Crappie rig setup

Check out this YouTuber using a spider rig to catch crappie:. Skip to content. Facebook Comments. How to Harvest Mussels. Guide for a Black Sea Bass Rig. Both white and black crappie are some of the most popular sport fish in North America. Rigging your fishing pole to catch crappie is not difficult, but you do need the right combination of rod and reel along with the bait to make it work.

You will need the following equipment;. Since most crappie weighs less than a pound, a four-pound test monofilament is all that you will need.

Although if you are going after world-record size crappie, keep in mind that the current record is crappie that weighed just over five pounds. The No. Plus, there is enough of the hook remaining to let you easily grasp it as you remove it from its mouth. About two feet up from the hook, you should attach the weighted spring bobber.

Either hook a minnow behind the head or thread it onto the jig hook as if putting on a plastic grub tail. Used this way, a minnow-tipped weedless jig is more durable. This is especially true when crappies are feeding in shallow, clear water, where minimal terminal tackle rigging is desired.

The beauty of this rig is in its simplicity. Any of a wide variety of bobbers and floats can be used, from snap-on plastic models to more sophisticated balsa or cork ones. Position the bobber on the fishing line several feet above a bait hook, and pinch on a split shot or two between hook and bobber. If fishing deeper water, slide the bobber up the fishing line toward the rod tip.

Where the bait is hooked can make a difference in success. Standard nose, throat, or head hooking of minnows usually works. But sometimes hooking a minnow just under the dorsal fin or at the tail triggers strikes from more finicky crappies. This is an excellent bait rig for slow trolling and drifting for deep crappies on rocky bottoms, in areas with stumps and logs, or near well-defined weed edges.

Two jigs usually are better than one especially for crappies , and this may be the quickest way to set up a double-jig minnow rig. With a 3-foot length of 4- to pound-test monofilament or fluorocarbon line, tie a jig to each end. Grasp the leader tied to the jigs about one foot from the lighter jig, loop it, and tie a double overhand knot.

Keep the loop small, because this attaches to your line. The fishing line can be tied directly to the leader loop, but by adding a snap swivel, you can quickly change out frayed leaders and different lures. Rigged this way, the heavier jig is positioned at the bottom, which facilitates tangle-free casting and works well for drifting and trolling. Check Price on Amazon. This can be very advantageous when fishing for crappie. It allows you to fish two different depths, baits, locations, and so on simultaneously.

This effectively doubles your chance of catching a fish. When fishing for crappie, using two different bobber rigs set to different depths can be very productive.

Using one rod with a bobber set up and the other with a cast and retrieve setup jig, spinner, crankbait is another great combination. Spider rigging or spider trolling definitely sets itself apart from other crappie fishing techniques.

It can be ridiculously effective. This tactic uses multiple poles usually fanned out in front or in the back of the boat. This technique is basically two-handed fishing on steroids. Before you try it though, make sure it is legal to use multiple poles in your state. Spider trolling is a great technique to find schools of crappie very efficiently and very quickly. You can use jigs on some poles, spinners on some, and minnows on others. They can and should all be fished at different depths initially.

It can be a difficult technique to master since you have to be watching all poles at the same time in case of a bite or in case lines get crossed. You also need the proper equipment to mount the rods in such a fashion. Rod holders like these will make the job a lot easier:. When done well, spider trolling can be a super-effective technique.

Casting and retrieving is a common fishing technique for all types of fish. Whether you are using spinners, jigs, crankbaits, or spoons, this is a good technique to use when the goal is covering lots of open water. Experiment with steady reeling and reeling with pauses to find what works best. This is probably the most unique of the crappie fishing techniques.

It involves bending the rod like a bow and arrow and firing your lure underneath piers and pontoons. The structure and cover provided by piers and pontoons can often be crappie goldmines. It may be difficult to cast under these objects, but by shooting the lure you can place it at short distances with surprising accuracy. With the bail open and a finger on the line, pinch the lure between the thumb and forefinger of your other hand.