Thread: The we don't care tribe .....

Good job. He probably couldn’t retrieve it slow enough for their liking.

Originally Posted by SuperDave336

Good job. He probably couldn’t retrieve it slow enough for their liking.

That's why I'm moving to the slip float in colder water. Just got the last pack of 1/32 white and 1/16 chartreuse white marabou jigs at wally world, gonna try at the pond tomorrow. Bill Dance has a video on slip floating for crappie, I think it was in 40 degree water. He said he didn't know a better way to get the bait in front of the fish and keep it there when they're inactive or lethargic due to cold. I've read that crappie will bite up and just hold the bait, and the float will not always go down, and you'll miss bites if you don't strike when the bobber ticks. I've noticed when fishing live minnows that the bobber will kind of thump, then start to move off. With a jig they you may just see the bobber thump but not move, but they have it. I've also seen where you can use a bobber to where it turns up when they hit it, or something like that

Originally Posted by Happyfisherman

I've also seen where you can use a bobber to where it turns up when they hit it, or something like that

Yes ... you're referring to the "float-n-fly" method. The story on that is that Crappie anglers were using bobber/jig rigs for Crappie, and were catching a lot of Smallmouth Bass. Word got out and the basser boys took over and made that method their Winter time Smallmouth method of choice. They even made up, or used, specialized equipment for that method. One of those "specialized" pieces of equipment is a weighted float, but the weight is NOT at the bottom of the float. It is, in fact, in the upper portion of the float. This way, when the fish takes the jig, therefore removing the downward drag of the jig's weight, the float will "fall over" (from the weight in the upper portion of the float).

Originally Posted by Happyfisherman

That's why I'm moving to the slip float in colder water. Just got the last pack of 1/32 white and 1/16 chartreuse white marabou jigs at wally world, gonna try at the pond tomorrow. Bill Dance has a video on slip floating for crappie, I think it was in 40 degree water. He said he didn't know a better way to get the bait in front of the fish and keep it there when they're inactive or lethargic due to cold. I've read that crappie will bite up and just hold the bait, and the float will not always go down, and you'll miss bites if you don't strike when the bobber ticks. I've noticed when fishing live minnows that the bobber will kind of thump, then start to move off. With a jig they you may just see the bobber thump but not move, but they have it. I've also seen where you can use a bobber to where it turns up when they hit it, or something like that

when I teach people how to use a float , I explain in depth the 5 or 6 different "bites" that occur , some or so very subtle it is simply amazing , about half of the bites will in fact go undetected with a slip float , pretty much never use one myself , one connection to the line is key ....less line contact is a must to master float ketchn for sure ....this is for sure a fact

I've been using a slip bobber a little more than usual lately and have had similar issues detecting bites. On a few of the days when there was a decent wind, I've let it sit and let the small chop on the water be the only movement of the jig. I've caught a couple where the bobber didn't go down but just turned a little sideways, but most of the time, something about the bobber "just didn't look quite right", and I'd set the hook and catch them. Been using the slip bobber because I've been changing depths a good bit, but it also makes a huge difference in being able to cast, if it's set pretty deep, and it's windy. Great topic!

Bill Dance said in his video adding a split shot above the jig helps prevent the fish from swimming upward with the bait. Another comment on here said if the bobber does anything you didnt want it too, set the hook. That may be more difficult with a lot of wind, but I don't typically float fish if it's real windy anyways. But a little chop on the water will give the bait plenty of action beneath

“They usually don’t take it under,” Pitts said about float-and-fly crappie bites. “Eighty percent of the time they’ll just roll the float over on its side even just bump it.”

Paying careful attention is critical, therefore, as is float selection. You need a sensitive well-balanced float that stands up when the jig is hanging naturally but transmits even the slightest movements of bait hanging beneath it.

A Thill Oval Shorty spring float is sized right for the task, and its balsa construction provides the critical sensitivity. The oval shape and short bottom stem also allow this style of float to track straight when you work the rig.

Pitts watches his float all the time and sets the hook with a quick snap any time the float turns sidewise of bobs even slightly.

How to Catch Crappie Witht the Float & Fly Technique

Some very nice ones there, Ketchn. That last one looks like it survived an attack. One of your favorite birds?
Bob