Choosing techniques

What is your guys preferred technique for crappie fishing? How do you decide which technique to use, be it spider rigging, vertical jigging, casting, or however. And why did you think that was the best at that moment?

My reason is asking is this. I put things into perspective and got to thinking, I’m putting one jig in a 50,000 acre lake and expect to catch 30 fish every time I go. I’ve never been taught how to cover water or even crappie fish for that matter.

I’m thinking of trying spider rigging simply so I can slowly ease around and it forces me to cover water until fish or found. And it gives the fish multiple offerings.

I need your guys opinions. Thanks guys


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Lake particulars are critical, average depth , water clarity, primary forage and then ….
What kind of crappie?
Answer those questions and I might have a good idea or 2 on an answer :cheers2

If given choice I prefer to fish the way I enjoy the most which is jigging structure. I look for it, mark it and then go to spots to fish structure. If they aren't on structure then I will cast or now find in open water with livescope.

I much prefer to cast for them in 6 or more feet of water. Some lakes work for that, some don't. I think a huge part of why this game fish is so fun to angle for is in finding them. Our lakes are two rod maximum so I have to do things a little different. We have thousands of docks,and they play heavily in the warmer months. You are asking the right questions, but don't be intimidated by all that water;10%of the water will have 90% of the fish. Your task is first to find the changing 10%,next task, get a bite.

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I have come a long way from casting to shorelines and weeds from a float tube ( circa 1982) . Since the addition of GPS ,sidescan ,Spotlock , and livescope,
I am pretty much a one trick pony. Brushpiles in 17-20 ft of water. Either a vertical presentation or pitching to the pile. This is what I do
over 90% of the time. I will explore some shallow water in the spring and some deeper water in winter and some deep standing timber any time of the
year. But mostly I fish brushpiles , I find they hold fish from April to January on my home lake. Have built plenty and found many more. Sometimes when fishing is slow , I will just cruise the lake with my
sidescan.

I only fish one lake, and rarely venture more than a couple miles from my dock.

MO

I'm mostly a single jig bank caster & double jig Livescope flipper. I have done the Longline trolling bit, jig Pushing bit, crankbait Pushing bit, and fishing with minners about every way known to man. I have not done the Spider Rigging bit more than 3-4 times, & I wasn't in my boat. I've shot docks in Tenn & Ala in the past.
The reasoning behind each of those methods used (over the decades) was that those methods were what was most productive at that time and on that particular body of water .... along with the changing of what tackle & electronics I was using.
Over the last 60+ years of my fishing adventures, I'd say casting a jig (or Marabou Road Runner) is the method I've used the most. That would include my Livescope flippin' as a "casting" method.

Also of note is that I started with a Flasher, then went to a b/w 2d Depthfinder, then a color Down Image unit, and now Livescope (over the last 50 odd years). Those electronics also played a part in what methods were used, to a degree.

That said ... go with what methods the guides are using, or what your tackle & electronics dictate that you use. 5K acres or 50K acres, find the cover most used at that time of year or the cover in range of what the fish are doing, especially where the baitfish will pass by or congregate ... where the fish will hang out to intercept them (pre-spawn to post-spawn times).

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Originally Posted by mozingo1952

I have come a long way from casting to shorelines and weeds from a float tube ( circa 1982) . Since the addition of GPS ,sidescan ,Spotlock , and livescope,
I am pretty much a one trick pony. Brushpiles in 17-20 ft of water. Either a vertical presentation or pitching to the pile. This is what I do
over 90% of the time. I will explore some shallow water in the spring and some deeper water in winter and some deep standing timber any time of the
year. But mostly I fish brushpiles , I find they hold fish from April to January on my home lake. Have built plenty and found many more. Sometimes when fishing is slow , I will just cruise the lake with my
sidescan.

I only fish one lake, and rarely venture more than a couple miles from my dock.

MO

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I feel like this is the most consistent bite the majority of the year on Eufaula.


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I would look on YouTube for videos on Eufaula and see if that shows me something I did not know. Good luck.

I just fish the way I like to fish and hope the fish like it also, if not they will another day. Luckily I like to single pole either flipping or vertical jigging and normally you can always catch something that way. Might need to change lures, location and or depth but usually can get something to bite doing it if you look hard enough.

