Thread: Jigs versus Minnows Discussion Again (Sorry)

Minnows come in one color unless you dip them in dye,Using minnows is a feeding bite,Crappie jigs,plastic is usually a reaction bite.We live on our home lake and fish 2-3 times a week every day except sunday in spring and fall.if we used minnows we would catch the crappie out of the brushpiles,useing jigs can ketch 2-10 crappie each trip and not clean it out over fish.Being a bass fishermen want to be crappie fishermen.We fish the same brush piles,trees,ledges that we bass fish switch to crappie jigs and plastics and liter line 2-4 lb test,Have not bought a minnow in years.learn to fish the jigs,plastics and now crankbaits.The same crankbaits the crappie fishermen are pulling will catch crappie casting to the brushpiles!! PICO'S,ARKIE'S ECT.our two cents have fun.ITS NOT THE EQUIPMENT ITS HOW YOU USE THE EQUIPMENT.

I like the idea of casting cranks to brush, I’d imagine it could get expensive


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Lighten your jigs and downsize and scent the jig ...dont do like often mentiones and keep your line tight ...watch your line close and fish slowly with very light twitches and super slow falls ...

I mostly cast jigs .... 1/16oz weedless jighead & various shapes of plastics. I target submerged wood, be it downed trees, standing trees, bushes, or brush piles. I don't really "want" to "feel" the bite ... I want to see it, whether it's a slight jump in the line or a sudden slack line. I set the hook on both !!

I cast out - lift the rod tip to about the 10-11 o:clock position - reel in only as fast as it takes to keep a slight bow in the line - watch the line for those telltale line movements that indicate a bite. And like DB4D mentioned .... it's much like slow rolling a spinnerbait (open water) or "worm fishing" (when bait is IN the wood cover). I use hi-vis line so I can see the line in most any lighting conditions.

Colors IMHO need to have "contrast" : dark/light ... which is why I normally use blue, purple, or pink baits with a chartreuse tail or belly.

When the situation calls for it, or the opportunity presents itself, I will use the Vertical Casting method ... as described in my article : Crappie Pappy Article

Mostly cast and side pull jigs here. We are strictly catch & release, so it really doesn't affect our outcome. If you try a straight tail plastic (i.e.: BGBS) with a liberal dressing of "G" Sauce, you can't go wrong. I'd be very surprised if live bait could do much better. But, since we don't use live bait, I could be wrong about that too!

I jig fish 80% of the time and prefer not to fool with minnows . That being said on a tough bite minnows seem to be the answer more times than not . I have seen crappie bite a minnow when they would not hit a jig . I have never seen crappie hit a jig that could not be caught with a minnow . jmo .

I would recommend going with someone that is good with a jig and getting them to watch you and correct any mistakes you may be making. There's a learning curve but its worth learning.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

Originally Posted by eagle 1

I have never seen crappie hit a jig that could not be caught with a minnow . jmo .

Um, curious as to how you could ever tell that?

Tom