Thread: Pushing jigs

I TROLL FOR CRAPPIE JUST LIKE I DO STRIPER I USE 1/2 TO 1 oz EGG SINKER'S I PUT MY RODS OFF THE SIDE,
I START AT THE FRONT WITH LONGER RODS AND AND EACH LINE IS PUT OUT 2 TO 4 ft DEEPER THEN THE ONE IN FRONT OF IT.
THAT'S HOW I LEARNED TO TROLL , AND IT SEEM'S TO WORK FOR ME.
WEATHER IT'S STIYPER OR CRAPPIE .
JUST MY PERSONAL PREFRENCE.

Originally Posted by engineman06

I TROLL FOR CRAPPIE JUST LIKE I DO STRIPER I USE 1/2 TO 1 oz EGG SINKER'S I PUT MY RODS OFF THE SIDE,
I START AT THE FRONT WITH LONGER RODS AND AND EACH LINE IS PUT OUT 2 TO 4 ft DEEPER THEN THE ONE IN FRONT OF IT.
THAT'S HOW I LEARNED TO TROLL , AND IT SEEM'S TO WORK FOR ME.
WEATHER IT'S STIYPER OR CRAPPIE .
JUST MY PERSONAL PREFRENCE.

So which rods are the deepest? Long ones?

Really good thread! Before I'd ever heard of longlining, I used to spider rig with those 12-14 ft poles that had no reels and you tied a fixed amount of line to the single guide at the tip. I caught a lot of fish but broke quite a few poles too! (Gotta love those hybrids on a short line...lol). Since longlining I haven't done this much in recent years. But it seems to me that once the fish get below 15 ft, they become considerably more difficult for me to catch by longlining. So I plan to pull out those 10, 12, and 14 footers (now I have rods with guides and reels) and give this a try again. The info on using braid is really useful, as it sounds like a great way to avoid losing the whole rig. And tightlining around standing timber is definitely going to produce both slabs and hangs!

In my opinion, fishing at different depths, (other then when searching for fish) will equate to far fewer bites. Using your electronics as a search tool, you should already know where the majority of the fish are holding in the water column. By keeping your baits at, or just above the fish will keep you in the most probable strike zone, which in turn should get you many more bites. Staggering depths once a pattern has been established will have baits in dead water.

Originally Posted by engineman06

I TROLL FOR CRAPPIE JUST LIKE I DO STRIPER I USE 1/2 TO 1 oz EGG SINKER'S I PUT MY RODS OFF THE SIDE,
I START AT THE FRONT WITH LONGER RODS AND AND EACH LINE IS PUT OUT 2 TO 4 ft DEEPER THEN THE ONE IN FRONT OF IT.
THAT'S HOW I LEARNED TO TROLL , AND IT SEEM'S TO WORK FOR ME.
WEATHER IT'S STIYPER OR CRAPPIE .
JUST MY PERSONAL PREFRENCE.

To me tightlining and pushing is the samething. The only difference is tightlining is crawling if moving at all and pushing is moving. I rig my rods the same way for either which is generally with 3/4 oz weights. If I am moving slow and fishing deep I will generally have a gold hook above the lead to have double rigs. I like sitting still at times but the heavier weight gives me the option to cover more water if I need to find fish, if I am on them and need to sit still then I will. I think with fishing you can never go dead set on fishing a certain way, most of the time I try to do what the fish want or what is the best method for the conditions. On some days they want it sitting still and others they may want it moving 1/2 a mph. On windy days you almost have to longline or push because you can't keep the boat still. When pushing, longlining, or tightlining I usually start out with rods at various depths or close to what I am marking fish at but as soon as I catch a fish or two at a particular depth I am going to get all poles close to or above that depth.

I don't want to hijack this thread, but now that we have a good understanding of what the different styles are, tight lining, long lining & Pushing, what is your favorite or go to method? I know you have to adjust to different weather patterns and conditions occasionally, but what method do you enjoy doing the most?

I enjoy them all, but prefer to single pole jig fish brush and structure. It's fast paced, action packed most of the time, and you get to feel the thump.

Longlining.