all if limited to one set I would take the SouthernCrappieRods.
On second thought - Once the spider bites you it over! You gonna buy lots of stuff. This time next year you will have 3 sets of rods. LOL! What ever you do DONT go pulling crank baits!
Welcome to the board. Good luck spider rigging. Before I realized you needed long poles to catch fish, I caught fish on 6', 9', 10', and 11' poles. The fish have got lots smarter in the last 5 years. Now they won't hit nothing but the most expensive 16s you can buy. :biggrin
14 ft Ozark rods.
welcome...Like mentioned above, I use 14' bucks for the lighter deeper bite and 16' psts for the warmer shallow bite...my theory is the further your lure is from the trolling motor, the more bites you'll get.