any other kayak crappe fishermen out there

Has anyone seen a kayak or rigged their kayak up for spider rigging crappie? I would think a Hobie kayak would be perfect for this. Maybe I'm the only kayak crappie fisherman out here. I would like to hear from other kayak crappie fishermen. I long pole fish but am open to trying slow trilling with a spider rig.

_________________
Mike
2015 Pro Angler 12
Yellow with Humminbird side imaging

I'm presently rigging my ProAngler for crappie. Just bought a
HB 798ci SI. I plan to create a rear mount for the side-imaging
transducer which will A) be a clean, permanent install B) protect
the transducer from logs while reversing C) have minimal drag.

I mostly throw jigs and minnows. I had good luck late last Spring
trolling crankbaits. It's really fun and relaxing with my ProAngler.

I've never used spider-rigging techniques, but I plan to attempt
it this Spring. There's a fellow near me who makes *very* well
regarded crappie rod holders...

http://www.hitekstuff.com

He's about 30min from my house, so I will carry my ProAngler to him
for ideas and solutions. But rigging the Humminbird is my top priority.

I also recommend Crappie.com as a resource.

Brian

My 2011 is my third Pro Angler and until this year I have mainly crappie fished. I have recorded ( by gps) a couple of 1000 mile years crappie fishing in my local lakes. Life bit me in the butt and I had to work most all of last year. I am doing some trophy/tournament catfishing now and it is a real change of pace. But crappie fishing will always be my first love and that is what I will stay rigged for.

I only spider rig when they go very deep and are slow in winter, but the tournament season dictates that you do what it takes. I use 4 BeeReady rod holders on each side fixed to the black accessory board and can run 8 at a time although I usually only run 4 or six. The come with an elaborate base that I just remove and run the main bolt through the acc board. They are low profile and easy to set angle and pitch on. You can also buy a single rail with 4 rod holders already mounted on it. That give a higher profile than I like so I rigged them individually. I take 2 off each side for the rest of the year.

I have had a HB 997 on the last two pro Anglers ( a little over two years now) and love it. I am about to bump up to a 998 or 1197. I have a ram mount on the right handrail for the HB. I can pivot it out of the way when I need to. I went with the 997 because I thought that 1197 would be too large but the ram mount really helps keep it out of my working area.
I used a rear mount for a year and then adapted a Ram out to the front handle with a solid aluminum rod adapted to the transducer. Works great until I forget about it when beaching, but the ball mount is forgiving. The GPS puck replaced the Hobie logo on front and the Hobie logo went to my pick up rear window.

I added an aerated live bait well to the interior in the center hatch and made my Hobie bait tank my live-well for the live weigh in tourneys. It will keep 10 crappie alive until weigh in. I had to get rid of the factory center hatch lid as it is just too tight to be opening and closing as required for live bait fishing. As well as everything else is engineered, this lid is certainly not. The lid will be replaced shortly with a milled cutting board that is hinged and spring loaded to keep open or closed when in use and that clears the seat when opened.

I cut some battery mounting blocks out of closed cell foam I found locally and epoxied them inside the boat front and rear. I use one 7 amp for my clearance and crappie fishing lights. They are all LED and the battery will carry them for weeks. I use a 15 AH battery for my Hummingbird as it will eat a 7 AH in about 4 hours if using all features. I carry a 4AH spare for just in case I get excited and stay out longer .

I have put a fuse block behind a second 4 AH battery with a couple of voltage dropped outlets for USB charging and accessory power. My outputs levels are 5.5v - usb, Switchable 12/6 volt for the Hobie livewell ( or my own) and 3 volt for Frabil minnow pumps. This keeps me from chasing D cell batteries or being stuck in the middle of a tourney with battery woes.

Although it will not be done until mid summer, I am working on an electrical system to use a large LiFePO4 (lithium iron polymer) battery block I already have, to cut back on some of the weight by getting rid of all the lead acid. It will reduce my battery weight by half or more and extend my capabilities.

Later this year I will post up my replacement livewell for the PA. I had some carbon fibre left over from a job and decided to design a new bait tank. I have the wood pattern cnc machined, but haven't had the time to make the molds and finish it so far.

I have Hobie Live-wells in two of my current yaks, but they really don't suite the PA as well as they did my Outback. They are centered but leave a (at least for me ) unusable awkward/wasted space on each side. I am going to build one that will act as both live well and minnow bucket for long hauls. It will fill the front section of the tankwell tightly and have a few built in features to clean up my storage and battery act a bit.

