Spider Rigging Setup ?s

So am I really looking forward to giving this method the ol' college try, especially through the colder months ahead. I have several questions for those of you that spider rig here in Florida.

Here's my basic setup. Did some work on the boat today and I think it came out pretty good. I got a HB 859 not too long ago and got it set up with the US2 on the Terrova and just did the ethernet wiring to connect it to the console unit so I am good to share waypoints. My boat only has one seat mount on the bow and its one of those funky circular deals with a notch so I couldn't use an EZT-Pole Perch double seat setup like I have in the past. I was contemplating using the 5-gallon bucket seats, but then I came across some chairs at Dicks and they felt very durable and were quite comfortable. I already had extra bases for my Spyderlok rod holders so found a good spot up front for them.

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No real way to avoid the trolling motor, it will just take ease and finesse to stow and deploy, but doable. Plenty of room to walk back to the cockpit and my favorite thing about the chairs is there is a tray the comes up on the side, with a drink holder. The livewell is completely accessible under the seat. Pretty cool that the color matches the boat too!

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I ordered 4 x 14-foot Southern Pro rods and I already have an assortment of 12 footers. I will be using the standard Shimano spinning reels with 6lb high-vis mono. The initial plan is for us to start with three rods each. Rod storage will be straight across the decking in the center of the boat. I am brainstorming a homemade rig...to be continued...

Now the rigging, and this is where most of my questions lie. I bought a set of Mr. Crappie Trolling rigs, in both 1/2 ounce and 3/4 ounce, that will hopefully keep things simpler.

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My plan was to tie a bunch of rigs on fluro leaders with a loop at the end to connect to the rig. What kind of a jigs/lures/hooks would you all recommend?

Jig size? 1/16. 1/32. 1/8
Jig head? Roadrunners, minnow head, round
Lures? Tubes, baby shads, zip jigs, hair jigs, others?
Hooks? Plain aberdeen with live minnow
Crappie nibbles vs live minnows?

Finally, I saw a lot of folks on Hatchineha/Kissimmee with various setups. One thing I observed, is many of them were using floats on long rods out the back/side. My assumption is they are slip floats with a set depth and maybe a split-shot and minnow? If I have a third or fourth person with me, I'd like to know what is a good option for setting them up with two rods each out the back while we spider rig the front.

Thanks for indulging me!

I am sure fishin813 can help you.

Good luck

Nate,

Forget that Mr.Crappie crap -

Your set up with 3 - 4 each side. Number rods 1 -4 on each side
Number 1 rod straight out front 16' - this will be your deepest rod
mostly i set mine at 100 in down.
number 2 rod will be next set it at 84 in
number 3 rod will be next set it at 62 in
number 4 rod will be last on either side - usually at 46 - 48 in
Set rods up with main line, add 1/2 oz lead - shot - barrel or inline sinker
Put in swevel with snap.
take any curley tail - grub - slider - mylar zib usually 16th oz for starter.
make up a leader line - clear mono - floracarbon etc. 18 - 22" long
loop knop jig to leader. put a swivel on other end or snap whereby you can hook
to main line set up.
Poor man's set up - go to any Walmart - Dollar General - and pick up 2-3' floaties
that kids use in pools - cut yourself couple 1 ft lengths - tie you leader line-jigs
on - makes it easy to change out rigs colors - etc.
Now you are set up for Spider rigging. run i-pilot at .6- 8 mph...........
use a stop - go method and zig-zag movement ....remember who hits on what rod
and what color is working best.
Hot pink - black/chart - red/white - red/orange
Ice and/or moon jigs - blue - blue/white stripe - hot pink - chart - purple
orange glitter -

Try to keep record what you are doing - time of day - weather cloudy/sunny -
heat - when did you take most hits and when they stopped - what size fish were
you taking, small - medium - etc and on what poles.(depth)

Call or send me an e-mail what happens.

I don't spiderrig much, but do agree with Harold on the Mr. Crappie junk. Also try you some of the gnats that are for sale on member classifieds. Tied up some of my own on Owner Mosquito hooks. Good Stuff.

Fair enough, I just figured the metal arms would minimize twists and snags, etc. I have tried the egg sinker and three-way swivel, but was such a headache with the top and bottom twisting around each other every time you take rod in and out. Maybe I'll just do single rigs to start.

Main line > Egg Sinker > Bead > Swivel w/snap > Leader & Jig ???

Will definitely look into the hand tied stuff as well around here, thanks!

