Printable View
I started spider rigging about 2 years ago with 12' poles and soon switched to 14'. Been wanting to go back to 12' due to easier handling. I've recently been using 4 poles, 2-12' on left side and 2-14' on right side to check out the difference. There is about 6' of separation between 12's and 14's. All 4 poles are rigged the same. My last 3 trips, I've caught 76% of my fish on the 14's. Why?
more distance from the boat! the shallower the fish or the clearer the water the more difference it makes.
Yep....further away from the boat.
16'
Sent from my iPad using Crappie.com
Stay with the 14s...I love the way the 12s handle, but for me the 14s work better
16 foot PST's
Yep.....you will get used to the 14s if you stick with them
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app
A lot depends on the pole style too.
Sent from my SM-G935V using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app
I have 12's and 14's and have had the 16's. I also like the 12's for handling but have found the same thing. I catch way more fish on the 14's in water less than 12 ft. If fishing over 12 ft I'm going to the 12's. Did not like fishing with the 16's at all. To hard to handle by myself which is how I fish most of the time.
The troll motor & boat shadow is the culprit, Crappie can here it running and move to a safe distance. Unless in deep water. Even then they know you are there. I have tested it with corks attached to their dorsal fin. I prefer 12' poles in stained water and 14' in clear. Anything longer takes a lot of work & takes away from the fun of it. My 2cents.
Stick with a full set of the 14's. It won't take long and you'll be swinging them things around like a 6ft ugly stick.
Sent from my SM-G900V using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app
14's are a good balance as far as in between length. I fish out of a 16 foot boat so a rod as long as the boat don't work well unless they're pulling rods, not fun pushing for me. 16's are preferred, but at least a 14 footer is a must for me and most everyday conditions. I don't house a whole bunch of rods, but have a variety in my arsenal. PST's are my pulling rods now, I have since purchased a separate set of rods for spider rigging, missed a lot of light bites this past winter and fall with the stiffer PST rods, so go with a good all around brand / length that suits your fishing condition's, make the sound decision the first time and don't let money influence it all that much, it costs you in the end!
Everybody has slightly different preferences.....Whatever you use will seem a bit foreign at first but give it some time and you can get used to anything within reason.Use what fits you and you have confidence in...I like 16' PST's for most fishing but with light weights/shallow water go to 16' BGJP's... Single polling I like 12' ers...Each of us are a bit different....Use what you like and enjoy your fishin'...
One thing i have noticed ( for me maybe not others) is that the stiffer the rod say pst's or southern crappie rod 143T are easier to handle the fish. I have a set of capps and coleman 14'ers and bigger fish can be harder to handle.
The longer the pole the more reason to use bait caster reels.
Never had any probs with 12ft poles, don't think the boat bothers them.Caught a 3lber under specks boat.
Hey Jim, I see your VP-9 patch by your name. Wondering when you were in 9. I was in 17, 44, 45, 30, 46, vx-1. retired in 2002. I was an FE. Had a good friend in 9 named Rusty Staton. Just wonderin. Ricky Payne
Hey Ricky....I was in VP-9 from early 68 untill dec 71
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app
I was a F/E in VP9 65/68 and VQ 1 73/75 ret in 75Quote:
Originally Posted by rlpayne44
Great to see some fellow Vp'ers on here Pico and Jimfish. I really started crappie fishing last year got the boat all set up with a friend of mine here in Piggott. right now my wife and I only fish down there in Mississippi. a lot of cranking at Enid. been watching you guys on here with the crankfest this year. thinking about doing it next year.
Use 12foot b&m pst's with in line planer boards....:fish