With the evolution of electronics, and especially since the advent of forward-facing sonar like Garmin’s LiveScope technology, many anglers have reverted to one-pole presentations, either casting, flipping, or vertically jigging to individual fish. In particular, that approach has dominated the tournament scene in recent years. Pushed into the background of this modern era of crappie fishing are various approaches to trolling. Yet nothing has changed the productivity and efficiency of trolling presentations like long lining, side pulling, and spider rigging for crappie. The various iterations of the approach maintain their overall effectiveness. Simply put, trolling remains a deadly presentation for crappie regardless of the fishing venue.
Downplay that idea at the risk of catching fewer fish. Better still, take the advice of crappie guides who spend hundreds of days each year on the water. Guides Darrell Baker and Brad Whitehead put their own unique touches on trolling for crappie in north Alabama, while guide Tim Howell deploys a multi-rod spread on the famed Big 4 lakes in north-central Mississippi.
Each acknowledges the role of modern electronics in the crappie-fishing world, but trolling remains their go-to presentation on a trip-to-trip basis.
Choosing the Right Crappie Trolling Method
Long lining, spider rigging, and side pulling all allow anglers to present multiple baits and cover productive water, but each method solves a different problem.
Long lining is an excellent choice when crappie are active, scattered, and willing to chase moving baits. Spider rigging allows anglers to slow the presentation down for lethargic or tightly grouped fish. Side pulling offers another way to cover water while using the wind and presenting baits to fish that may not have already seen traditional trolling spreads.
The best choice often depends less on an angler’s preferred equipment and more on the conditions. Wind, water depth, fish activity, structure, and seasonal movement all help determine which presentation will be most effective.
Long Lining For Crappie
For years, Baker from Weiss Lake Crappie Guides in Centre, Alabama, has guided clients to scores of crappie on Weiss Lake, the uppermost impoundment on the Coosa River. As the harsh winds of winter give way to better conditions in March, Baker can likely be found trolling for Weiss slabs.
While he is a versatile guide adept at various crappie-fishing techniques and presentations, Baker admits long-line trolling is hard to beat in late winter and early spring.
“The fish are schooling up in the coves in the spring, getting ready for the spawn,” he said. “The fish are in large schools and are usually pretty active, so they will hit a moving bait. I think they feel like the bait is trying to get away from them, and that is what triggers them to chase and bite it.”
According to Baker, fishing conditions in March also make long lining preferable to other approaches. Wind comes into play on a daily basis in March, and a moving boat is less susceptible to being redirected by the wind.
On Weiss Lake, local regulations limit anglers to three rods each. On other fisheries, at least eight rods and occasionally more are used for long lining. Some boats can accommodate up to eight rods in the front with four more in the back. Rods of different lengths, which are needed to eliminate tangles, are staggered out the front on each side.
Long liners typically troll from about .7 mph to just over one mph. Baker ties one or two jigs directly to the main line with a loop knot. He uses B’n’M rods and fills his reels with six-pound Gamma Optic yellow line. His go-to plastic is the Charlie Brewer’s Slider Company Crappie/Panfish Grub.
“I use all six-pound Gamma because I know where my jigs are with that size line,” Baker said. “I’m fishing 1/32-ounce up to maybe 1/24-ounce jigs. I’m moving about .9 to 1.2 mph, fishing shallow in those stumps in the coves.”
Baker also knows his clients. Most of them come to Weiss looking for crappie fillets. Long lining is just the right approach for them.
“It’s hard to beat a good long-lining bite in the spring,” Baker said, “and it’s an approach that any of my clients can adapt to quickly.”
Spider Rigging For Crappie
Tim Howell at Longbranch Guide Service might practice his trolling techniques in Mississippi, but he suggests that his approach to spider rigging for crappie will catch them just about anywhere.
The monster white crappie on lakes like Grenada, Enid, and Sardis are heavily affected by the changes in March weather. Howell said that the crappie there become lethargic, especially in post-front conditions. Those mood swings demand a slower approach, and spider rigging for crappie addresses the needs of finicky fish.
“The main reason is you can slow the presentation down to almost dead still, whereas with long lining or side pulling, you’re having to move a lot faster,” Howell said. “Normally in prespawn, the fish are lazy and want a slower-moving bait, in my opinion.”
He uses a spread of up to eight 16-foot ACC Riggin’ Stix trolling rods. His favorite combination on the business end is a 1/4-ounce jig head paired with a Midsouth Tackle tube-style plastic.
He frequently uses two jigs, one about three feet up the main line and another about 18 inches down, with a weight at the bottom. The size of the weight, which is usually 1/2 to one ounce, depends on several factors, including wind, water depth, and trolling speed.
Most of the time, Howell trolls at .3 mph to about .5 mph while spider rigging, although he may reduce his speed to target structure or individual fish. Later in the year, he transitions to what he calls power trolling, a similar spider-rigging presentation that uses bigger baits and heavier weights. He also significantly increases his speed to one mph or slightly more.
