Need spider rigging help

I just started spider rigging and I'm not having much luck at all. I guess the really muddy water isn't helping at all,but let me briefly run by you what I'm doing and see if I need to fine tune something.

I'm running six rods off the front, 2 14', 2 12' and 2 10'. I have them rigged with 6 lb. line, a 1/2oz bullet weight about 12 inches from the jig. I troll around .3 mph. I stagger the rod depths from 12 up to about 4 feet deep. I'm mainly using Bobby Garland 1/16 oz jigs with body colors suitable for stained/ muddy water, tipped with tuffie minnows.

On my first trip out with the setup Sunday, I caught one about two pounds and had a couple more missed hits. Yesterday, I went to a diferent location and caught one with maybe two hits. Both days the water was really muddy and the wind messed me up bad yesterday until about the last hour before dark.

My buddy was longlining a different creekabout a half mile away and caught about 7. I'm somewhat miffed my numbers aren't better. Is there something I'm missing or need to fine tune? Also are there times, when it may be best to just use the jig and not tip with minnows? Thanks!

I wouldn't gauge it a failure at Spider Rigging against Longline Trolling, because he covered a lot more water than you did. Outside of that, since I don't Spider Rig, I'll let the members that do chime in on your technique.

You are fishing less than desirable conditions with the muddy water. However fish can still be caught. Fish channel ledges, mouths of creeks and known cover areas. You are correct in fishing different depts. also. Vary your speed if, .3 is not working slow down a bit more. Slow to me is better in cold water. As the water temp rises you can move a little faster. Patience is needed. Don't get discouraged because of a couple of slow trips. Things will get better when conditions improve.

Thanks, I just wanted to make sure my technique and setup were on the right track.

I’ll chime in on this one. I had the chance to listen to The best crappie fisherman of all time in person a few years back and this is what he had to say on the topic. Use All the same length rods, (of your choice) all the same depth and with all the same jig. If it’s not producing fish, change either all the depths on the rods or all the jigs or both. Everything needs to be the same. I personally do this and it’s effective.


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First thing is use your electronics to find fish if you cannot do that then learn how. Once fish are found then set out your baits and by now you should know what depth they are at to set your rods a foot to two feet above them. Many times if slow is not working speed things up and look for a reaction bite covering more water put on some crankbaits keep changing up until you figure out what they want. Cold water I try and cover more water lookiing for the active fish in that area.

I would maybe try a couple double minnow rigs with straight minnows to see if that may be what they want. I still like staggering your different depths until you figure out what depth they are biting at then maybe set more of them at that depth. (Sounds like you are doing this)
Don't get discouraged, muddy water and wind can be 2 of your worst enemies.

Thanks guys for the great ideas, much appreciated!!

Try adding a minnow to some of your jigs. Give them a choice.

All great advice mentioned already. I’ll second the electronics for fish depth. I also if pushing .3 or below if not getting hit will sometimes turn the trolling motor all the way to left or right to swing my jigs. Usually this triggers a bite every time if over fish.


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best cure for Rigging problems is TIME ON THE WATER learning depth where fish are and what speed and bait they want it. I need a lot of that :Rofl

I mostly spider rig, but have been learning more about how to longline. I think both methods are effective, but one may be more effective than others in certain lakes. If the water is pretty cool I tend to push slower, 0.3-0.5 and try to let the fish tell me what speed they want just like they do with using multiple jig colors. Varying the depth also tells you what they want. I try tipping with a minnow, crappie nibble or spray with Slab sauce. I don't necessarily do all three at the same time, but change things up and see if one is more effective. I carolina rig with a half oz wt to push slow. When longlining the speed is usually 0.8-1.0 mph. I will increase the weight to 1 oz and can push jigs that fast and still stay at the correct depth. I am not sure if this is more effective than pulling jigs, but I have less line out and can make sharper turns with essentially no risk of tangles. In my view, the primary advantage to pulling jigs over pushing them is the TM creates more vibration when going faster and pulling gets them farther away from the boat. Learning to fish with more than one technique improves success regardless which technique you prefer. Be safe and enjoy trying out new things.

Bill

It don't matter what all you do if there no fish there not going to catch any. Make sure seeing fish or bait fish before you try to catch the crappie.
LittleJohn