How do you know how deep you lures are running while you’re trolling? And how do you control the depth? It seems to me that it would be very difficult to get 'em down to 15 feet, where the fish seem to be these days.
Thanks for the help. Chip.
PRACTICE,PRACTICE going over different depths to see what starts to drag then adjust speed.If you use gps or speedometer on trolling motor keep a close watch on it.My best way to get that deep is 1/16 oz.jig with 1/16oz. bullet weight at 0.9 mph on speedometer,but some vary.I highlly suggest speed control on trolling motor,it works best for me.Some gps don’t work well at very slow speeds.
Easyist way is to tightline a carolina rig using 1/2 -2oz weights.
I am just switching over to spider-rigging on my boat for the first time. If you go to YouTube and do a search on crappie fishing, there are a number of video’s out there. One thing I remember was that the front rods should be at least 12’ long and the line should never have over a 15 degree angle. I made up a number of double-jig rigs with a 1/2 ounce weight that I tied here at home and put in plastic bags. I have a wedding tomorrow and can’t fish, but will hopefully be able to give it a try next week. I want to see if 1/2 ounce is enough to keep my jigs down around 12-15’.
I never got comfortable long lining, just never felt like I was getting down to the fish. Started tight lining & love it. I use a Capps & Coleman type set up,
2 ounce barrel sinker, pegged about 15" above the jig. I can troll .5 to 2.0 mph & know exactly how deep my bait is. When bit, I can go back to the same depth instantly. Its all about confidence, & I’m alot more confident that I’ll catch fish tight lining. I push 8 rods on the front of the boat, two each of,
9’,10’,12’, &14’ . Shortest rods are in front & fish them the deepest, longest rods out the sides, fished the shallowest.
Thanks for the quick replys!
I should mention that I’m fishing out of a rowboat with limited electronics ( no gps, just a cheap fishfinder).
What is meant by ‘tightlining’? It sounds like trolling with a heavy weight, is there more to it?
I’ll be on Jordan tomorrow a.m. Thanks, Chip.
Tightlining is pretty much keeping the line straight and tight. What I do is tie a double rig with a 1/2 oz bell sinker on the bottom with 2 hooks spaced about 18 inches apart. I have rod holders set up on the side of the boat and I have a 10-speed trolling motor and generally I use speed #2 maybe 3 if there is a breeze. As far as depth, you can determine the length of your rod and go from there. Lets say you have a 10’ rod and want to fish 12’. Just drop the line to the back end of your rod and figure up 2 extra feet. Most of the time when I troll, I drop a line to the bottom and crank a couple of times to keep out of brush.
Chip–I’ve caught a lot of crappie tightlining just as Turkey explained, except I would anchor up when I found fish. I used minnows and did quite well. With some decent rodholders, you are in business. From what you’ve said, I don’t think you have a trolling motor, so tightlining may be your best bet. I have some long rods, but when I would anchor up and tightline, I used any rod I could find in the house. It’s all about getting lot’s of bait in the water. I have 13 rodholders, so with double rigs on each one, I was fishing 26 minnows at a time. That’s one of the reasons I am going to spiderigging with jigs!! Minnows got to costing too much.
my prefered way to troll is long line trolling. i dont have a gps on my boat, but i spider rig a few rods off the front while i long line. i use the rods in the front to judge my speed…with a 1 1/2 oz sinker, if my spider rigs are at a 20 degree angle (just guessing) then i am going just right…if my line is straight down, too slow, and im going wayyyy to fast if the line is over that 20 degree mark. when going just right ive found im going bout .8-1.1ish.
now i like to make a few zig zag patterns when long lining. when i make a turn, the rods on one side will drop, and the ones on the other will rise, if i get a hit or 2 on the side thats rising, that means i need to speed it up. and vise versa on the falling side.
hope this helps some.
Thanks for the info. I will try it on Jordan tomorrow and post results. Chip.