On an average day, Howell finds himself in the vicinity of other guides and anglers staring at their LiveScope screens in hopes of catching individual fish. He said that is not what his clients want. Despite the daily potential for big fish, Howell seeks to put his customers on numbers of crappie.
“For me as a guide, it’s just the easiest way to fish and the most productive,” he said. **Editor’s note: If you’re looking to upgrade your boat for spider rigging, check out Millennium Marine’s lineup of spider rigging accessories, the Spyderlok series.
Why Boat Setup Matters When Spider Rigging
Spider rigging may be productive, but managing several long rods at the same time can become complicated quickly. Every rod must remain properly spaced, positioned at a useful angle, and easy to remove when a crappie bites.
A poorly organized spread can lead to crossed lines, missed strikes, tangled rods, and unnecessary movement in the boat. The challenge becomes even greater when anglers need to make adjustments because of changing wind, depth, trolling speed, or fish position.
That is where a dedicated rod-holding system becomes useful. Millennium Marine’s R100 SpyderLok Gen 2 is designed to hold four rods across an adjustable crossbar. Individual rod holders can be repositioned, while the rotating crossbar allows anglers to change the direction and angle of the entire spread.
The secure SpyderLok teeth help maintain the selected rod angles while trolling. The system also allows anglers to adjust its height and remove it using two knobs when it is no longer needed. Its mounting plate sits flush against the deck, helping reduce the amount of hardware protruding into the fishing area.
The system does not replace the need to control speed, read the wind, choose the right weight, or keep baits at the proper depth. It simply gives anglers a more organized and adjustable platform for managing the rods involved in the presentation.
That organization can be especially valuable when a guide or boat owner regularly switches between spider rigging, long lining, and pulling crankbaits. Instead of rebuilding the boat setup for every presentation, anglers can adjust rod positions as fishing conditions change.
Side Pulling For Crappie
Crappie fishing guru Brad Whitehead spends a lot of time fishing and guiding on Pickwick Lake and the Bear Creek Development Authority lakes in northwest Alabama. He takes a different approach to trolling.
Whitehead said the uniqueness of side pulling creates a different presentation for pressured fish. He also finds himself side pulling in different areas that are not covered by long liners or spider riggers.
He fishes from a boat specifically designed for side pulling with a trolling motor mounted in the middle on the right side. Whitehead controls the speed and direction with the trolling motor but frequently fishes with the wind.
“We’re side pulling in a War Eagle 754VS, using 10 or 11 rods with a mixture of hair jigs, Charlie Brewer Sliders, and curly tails,” Whitehead said. “All the rods are in clean water all day long, meaning it probably hasn’t been fished by other trollers. I’m pulling a consistent .7 to .9 mph.”
“One of the things side pulling brings to the table is that you’re able to go with the wind, cover water, and catch the active fish on the move, whether they are coming off the bed or feeding up before the spawn.”
He uses B’n’M rods, with nine-foot models in the back and middle and 10-footers in the front. Whitehead sits in the back of the boat, and the longer rods in the front allow for easier bite detection.
The rods, called The Difference, were designed by legendary Pickwick guide Roger Gant, from whom Whitehead learned side pulling.
Whitehead rigs a vertical presentation that includes one jig at the end of the main line, another about a foot above it, and a 1/3-ounce split shot a foot above the top jig.
He said the weight “takes all the guesswork out of determining how deep your lures run. I’m able to count down to suspended fish and put the lures in their faces.”
Another benefit of side pulling is the opportunity to target deeper fish. Many of the bigger prespawn females rest in deep water until the urge to move shallow hits them.
“As a side puller, I like to target slightly deeper water than the typical trollers,” Whitehead said. “Most people would say 15 feet or under for most prespawn fishing. I’m out in 20, 22, or 23 feet of water.”
“I’m catching slightly later fish and usually slightly bigger fish,” he added.
Final Thoughts
Regardless of the presentation, long lining, spider rigging, and side pulling remain fixtures among knowledgeable crappie fishermen. These techniques may sometimes be overshadowed by forward-facing sonar and other modern trends, but any type of multi-rod trolling provides an effective way to locate and catch large numbers of crappie.
Long lining excels when active fish are willing to chase moving baits. Spider rigging gives anglers the control needed to slow down for lethargic fish. Side pulling allows anglers to use the wind, cover less-pressured water, and target fish at specific depths.
No single method will be the best choice every day. Anglers who learn all three can respond to changing weather, fish behavior, and seasonal patterns rather than forcing one presentation under every set of conditions.
Electronics may help anglers locate fish when spider rigging for crappie, but presentation still determines whether those fish bite. Proper speed, depth control, rod positioning, and an organized boat setup can make these proven trolling techniques just as productive today as they have ever been.
