Spider rigging can be a lot like work.

[Lance34]

It was today anyway!

I put in at 412 bridge and went over to Blue Springs. Went under the bridge and right off the bat started seeing bait and fish.

It didn't take long before I landed my first fish for the day. An 18" striper.

That was a exciting time on a 12 foot limber crappie rod. Wasn't able to get a pic. Saw another bite on one of my rods while trying to measure it, so I released it quickly and jumped back up and landed my first crappie for day.

I continued to troll the area getting 8 more crappie, 2 small spots before I ran out of minnows and time.

Don't know what it was about today but every time I had my hands full today with a fish or baiting hooks is when a fish would bite. Missed a ton of bites due to that today.

One funny thing that happen was.

I was taking a fish off and another rod tip sunk way down in the water. I go to grab it, set the hook and that's when all heck broke loose. Line started coming off and my pole was doubling over. I'm assuming another striper I guess but don't know it straighten my hook. It was exciting when it happen but man did I have a mess with tangled lines and everything. Wasted a lot of time.

The crappie I caught where in 14-16 deep in 20 foot of water. Water temp was 53ish.

[J-Doc]

Now that's awesome. Sounds like fun but yes.....it can be work. I'm ready to get mine out.

[Feathers and Fins]

Lance welcome to my world, I had 4 hybrids on at one time last year and was hooked on spider rigging from then on. But what a mess

A couple things I have done to prevent some of the hassle is, Using circle hooks when live baiting, the stronger hooks don't straighten out ( negative is they don't and you will loose the rig ). When fishing stained water I have gone up to 10lb line Main and leader, when in clear water I still use 4lb. Arkie Lure has a new spider-rig set-up im going to try this year that looks sweet and the price is great.

Last thing is a no brainer that I felt like a fool for not thinking about earlier. I have multiple rod holders on my boat and when a double happens I fight the first fish and second one I move to a further back rod holder so not to mess up the entire rig.

It is a lot of fun but forces you to think way outside the box and keep your head on a swivel.

[nathanhooper]

We need pictures of you guys setups. I've seen them before, but know that they can vary greatly.

[Lance34]

4 hybrids at once. I bet that was a cluster.

Thanks for the the tips. I started spider rigging some a year ago and I want to try and do it more often this year. I was using Mr. Crappie troll tech rig. The one that is a double hook rig that the top hook circles around the line to avoid tangles. But, my thinking was this strange looking wire object moving through the water column was decreasing my catches. Maybe wrong but do something different and see how it goes.

So, I started using the BnM crappie rig this year. The hooks straighten out easier when I snag into brush. Which I like. I seemed to have more bites but a ton of misses, but that's my fault with head down and hands full.

Line, right now I have on is 8# hi viz. That's due to when my dad was in better health and could go with me he could see the line better between rods. Good news is he feeling better now and would of went with me if didn't have a appointment.

It is a lot fun to do. It's like anything else the more you do it the better you get at it.

[Lance34]

I use six 12 foot rods spread out across the bow. With my tips about 6-12 inches above the water. This is the only pic I got. Small crappie I know. Just took the pic to rub it in one day to a friend that was working.

[YAKFM]

Nice setup Lance and congrats on the fish.

[wc1063]

Sounds like a good day on Beaver!!

[nathanhooper]

I know live bait can be king here, but do artificials do any good?

I so do not need to think about adding another setup to my boat, but I can see me trying this in the coming years

[jerry241]

Yall are killin me...... Still working on getting set up better for trolling and now this. Guess I will be shopping for more rods