Nothing against it but never spider rigged and never will, don't use live bait an not a bobber or trolling fan. I'm doing what I like because to me its fun. :cheers2

Honestly, I haven’t caught enough fish to say which technique I prefer. I’ve caught fish single poling by just dropping it on their head but that’s all I know how to do. I’d love to scope open water fish but my boat control sucks. I’m thinking spider rigging may help me cover water and identify productive areas faster otherwise I ride around looking for the perfect brush pile that I’ve yet to find


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Originally Posted by Auston22688

Honestly, I haven’t caught enough fish to say which technique I prefer. I’ve caught fish single poling by just dropping it on their head but that’s all I know how to do. I’d love to scope open water fish but my boat control sucks. I’m thinking spider rigging may help me cover water and identify productive areas faster otherwise I ride around looking for the perfect brush pile that I’ve yet to find


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If you have FFS, then you might do better Pushing jigs, rather than Spider Rigging ... simply because you can cover more area faster, plus the FFS will help you avoid running over those brushpiles & other snaggy obstacles. (plus you'd have time to correct your boat path, even with lousy boat control problems)
But, of course, Pushing always works better when the fish are following/chasing baitfish out in open water. Spider Rigging works best when the fish are staging or hanging out on cover.

My first choice is vertical jigging structure. If fish spook easily, I back off and cast to them with jigs mainly but will also cast minnows under slip cork if this works better.

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Originally Posted by CrappiePappy

If you have FFS, then you might do better Pushing jigs, rather than Spider Rigging ... simply because you can cover more area faster, plus the FFS will help you avoid running over those brushpiles & other snaggy obstacles. (plus you'd have time to correct your boat path, even with lousy boat control problems)
But, of course, Pushing always works better when the fish are following/chasing baitfish out in open water. Spider Rigging works best when the fish are staging or hanging out on cover.

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maybe pushing is what I mean. I assumed they were the same thing. What is spider rigging then?

I usually start with a technique that can cover a lot of water and find the concentrations of willing fishes. Then, I narrow down my technique to which one best suits the location, depth of fish, and density of the schools. Spider rigging and/or pulling cranks or longlining is where I start. When a suitable number of bites occur, I hone down the manner of presentation. Casting to them or scoping with a long rod is the final approach. All of this supposes that you are on a lake where you are not experienced as to the best spots or techniques that have worked before.
Hope this helps.

I’m a homebody. I like my home lake , my technique lines up with what fish are doing at a particular time or season. If I venture off my lake I go with a guide which knows what the fish are doing at that time.

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Originally Posted by Auston22688

maybe pushing is what I mean. I assumed they were the same thing. What is spider rigging then?

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Spider Rigging is multiple rods out the front, usually with minnows (sometimes with jigs tipped w/minnows), with 1/2-3/4oz sinker, going very slow to keep the lines mostly straight down.

Pushing is multiple rods out the front, with jigs (or cranks), with 1-2oz sinkers, going from 1mph (jigs) to 1.8mph or more (cranks). Keeping the line at approx. 45deg angle you can estimate the depth of your lures. (0.6x's the length of line out under the surface ... or 3ft of depth of the lure for every 5ft of line out below the surface)

You usually want slightly lighter action rods for Spider Rigging, than Pushing, because you're watching the rod tips when Spider Rigging, but there's usually little doubt you've got a bite when Pushing (& you need the heavier action rods for Pushing due to the heavier weights & speed).

You can easily get away with spinning reels or baitcast reels when Spider Rigging, but Line Counter reels are a Pushers best friend.

