To Bait or not...

[TeamAsgrow]

I posted some of my ties recently on another forum, many people said they looked good and would probably work if tipped with a minnow. Now I rarely use live bait, and I never do on one of my tied jigs. What are the thoughts of the rest of the hive?

I feel a good jig just needs water and willing fish. Do any of you tip your jigs?

If I am going to fish live bait I would just use a plain jig or bare hook. I have fished jigs/plastics most of my life and rarely tipped, the past summer I fished nearly all tied jigs I made and they all worked very well without the aid of anything.

Thanks for the input and this ends TA's rant for the day!

[snake River]

most of the time using my jigs or plastics for fishing for crappie I usually use crappie nibbles they do have one other similar to them I believe it's called crappie bait sold at Walmart both of them worked real well but yes I do use nipples when I finish with jigs and plastics. been doing this for over 30 years course with different stuff.

[short grub]

TA,

I let the fish tell me what they want, a plain tie or one with yummy added, sometimes an added scent is all it takes to go from not catching to catching

my boat usually has crappie nibbles and wax worms and minnows in it every time I go out, sometimes none are needed and times when it saves the day

[CTom]

I like my jig/plastic most of the time. IF I need to shift gears a little I go from the plastic straight to a 1" Gulp minnow, color varies. In this area we see a lot of people tipping jig/plastic/hair with waxies or minnows but they generally don't do all that well. IF I put a bait on a jig, there's nothing else on that hook. No plastic, no hair or feathers. I try to avoid minnows and waxies, but I will carry a few goldenrod galls in a pocket if I want to fool some sunfish and plastic isn't getting the job done. But for the most part natural baits and I are not great company. I never use the nibbles but have tried them years back without much luck....small fish like to peck the things to death was what I remember most about nibbles. The Gulp minnow mentioned, on the other hand, can be a solid producer when plastic just isn't cutting it.

Personally I like the challenge that plastic and hair/feather jigs bring to fishing. I enjoy working thru colors and profiles and actions using these baits as is with no assist from a live bait or a nibble type of bait. I have enough confidence in the jigs I do use to be successful, yet there are times when these totally artificial baits can't schnooker the fish. Then I go to the Gulp. Then to the goldenrod grub. I do not tip anything.

[lowe175]

I rarely add anything to my jigs. Like you said a good jig needs no help.

[Redge]

I do use the nibbles on occasion, I think the smell helps at times.

[smoothlures]

Rarely. If I feel the need to have minnows I fish it on a hook a foot or so above my jig. Sometimes I will stick a piece of worm or shad on a tied jig for white perch and bream but that's when I'm in a hurry for catfish bait.

[TeamAsgrow]

I have generally done very well with plastics or tied jigs alone. For the most part I rarely bring live bait with me.

I do know that it seems like a waste of my time to tie up a bunch of jigs just to hook a minnow on one to see if it will catch fish!

[skiptomylu]

Only time I use minnows is in summer after spring is done and I don't tip my jigs. When summer hits I do use a minnow, but on a hook maybe 12" to 18" above my jig.

Nibbles just make me mad so I don't use them even thought I have some!

Skip

[Bob/MN]

I have not used minnows for crappies since the twister tail and tube jig came about. I do use scent on my lures if needed.
I look at it this way, if the lure looks good and smells good the fish will bite.
I have some friends that use minnows and I usually catch three fish to their one.