Advice on Trolling for crappie

Ok, Im really interested getting into trolling/spider rigging for crappie, I have watched just about every video out there, but I still have a few questions. I am in the process of installing rod holders on the front of my 17ft Aluminum Fisher which should be finished in a few days, My first question, my factory Fisher trolling motor can only get down to 1.8-2 mph Will this be sufficient and will I need to add extra weight to get my line down. Ive also checked my speed with the outdrive motor and ironically 2.0 is as low as it will go. My Next question, What's the difference in spider rigging fRom trolling. Any advice would be awesome, TIA

Spider riging is slower than trolling. You will be trolling at .9 mph to 1.5mph . Spider riging you will never get over .9 mph. Or at least that what I do. There's really no reason why you can't do both it. I have my boat setup to do both. You really need a variable speed trolling motor but it can be done with a regular motor.

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Sounds good, I'm gonna give it a shot this week. I was gonna try creek channels first, will be fishing Lay lake.
Thinking of 15-25 ft of water on rock ledges. Also I'm curious to see if anyone is having any luck on flats less than 15 ft may try that as well. I appreciate all the info.

I'm sure some of the other guys will chime in and by all means take there advice over mine . Trolling is not my strongest think. And we have some guys that really good at it like Roger A . He is a great spider riging fisherman.

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x2. Roger's game is strong

we do not spider rig but pull or long line . We fish the big G .Our speeds range from .5 to 1.0 using 1/16th jigs with .8 being our favorite or most successful speed . Speeds varies due to depth of water we pull over or how deep the bait balls might be or how far behind the boat we let the line. There are some good charts out there that show what speed you should troll if you are using this and that. When we pull cranks in the Summer we try to keep it between 1.5mph and 2.1.We accomplish this with the big motor using a troll -o-matic .One of the best investments($99) my late buddy and I ever bought for pulling cranks. We almost spent hundreds of dollars on a kicker motor .We had to do something because trying to run 2mph would drain our batteries in less than 4 hours and that was usually about the time we would figure out where we needed to pull!!

Just a thought when someone says spider rigging I'm thinking your pushing jigs in front of the boat? Using heavy lead with a jig or minnow above the weight? That requires a very slow presentation of .01-.02 mph. If your long line trolling (pulling) different application all together. There the head weight, line size 6 lb., bait, or structure, is determined and speed and length of cast as well as size of line all play into the fray. There is a chart out there somewhere that is a starting place on running depths of head weights pulled at .08. This technique is what I love to do! I weigh each head I pour then test on the water finding a sandy flat using a short rod by the boat using gps speed watch as my jig bumps the bottom and that will give you an idea what depth your heads swim at .08. My 1/16 swim at 7.5-8' 1/24 swim at 4.5-5' 1/32 swim at2.5-3' deep. I use zig-zag slow turns as well on off trolling motor counting 5 sec. on 5 sec. off and let the fish tell me what they want! If your fishing brush piles like I am now I will time the boat as I go over pile depending on depth bump the trolling motor to get the jigs to be on the rise right when I guess they're over the pile. Well that's how I do it. ZigZag and off on really works!

I am an amateur - just started trolling this summer but have had some success. I am fishing small waters in a Jon boat using a MK variable speed TM. Best $200 I've spent in a long time. I can go as slow as .1 MPH and as fast as 3.7 MPH (the latter won't last long).

I bought some cheap rod holders at Sports Academy which I attach to the sides and back of the boat. I use 12' B'n'M rods out the sides and 6' poles out the back with either 1/8 o 1/16 jigs of different colors. I have had the best luck using electric chicken, blue thunder and licorice/chart but YMMV.

I have better luck it seems running between .4 and 1.0 MPH. I have Okuna line counter reels with 4 pound hi-vis test which is helpful in knowing how deep the baits are running.

I have a HB 798CI HD too. When I see structure, I create a way point or toss a buoy marker out so I can run over it accurately.

http://www.crappie.com/crappie/fishi...e-fish-finder/

1.8 to 2mph is awful fast for long lining unless you are pulling cranks. I pretty much long line troll all spring and rarely exceed 1mph unless I am in extremely shallow water. You can pull a couple of 5 gallon buckets behind the boat and maybe that will slow you down enough.

Even though I am in no way the best at it I do like to spider rig. When doing it I usually run 1/2 oz. weights and a 2 hook rig like the Capps and Coleman rigs. Sometimes with jigs and sometimes plain ole minnow hooks. I also run very slow, usually 0.3 mph or slower measuring speed with GPS. I also stop a lot and let them look at the baits for a little if I think I am in the right spot. I mainly fish channel ledges and humps where I have found cover. One thing you do need to know is you WILL get hung a LOT. Most times you can back up and drop the rig and the weight will pull it loose but be prepared to loose lots of tackle. One thing you need is the variable speed trolling motor. I do not run mine continuously but go from one spot to the next and stop for a bit. Hope these things will help you get started. Feel free to ask questions as you go and learn. Please post reports of your trips and let us know how it goes. :fish

Thanks for everyone's comments, I've watched alot of videos but I never took in as much info as y'all have shared. Can't wait to try these techniques. Sounds like with my current trolling motor, I may be spider riggin until I can slow it down some, although I'm not opposed to the 5 gal buckets �� Hopefully I can give it a shot next Mon or Tues and I'll let everyone know how we do.

You might even hook up with someone for some on the job training. Lot of good people there that don't mind fishing together


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Set your spider rigging poles up, bump trolling motor on until your line starts to trail back about 10-15 degrees, then let of and just drift until it stops then do it again. Lots of times that bump and go will get them to hit

Academy Sports have drift socks for 10.00 I think

This is some very good information I'm also wanting to learn this just got to get all my equipment ordered and set up.

RogerA gave you spot on info. As winter comes on and water gets colder you can't go slow enough. When I see something on graph that could hold fish I twiddle around it slowly, often you get bit sitting still! Good luck and enjoy!

One thing you can do is trim down the size of the prop on the trolling motor. We used to do this before variable speed trolling motors were invented. Just try to keep it reasonably balanced.