Has anyone had success with all artificials, or are minnows a necessity for this method around here?

You might have had your top dropper too long if it was tangling.Try a 3" dropper on top. I have not seen anyone not tipping with minners spiderrigging.

Nice rig, it don't take a rocket scientist to spider rig, I'm sure you'll figure out the best way for your boat.

When double rigging - my top dropper (loop knot jig) is no longer than 1 1/2 inches,
most of time even shorter...........jig will not tangle in loop

Have gone plain hook on dropper - wgt - snap - leader jig - minnow tipped
Also - tag ling - wgt - snap - leader - jig on dropper - 8' drop to plain minnow
tipped hook

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Anchor Man

Nice rig, it don't take a rocket scientist to spider rig, I'm sure you'll figure out the best way for your boat.

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Thank you sir, and you are correct, I do overthink it sometimes, but just try to maximize my setup since my outtings can be infrequent and unpredictable. :ThumbsUp

Quote:

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Originally Posted by fishin813

When double rigging - my top dropper (loop knot jig) is no longer than 1 1/2 inches,
most of time even shorter...........jig will not tangle in loop

Have gone plain hook on dropper - wgt - snap - leader jig - minnow tipped
Also - tag ling - wgt - snap - leader - jig on dropper - 8' drop to plain minnow
tipped hook

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by huntinslabs

You might have had your top dropper too long if it was tangling.Try a 3" dropper on top. I have not seen anyone not tipping with minners spiderrigging.

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You two gentlemen are spot on, the last time I tried this ages ago, my top dropper was WAY too long!

Don't feel bad Tundah, I did the same thing. My dropper is now short and doesn't tangle. I usually slide a light jig or gnat on the line first, then set up my weight, then tie a jig on the bottom. Bottom jig isn't too heavy, usually under an eighth, and has a good sized hook like a 2 or 1. I have also done this with nothing but 1/16 jigs and no minnows into brushpiles that I knew about. This doesn't work with any wind and you have to almost crawl or the jigs get into the TM. When it works it's an absolute blast and rods go down faster than you can react. When it doesn't work you know in a short time. Roadrunners on a couple of rods is always a good idea.

If you're gonna use a minnow and a hook, (I call it a naked minnow) look at the Mr. Crappie troll tech slo-troller rig. It is made with camo mono and #2 hooks and have worked for me. I like the half oz. weight. Forget the wire stuff. Like the others said, tie your own jigs with a loop knot. Use a clear mono or floro leader. Just my .02.

Really appreciate the feedback folks! Gonna set up a couple rigs after work tomorrow, will post some pix and see what ya think.

Here is how I made mine, took 4' of 6lb flourocarbon leader and tied to barrel swivel with trilene knot with a 3" tag. Tied tag to hook/jig/gnat. ran long leader thru a 1/2oz or 3/4oz egg sinker 3 times to allow me to adjust to where I wanted it, started with sinker about 1' below barrel swivel. Then tied second hook/jig/gnat to other end about 18" below egg sinker and done. The Trilene knot kept the upper hook kinda raised in an upward fashion just a tad. I really like the gnats as it seems the minners can swim about a little better than a weighted jig. But I am by far no expert at spiderrigging, so this could easily be way off track from the norm and totally not work, but did for me in the limited amount I have spiderrigged.

How's this look? Trilene knot on top jig, loop knot on bottom. Bottom dropper is 21" from main line. Will connect to main line with snap-swivel.

Attachment 217347

Looks like overkill to me:

main line - 1/2 oz barrel sinker - snap swivel - loop knot mylar jig...........
use of 3 way does not really help -have found in past that it can sometimes
cause additional problems

When starting out - would go with single jig set ups first - doubles can give
you more headaches than you want to start with....
Hooks sticking in nylon netting vs rubber is big pain.
Lines comming out of water fast if fish spits hook - both hooks running over rod
nice tangle - stress problem

Old adage - Kiss approach.

Need a diagram, having a hard time visualizing.

1st- left to right : single swivel to moon jig
swivel - wgt to single droper hook to jig
swivel - looper jig - to 18'' second looper jig

2nd pic is cut floatie to hold multi leader/jig compinations

Attachment 217351Attachment 217352

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Tundah

How's this look? Trilene knot on top jig, loop knot on bottom. Bottom dropper is 21" from main line. Will connect to main line with snap-swivel.

