90% of the time I use 1/4 jig heads. I'm different than most people as in the fall and winter, I use big baits. You have to realize that the fish are eating shad that have been growing all year or several years and usually are large. Last year we, ( Craig and I ) found many crappie eating small white peach or white bass as their food source here at El Dorado lake throughout the winter time. If I'm fishing suspended fish, I will use two jigs but in brush, I use one and sometimes if they are really deep in the brush, I will file the tip of my hook some so it doesn't get stuck as I am banging it hard to get their attention. You don't need a sharp hook to penetrate a crappies mouth. If you catch them in the hard spot on top of their mouth, keeping you line tight is key. Don't tell my sponsors this as they will have a meltdown.


This is a great topic to talk about as I think many struggle during this time of year. Confidence is key as you have to believe the fish are there to catch them. Electronics and knowing how to read them is a must.
When fishing with a bait ball, Try fishing the top of the bait and not in them or below them. I have experienced this to be key many times when fishing deeper waters. I don't know why but crappie will come up for the shad and will hit your bait as the shad scatters. Give it a try sometime and you will see that it works.
Also, big baits I like to call commitment baits because they have to hit them hard to stun or eat them. With smaller baits a crappie can suck them in and when you feel that hit and nothing is there, that a fish that has spit it out. There are times that crappie will only eat smaller baits but I find that the usually want a meal not a snack.
Hope this helps.
