I've just built a spider rig set up to hold 4 rods on the front of my pontoon boat. I really haven't fished this way before and was hoping to get a little advice. I have a few questions.
1. Jigs or minnows?
2. How far apart should the lines be?
3. Is there a limit to the number of lines/hooks that can be legally used?

Any advice would really be appreciated.

1. Jigs or minnows will work. I preferably like to use minnows. I like them to be fresh too. If I hadn't gotten a bite in a little while I will change the minnows out.
2. As far as the lines being apart, can be any distance. I use 12 foot poles, I put 2 straight out both sides basically then divide the middle equally and place the other 2. Your trying to cover as much water as possible. I will say you don't want them to close when you go over a school of sandies or crappie for that much. You can end up with one big knot.
3. I'm not to sure as far as the amount off hooks and lines. Depends on the lake or state regs. Like Grenada lake in Mississippi has a 3 pole limit.

Good luck to you.

Texas has no limit for number of lines. I know about the sandies, went threw a school of them and all 6 rods went down at once. Pulled up 4 sets of doubles and singles on the other 2, and untangled and re-tied for the next hour and a half. I like them with a 1/8th oz roadrunner on the botton, 1/16 on top, with a 1/2 oz weight. I use either plastics, ties, or minnows on the RR. Check out the wally marshal trol-techs. Make tying up a lot easier, and they don't tangle as much. I tie 12" leaders for the top and 18" for the bottom. When they tangle, take the swivel off and put a new one on. I need to go spider rigging again. Going out jigging in the morning, would spider rig, but dad is going with me, and I have rods and tackle strung all over the boat when I spider rig. I would probably go home with a couple broken rods.

You can have up to 100 hooks in the water at once

spider rigging is not as easy as it looks.If you know someone that does it with success,plan a trip with them.I spider rig from a 21ft fiberglass bass boat.I have two seats side by side up front.me and a partner usually fish 8 poles double rigged w/minnows.This style of fishing from a toon is really gonna be a challenge because of boat control.ALWAYS fish into the wind...that way if you find a tree top that snags your lines all you have to do is let off the tm and let the wind push you off the snag.Use your electronics to check a new area for problems before you set out your poles.I would start with two poles and work up as you learn.Spider rigging is a lot of fun and can put huge numbers of fish in the boat.You are gonna need 14ft poles and a long light weight net.Use 6 to 10 lb hi-vis line and set your pole tips about 8" above the water.I don't go fast,usually just ease around.

Yeah, I need to get around and buy, or make me some longer rods. I use one 11' and 3-5 10'.

I troll some but limit it to two poles. I've caught too many stripers, LM Bass, SM Bass, Blue cat , etc on crappie jigs to fool around with that. What a tangle that will be. Every crappie lake has Large Mouth Bass. That fish will gleefully wrap all those lines into one big knot.

A search on spider rigging will give some good articles and videos. The below website from Bass Pro info area is a good one.

http://www.basspro1source.com/index.php/...ing-for-crappie

Part of the learning curve is to react quickly to a bite to keep that pole from winding up in the others.A 10-12in crappie is not that hard to control...a 5 lb catfish can have you retying all your stuff!

Yeah, you definitely have to react quick. And tie you a bunch of leaders ready to go. No time for re-tying with 4-6 rods out. And stay away from the trees. A real headache is when you end up with 3 or 4 rods snagged at once. I always tie my leaders lighter weight than my mainline, so if I snag, break it and put on another leader. Usually end up, by the end of the day, with a whole pile of tangled leaders to cut and re-tye.

Some very good advice. Thanks everyone. I can tell it is gonna take some time to figure this style out but it sounds like a good way to catch some crappie.

check out these: http://www.basspro.com/Tackle-Buddy-Snell-Holder/product/16624/ Work great for holding leaders. Have to buy them online. I know the BP in Garland does not stock them, but can ship to store. I tie the leaders with a barrel swivel and snap them to these:http: http://www.basspro.com/Mr-Crappie-TrollTech-Crappie-Rigs/product/10210942/ . Just use rubber bands to hold the leaders.

BenMac,I really believe that toon is only gonna work for spider rigging in very limited(calm)situations.Your number one concern is boat control...took me a while to figure that out.Some days you might do best just to tie it up in a good spot and load up rod holders all the way around that beast!Heck...put on "strike indicators" that way its easy to see a bite!

The wind makes it hard to fish even when anchored with a pontoon. So I use my trolling motor more than my anchors.

Troll against the wind, then change directions and go with the wind, letting it move your pontoon. If the wind moves you too fast, reverse your trolling motor to slow you down.

Takes some getting use to but it is doable.

I would get a drift sock for a toon if it can get you slowed down enough. Make sure the top (sail) is down, get a strong trolling motor and you can make it work. Also, keep the motor trimmed down as far as you can so you won't swing around in the rear. Go in a south wind (coming from behind the dam) so it blocks the wind. I don't even troll in my bass boat when it's windy. It's not worth it when the poles are shaking up and down.