Vertical Jigging

[Ken Jones]

The worst thing you can do is bend a hook back into position. If you do it weekens the hook. Bad call. Always replace a bent hook.

[skeetbum]

Guess I made several bad calls today then. :D:D Common practice in my boat.

[sparky]

When they stop biting go to a smaller size jig this will extend the biting frenzy. Use the same method year round.

[gotcrappie]

Vertical fising is my favorite technique for crappie when they are tight to the brush piles. I prefer hair jigs usually 1/16th ounce or 1/32. I sometimes pinch the barb down on the hook, to help with hang-ups. When the bite slows down, I try changing colors or drop down to a smaller jig or tube. Always have a crappie nibble for scent.

[redear]

I am a novice when it comes to verticle jigging, but have caught a few that way, and it seems like a very limber rod tip helps me detect a bite better than a stiffer one.

[Jiggman]

I love to vertical jig and use the smallest jig I can get away with, factors to consider
are depth of water,type of structure, depth of fish,& wind. I usually use Ozark Secrets tube baits and change colors often until I find the one they like. Have had a great summer catching crappie on and around bridge pillars. There is nothing like that thump. I also use sickle hooks and seem to get better hook sets in deeper water. Firm believer in size does matter.

[LBM]

Probably 90% of my fishing is vertical jigging with tandem jigs holding two rods having various weights of Power Pro line on them. Will catch them from 2ft and down to 30ft at times. Just slowly trolling around channel edges or breaks and on flats. Sometimes its dragging the jigs around bouncing the bottom or suspended at the depths I find them in. When working tight into brush will go back to one rod. Prefer heavier jigs using 3/8's and 1/4's. Even have some half ouncers when I can find them with the lighter hooks.

I want my hooks to open up on getting them out of snags and bend them back all the time.

I'm not to concerned about my jigs spooking the crappie in brush with the murky waters we have around here. Why I hold that idea is after one day really working around and in some brush for quite some time with out a bite I finally got a bite in it after hanging up and having to bang the jig around to get it free. I caught a nice fish on it after it came loose from the brush. Anyhow I sure took that as a learning incident to remember. So now I think of it is kind of like using a heavy jig and knocking around down there on the door to wake those crappie up.

[Wiskers]

Here on the North end of Ky Lake, vertical jig'n is commonly used! I personally VJ 75% of the time. Love that "THUMP"! I VJ for as deep as they get, up to about 10'. After they get in 10' here you're just about better off cast'n so you stay off them & don't spook'um.

My jig of choice is a 3/32 oz jig (1weezer sold me on them) with a #4 lite wire hook. I strongly disagree that re-bending the hook back weakens a hook to the point that it won't hold the biggest crappie you'll ever catch. I have never had a crappie bend a hook & I've caught some studs. If you're break'n hooks you're using the wrong hook IMHO. I use all other weights up to 1/4 oz & down to 1/32 oz depending on factors like depth, wind, current, etc...

I use all different color tubes (prefer chartruse combo) & pump'um up with the Bait Pump & crappie nibblets. I use 6# Suffix Elite high vis yella line on a 10 1/2' to 12' med. action graphite pole.

["G"]

The worst thing you can do is bend a hook back into position. If you do it weekens the hook. Bad call. Always replace a bent hook.

In over 40 years of fishing for crappie.....I bend and and rebend the hook everytime I put a new one one....it makes it easier to straighten and pull loose when I hang up that way......I have never lost a crappie because of it. A lot of the crappie pros also recommend this. Anyhow....it works for me.

[NIMROD]

The worst thing you can do is bend a hook back into position. If you do it weekens the hook. Bad call. Always replace a bent hook.

never had a crappie straighten out a hook.