I keep a decent collection of pool noodles in the hull also just for a bit more flotation with all this investment attached to the hull and all the extra weight from batteries.

I wont be in a position for a week or so to get some pics, but I'll post some up if you like.

Good luck, your gonna love your new crappie rig !

Phill

Here is a link to Ed's rod holders. Tell him Phill sent ya. http://www.beereadys.com/

Great post Carver. Do you tournament crappie fish against bass boats with your PA? I would love to see some pictures of your rig. I would love to hear about your catfishing also. Do you exclusively use a PA or do you also use a motor boat? Crappie fishing is my first love also but I love to long pole jig fish all the time and have had great luck in the spring fall and winter but need to find some way to fish in the summer cause it sucks on Beaver after the spawn until fall trying to jig fish for crappie. Logging that many miles you must troll mostly or fish every day. Would love to hear more.

_________________
Mike
2015 Pro Angler 12
Yellow with Humminbird side imaging

Yes I fish against power boats but, The major national crappie series will not allow kayaks. They are totally funded by Power boat and motor manufacturers and do not want to be beat by some kayaks. Its that simple. Year before last a major Tarpon tourney sponsored by a boat manufacturer was won by one of our TKF members launching his kayak from the beach and the following year kayaks were restricted to the "kayak only" tourney on Sunday after the "real" boats had fished. This has been repeated many times in PB tourneys in fresh and salt .

I fished against powerboats for two years in our local crappie club and had a great time, but last year my work schedule kept me from fishing any tourneys. I am too late to get in a full year this year but will fish a few just for fun.
I really don't troll other than slow motion spider rigging each year. My miles accumulated when I found myself off work with pay for a long while and fished most good weather days. I was really surprised to see exactly how far I had travelled on a typical sun up to dark day and started keeping a uploaded log of my travels. 6-10 miles a day was typical and that happened several day a week for two years. I know that after I got my Side imager I did a lot of traveling around likely spots to find burs piles and looking for structure before tourneys. Those were 20 mile days and did not feel like I had done anything.

There are not many kayak tourneys here in N. Texas that are well organized. The next one is a benefit tourney for Heroes On the Water ( an organization that takes wounded vets kayak fishing). There is an upcoming tourney near hearer on lake Ray Roberts on Saturday April 16. there will be a Bass division and a Crappie division. It will also be a spring get together for Texaskayakfisherman.com local chapter members. Probably about 150 kayak fishermen and families gathering for camping food and camaraderie. There will be boiled crawfish for all as well as real food. many will come several days early to camp and cahoot. I would encourage anyone within any kind of driving distance to make the effort. It is a lot of fun and really good cause. the local Hobie dealer ( and others) will have many boats to play with and is donating some " prizes yet to be announced" as well as some very important vets.

I do have a powerboat that I simply have not cranked for a very long time other than to lubricate the innards. It will get cleaned up and go on the market soon or become a camera boat for this years video production.

My catfishing is still in the early stages, but is a real hoot. I fish with poles, but have also run some jugs just for some box fish before gatherings. Chasing jugs in the PA is a blast. Kind like being a kid in a pirogue again.

I know you are a good drive away, but you might want to consider joining Crappie Anglers of Texas (CAT) just to get access to the video collection.( $25 per year) We have some great speakers at our monthly meetings and there is a lot of good information shared. Last year Wally Marshall opened our first meeting for us and two weeks ago Ronnie Capps blessed us with being the speaker for our opening meeting of the year. Our tournaments are fun and low pressure, but last year we still paid out more than $25,000 in winnings. We have folks from Ar. La. and MO. fishing many of them. I am the only one fishing from a yak, but they treat me well and have made some small considerations to the rules to include kayaks.

I am doing a serious marathon at work right now and might find an old pic or two of my last PA, but won't get any new ones for a day or so.
I'll post up when I do.

Phill

Carver that sounds like a blast. If I hadn't already committed to our 15th annual crappie fishing gathering at Grenada lake in north Mississippi with 6 of my old friends my wife and I would love to come. We love to travel in our old motorhome to parks and camp. Last summer I bought an old aluminum boat and motor and started catfishing again with my son in law. I grew up on the Mississippi River running lines catfishing. I haven't done it in over 30 years. I also made me 20 of the new style pvc noodle jugs. Just learning how to jug fish, not good at it yet but it is fun. Haven't tried it in a kayak yet but I plan on it soon. I've fished all my life but only kayak fished sinse October. I want to learn to striper fish, walleye fish and catfish from the kayak.

_________________
Mike
2015 Pro Angler 12
Yellow with Humminbird side imaging