Page 15 - Crappie NOW - March 2018

SPIDER RIG OR SINGLE POLE

rig and some like to single pole. What is Brandon Jennings, Bass Pro
the best method? To try to answer this Shops and Bobby Garland pro staff
question, we talked to some of the top member likes to single pole for crappie
professional crappie fishermen to find that have moved onto spawning areas.
out what they do. He said there is nothing like just feeling
Sam Heaton, B’n’M pro staff the thump! He likes using a B’n’M Sam
member who has his own signature Heaton Super Sensitive 10 foot rod with
crappie pole, the B’n’M Super Sensitive a Lew’s Laser reel loaded with 10 pound
Crappie rod. He loves when the crappie test braided line. His favorite bait is a
are moving into the spawning areas 1/16th ounce Mo’Glo jig dressed with a
because they become predictable in Bobby Garland Slab Slay’R. For dirtier
how to catch them. As crappie start water he likes to use the Mo’Glo colors
their move towards the spawning areas,
Sam likes to spider rig but once the fish
are in the spawning area, single pole is
the way to go. Using his 10’ signature
rod rigged with 6 pound test line and a
single 1/16th ounce jig, he likes to find
holes in grass or dropping the jig in the
middle of flooded bushes. He really
likes using the old style crappie tube
because of the movement of the legs in
the water without having to move the bait
around. His best tip is to be extremely
quiet both in movement and noise, “you
got to stealth em”. He also said, if you
miss some of the bites, change color of
crappie tube.
Tim Blackley, B’n’M and Strike
King pro staff member likes the spider rig
as the crappie are moving onto spawning
areas and during the spawn. He said it
covers more area and provides the ability
to catch several fish at the same time
around a piece of cover. He likes to use
the B’n’M 16 foot Bucks graphite jig pole.
Tied to his line is a 1/8th ounce Strike
King jig tipped with a black/chartreuse
or pink/white Crappie Thunder. He will
fish his jigs no more than 6 feet deep
and during the spawn the bait could be 2
feet deep. To insure he stays as quiet as
possible, he will clean any nicks in his
trolling motor prop. “It makes the trolling
motor more quiet and cuts grass better”.
He also recommended using Driftmaster
rod holders because of the versatility,
durability and being able to get rods out
of the holder easier.

15 Crappie NOW March 2018