Reply With QuoteYou can't go wrong with trout magnets. My bigges t shellcracker was caught on a red trout magnet. I read sometime ago that they would attack anything red.
Thanks: 0
HaHa: 0
Crappie Wall Hanger
Preparing for spring
Jigs, flies, spinners, topwater, plastics and whatever else, I'm gonna get ready for catching some real numbers and size of sunfish. I'll post pics of my inventory when it gets unpacked.
Until then, what should I focus on for bluegill and shellcrackers as well as red bellies? Only thing I've caught anything on is nightcrawler and gulp minnows.
Do buggy patterns really hit the spot?
Tdub318817 LIKED above post
Crappie.com 3K Star General
You can't go wrong with trout magnets. My bigges t shellcracker was caught on a red trout magnet. I read sometime ago that they would attack anything red.
Crappie.com 3K Star General
I mainly use hand ties in 1/48, 1/32 and 1/24 with hook sizes from #6 to #10 with some tiny #12 hooks when they are super finicky. I tip my jigs with pieces of Berkley power wigglers in three colors. Glow white, Chartreuse and pink. Panfish also love waxworms and I tip my jigs with those as well, actually fish like them better than wiggler pieces. Whether you use soft plastics like a trout magnet or hand ties, baits need to be smaller, around 1" long since their mouths are pretty small.
Crappie Wall Hanger
What style of hand ties seem to work best. Gonna be May or June before I get out much if at all before then so lots of time to tie.
Slabmaster II
Get some Charlie Brewer 1" slider grubs and call it a day! For panfish plastics I have narrowed it down to this and 1" to 1 1/2" tubes.
Crappie.com 3K Star General
My favorite is a 1/48 duck jig on a #10 sickle hook. These are great bait fish imitations. For insect buggy patterns a small wooly bugger jig in black, brown or olive work very well. I use mostly rabbit hair for the tails on those. #3 would be a wedge tail type bait. It's a silicone tail bait that tapers to a point but has a nice action and tails come in many colors. I like tying these baits with a wooly bugger type body. These have been productive for me the last few months.
Crappie Wall Hanger
Would a snail imitation be effective for shellcrackers? I've come up with a few pattern even a top water.
Crappie.com 3K Star General
The snail imitation would work in dark colors, Redear love crayfish so small imitations work. My biggest Redear was caught on a live crayfish fishing at Lake Havasu ten years ago.
Super Moderator - 2024 Man Of The Year
* Crappie.com Supporter
, following
“If your too busy to fish, you’re too busy!” Buddy Ebsen
PROUD MEMBER OF TEAM GEEZER
(Billbob and “G” approved!)
Proud member of Tekeum’s Jigs Pro
Staff
https://heavenornot.net/
heavenornot.net
Trophy King
I'm addicted to catching panfish throwing artificial lures and jigs. I do well down here during late winter/early spring catching bigger bluegill and shellcrackers using small micro jigs that I tie.
Material:
- 1/80 to 1/32 micro jig heads with a #10 size hook that I get off eBay (cheaper) or from local fly-fishing shop.
- Chenille, old spinner bait skit material, or grey squirrel tail hair.
Technique:
1) a size 7 split shot 18 inches above the jig, cast to area and slow retrieve back to boat/bank
2) 1.5in cigar float at desired length above jig, cast to area and jig and pause, jig and pause as you retrieve to the boat/bank
Posting Permissions