Attachment 217347

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That's the way I make my rigs, I use 20 lb test on the section with the weight so that it will never break and the droppers will break off first. It's a good setup

No matter how much I try, or how careful I can be, doubles up front just lead to trouble for me. Not saying I still don't run them from time to time, but have had my best days up front just pushing singles. I do like using them as a way of covering depth or adding weight if I want to drop down an additional foot or two on whatever set up I am currently running without changing anything else / preferred speed (long lining). In the end I think I'm just too lazy to bother and the singles are just alot more manageable to me (up front) when it comes to moving around from spot to spot. I keep telling myself...... well your running 8 poles out the back (couple of doubles), 6-8 out the front (mostly singles)....... and sometimes I can barely keep up as it is :) (fishing mostly alone I like the "push/pull" method on alot of trips). The fish will tell me if one or the other is effective.............. I go from there. But my first love is up front ................ when all the conditions are right. Good luck and beware............. its a blast!

Thanks Stu, I appreciate the insight. I think you're absolutely right about the singles. I only use singles when I longline so not sure why I'm convincing myself to go doubles.

What kind of setup do you do out the back when running a push/pull combo?

Mostly singles out the back. If I do go to doubles its usually 2-4 poles of the 8 poles max. If I'm push/pulling Ill go with singles out the back because I usually have to move a bit slower for anything up front to be effective, the back poles I consider just bonus chances. Ill start out early moving slow (.5 to .9) and increase speed depending on activity. After .9 it seems pointless to me to have poles out front and Ill usually just wrap up the front poles and concentrate on the long lining. Due to my lite boat (Tracker aluminum) once the wind kicks up that's pretty much my sign to wrap up the front. Doubles out the back / long lining are a heck of alot less a problem than the doubles Ill try and run spider rigging. Of course opinions vary but I feel if I'm not moving along at least at .8 the baits in the back do not provide the necessary action (tail movement, spinners spinning etc) to be effective. If its a lake I have little water time on I will just go with long lining moving a bit faster (1.1 - 1.3?) covering more water until I find fish and than once marked come back around spider rigging slowly (.3 to .8) and even reel in the back poles to give 100% of my attention up front. Its hard to get out of your head the first time you hook a larger unwanted fish that manages to create a monster mess of your lines knotting up 2,3,4 poles all of which are doubles and the only option is cut and retie............ yuck. My eyes are not what they use to be so the less I have to tie on the water...... the better :)

I currently have doubles on all my 8 poles spider rigging (minnow on top, artificial on the bottom) and more than half my fish still come on the artificial baits even when I adjust my depth so the minnows would be more in the zone I prefer. I know all the guys that have the real experience say its hard to beat live bait.................. I'm still trying to learn to feel that statement myself, but it sure cant hurt to try for yourself right?

I do know this. Last year Crescent was far more productive with me using minnow tipped, than it was using straight artificial's only. That really changed my mind when it came to "if" or "if not" I want to bother with minnows.

It was alot easier before when all I did was long line, but once I decided to try spider rigging...........I was hooked and whenever possible I would prefer to do nothing but run up front. Something about watching that tip drop down, half the pole in the water,or the art of net landing the fish in front of you..........just does it for me............ I can stare at those tips for hours but never notice the time...... always exciting! Of course not having to deal with 14-16 foot poles on a 16 foot boat would be a lot less a pain...........but I love spider rigging...... so you put up with it with a smile.

its good stuff :)..............your addiction will only get worse lol

Summary of the first attempt:

1) Weather conditions were not good, got windy fast and too much boat traffic (let me add "inconsiderate boat drivers" to boot). This method will be a blast on calmer days.
2) You guys were right about the Mr Crappie metal rig...yes I did set it on 2 poles cause I already had a few in the garage. Did not like them one bit. However, the double minnow rig with the sinker on bottom was decent, though no hits on it today.
3) Switched rigs to singles and enjoyed it much better. Main line had the egg sinker to a snap-swivel...just add one of my pre-made leaders with jig. Easy swapping too.
4) Pleasantly surprised that there was more than enough room in the front for my nephew and I, we did not feel crowded. Kept the minnow bucket right in between us.
5) Caught 4 and was off the water by 11. Caught on 3 different lures, zip jig, plastic tube on 1/16 head, and a 1/6 hair jig.

Hey Nate,

I might give this spider rigging a try in the future, now having too much fun longlining.

After meeting you, and knowing how you can read the Sonar from the inside out, it won't be long before you will be loading the boat!

Have fun and regards,
pescador