Advise on spider rigging

[llg]

I am retiring soon and my wife says we are getting a pontoon so I can take the grandkids fishing. I don't want a pontoon but it does look like the ultimate spider rig setup.

So what are the tricks to successful spider rigging? I would like to know what rods, reels, lines that you use successfully. Most of my fishing will be on Green River Lake for crappie, bluegill, and some light weight catfish.

[Shellkat]

To heck with the spider rigging,what do you have the wife on to make her insist you buy a boat

[llg]

She is still getting what she wanted instead of what I wanted.

[crappiepappy]

I am retiring soon and my wife says we are getting a pontoon so I can take the grandkids fishing. I don't want a pontoon but it does look like the ultimate spider rig setup.

So what are the tricks to successful spider rigging? I would like to know what rods, reels, lines that you use successfully. Most of my fishing will be on Green River Lake for crappie, bluegill, and some light weight catfish.

Actually, a pontoon is NOT the ultimate spider rigging setup .... BUT, if that's what you have to go with, then that's what you have to go with !!

Get the biggest, baddest trolling motor you can ... you're going to need it to maintain any kind of boat control in the wind. You may even need a couple of large drift socks to slow you down when the boat is moving WITH the wind. You'll definitely need some good electronics ... with GPS capability & map card slots, so you can mark all the brushpiles and cover you find (& return to them) and the map cards show the bottom contours so you can follow a contour of a specific depth (and not have to constantly be adjusting the depth of your lines).

Rods can be anywhere from 10ft to 16ft long ... and cheap spinning reels (like a Shimano IX1000) are all you need for reels, since you won't be fishing all that deep, anyway. You could also use some cheap (used/consignment) baitcast reels, if spinning reels are hard for the youngsters to use ... or you could even use spincast reels (like a Zebco 33).

You will, of course, need rod holders ... and there are many different brands & styles of those. You could even use ones that clamp on the rails of your pontoon. But, I'd get ones that point the rod straight out, rather than those that are angled upwards ... and ones that are adjustable (up/down) are even better.

What line you use may depend on which style reels you decide on. If you're going to mainly fish for Crappie & Bluegill, I wouldn't go over 6lb test. And if you have reels with heavier line, then just make 12-18 inch leaders of a lighter pound test to put your jig or hook on ... and put a 1/2oz egg sinker on the main line, then tie a swivel/clip on the end of the main line ... to attach your pre-made leaders to. That way you won't have to re-rig the whole shebang if you get snagged & break off. You'll just lose whatever you had tied on the leader. Then you can remove the broken leader & slip on another one and be back fishing in no time. Many spider riggers buy "pool noodles" from the dollar store, and cut them off into small sections ... then use them to wrap/hold their pre-made leaders.

Oh, and be sure and get a large cooler ... for all the drinks & snacks that the kiddos are gonna want to be into while they wait for a fish to bite ... LOL !!! And since pondtoons don't have livewells or baitwells ... you'll need a fish basket or cooler for the fish you catch ... and a aerated minnow bucket or floating type (if you intend to use minnows).

Good luck with your quest !!

... pappy

[Deer Slayer]

Actually, a pontoon is NOT the ultimate spider rigging setup .... BUT, if that's what you have to go with, then that's what you have to go with !!

Get the biggest, baddest trolling motor you can ... you're going to need it to maintain any kind of boat control in the wind. You may even need a couple of large drift socks to slow you down when the boat is moving WITH the wind. You'll definitely need some good electronics ... with GPS capability & map card slots, so you can mark all the brushpiles and cover you find (& return to them) and the map cards show the bottom contours so you can follow a contour of a specific depth (and not have to constantly be adjusting the depth of your lines).

Rods can be anywhere from 10ft to 16ft long ... and cheap spinning reels (like a Shimano IX1000) are all you need for reels, since you won't be fishing all that deep, anyway. You could also use some cheap (used/consignment) baitcast reels, if spinning reels are hard for the youngsters to use ... or you could even use spincast reels (like a Zebco 33).

You will, of course, need rod holders ... and there are many different brands & styles of those. You could even use ones that clamp on the rails of your pontoon. But, I'd get ones that point the rod straight out, rather than those that are angled upwards ... and ones that are adjustable (up/down) are even better.

What line you use may depend on which style reels you decide on. If you're going to mainly fish for Crappie & Bluegill, I wouldn't go over 6lb test. And if you have reels with heavier line, then just make 12-18 inch leaders of a lighter pound test to put your jig or hook on ... and put a 1/2oz egg sinker on the main line, then tie a swivel/clip on the end of the main line ... to attach your pre-made leaders to. That way you won't have to re-rig the whole shebang if you get snagged & break off. You'll just lose whatever you had tied on the leader. Then you can remove the broken leader & slip on another one and be back fishing in no time. Many spider riggers buy "pool noodles" from the dollar store, and cut them off into small sections ... then use them to wrap/hold their pre-made leaders.

Oh, and be sure and get a large cooler ... for all the drinks & snacks that the kiddos are gonna want to be into while they wait for a fish to bite ... LOL !!! And since pondtoons don't have livewells or baitwells ... you'll need a fish basket or cooler for the fish you catch ... and a aerated minnow bucket or floating type (if you intend to use minnows).

Good luck with your quest !!

... pappy

Just leaving out this morning for green river and you listed almost everything we have...

[tgordon6233]

I have eight of these I rig my jigs and minnow rigs on.