*********************
When I Push jigs ... I'm using four 14' rods - Line Counter reels - 1oz trolling sinkers - 1.5ft to 2ft leaders of 6# mono - @ ~1mph
That's just how I was taught to do it. When I "first" started Pushing I used what I had, which was a 7' rod, two 14' rods, and a 10' rod with baitcast reels & a spinning reel (as seen in pic below)

https://www.crappie.com/crappie/atta...01_131357-jpeg

I just included this pic & my starting arsenal of rods/reels to show that you "can" use varying lengths of rods & types of reels and still be successful at Pushing jigs ... as evidenced by the slime marks on the carpet of the rod locker & floor. :ThumbsUp

OP , to answer your technique question, it really depends on your goals for catching fish.
Do you want to quickly fill your freezer ?
Or just enjoy the outdoors while learning what you like best.
Personally, I can accomplish both during the spawn and spring using 12-14 foot jig pole and only jigs.
I pitch to trees, brush, above and below sight. Also vertical jig the same cover.
But , I’ve been fishing a long time and have 3 different size boats depending on where I fish.
I fish the way I do for the challenge and most people don’t have the patience to work the heavy brush, so even in a highly pressured area I can still catch fish.


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I hate to admit it but, spot and stalk with livescope and power brakes.

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Originally Posted by GreenLine

OP , to answer your technique question, it really depends on your goals for catching fish.
Do you want to quickly fill your freezer ?
Or just enjoy the outdoors while learning what you like best.
Personally, I can accomplish both during the spawn and spring using 12-14 foot jig pole and only jigs.
I pitch to trees, brush, above and below sight. Also vertical jig the same cover.
But , I’ve been fishing a long time and have 3 different size boats depending on where I fish.
I fish the way I do for the challenge and most people don’t have the patience to work the heavy brush, so even in a highly pressured area I can still catch fish.


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Right now, I just want to catch fish. I keep some to eat all along but I’m not keeping fish every time I go. However, I want a technique that will somewhat help my confidence that I’m in the right areas. I’m no good at any technique.


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For me, it really depends on the time of year and what the fish are doing. Spider rigging is a solid choice for covering water, especially in the spring when they're moving around. I also like vertical jigging around structure once I've located some fish.

Like I’ve said a bunch, I like to fish the way I like to fish and if it doesn’t catch a whole lot, most times that’s OK cuz I just like being out there. Sometimes I start with a beetle spin or rooster tail as a search bait. Once I find out where they might be, I switch to a jig, usually smaller and on a light finesse rod. If they’re under a dock or tree I’ll shoot ‘em and standing timber I’ll get a stiffer and longer rod to dip to em. I can’t get hung up on just one technique or rod, that’s why I’ve forty in my arsenal. Some similar and some specific. As the seasons change so do the fish and so does the way to catch em. Then there’s the mixed bag I usually wind up with. Crappie, gills, Warmouth, redbreast, shellcrackers, bass, golden lshiners and so on. They all make me smile and the vast majority get released. Very cool when a crappie hits my tiny finesse jig and stops the rod on the hookset. Or four pounds of bass gives me what for. Tossing jigs for crappie has morphed into something different than most folks for me, and I think everyone should try it. Slab has been in my boat and seen it first hand.

IMO , a few more things that will improve success and give you confidence that you are doing things right-
When possible, fish before a front, fish days when the moon is Not overhead, fish when there is a southerly wind direction, fish when the barometer is low / slowly falling, fish when the lake level is rising or stable.
Put all this together on one day and you will catch fish.
Also take note of the days when you do catch a lot of fish and remember the conditions, temp, water level , etc and you will be on your way.
Good luck, have patience



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Tons of structure on your lake ! Don’t think of it being 50,000+ acres dissect it a creek arm at a time or spend time in one area until covered. Check the channel edges secondary and main also scan the flats . You will eventually figure it out. As already said fish the way you want and enjoy being out .I have caught tons of fish pulling and pushing but they ant nothing like feeling that thump to me . Or watch that cork twitch.

Tons of structure on your lake ! Don’t think of it being 50,000+ acres dissect it a creek arm at a time or spend time in one area until covered. Check the channel edges secondary and main also scan the flats . You will eventually figure it out. As already said fish the way you want and enjoy being out .I have caught tons of fish pulling and pushing but they ant nothing like feeling that thump to me . Or watch that cork twitch.

I like to side scan to find cover & especially brush piles & schools of fish. Then i cast to them if i cant get close, but by far my favorite is pitching & vertical jigging brush piles. I have a few 10 footers & a 13 footer for pitching or vertical jogging brush & a 16 footer to be able to stay back & slip the bait in right beside a submerged tree or shallow brush.