Vertical Jigging

[skeetbum]

I've done well as others have already stated, just trying to hold it still. I do things a bit different and I will also just drop the rod tip an inch or two, and give the bait a second or so of natural fall, at least with a lighter jig. Drop the tip 3 or 4 inches and raise it right back to where it started has also worked. I've found that when I fished alone and paid attention to what I was doing and how well it worked that I figured it out faster.Next trip I could tel my guest how to and they would say" how do you figure this stuff out. Just pay attention, lots of folks don't.
Also, once you know the depth make a short cast that will get you down close to or at that depth and let the bait pendulum into place. It's worked for me many times and I've found fish nearby that I didn't know were there. The bait falling and then stopping seems to aggravate them and strikes come shortly after the movement stopped. They were just watching the show, it seems.

[G4bama]

Thanks for your replies. I currently use a 12' ACC Crappiestix for this technic along with soft platics in several different styles, mostly Bobby Garland. My interest is in the action used. I very the presentation between all that has been mentioned. The other day the fished seemed to prefer a dead stick drop to the bottom. Being fairly new to this approach, I am trying to soak up knowledge.

[Grainraiser]

I fish plastics and I switch it up. Sometimes I try to keep it as still as possible. Sometimes I just give the line a tic with my finger. I will also slow swim or slowly lift my rod tip a foot and then let that jig fall back to it's original spot. Many times this will trigger a crappie to bite. Just try them all to see what they want.

[blue-jig]

1/4 oz big head jig mostly with any color tube jig as long as its purple and chartreuse. ��Use super slick braid with a barrel swivel attached to 3' leader with 6 lbs. mono. Hold it still and pop it once in awhile to make sure one hasn't inhaled it. Feel the thump!

[NIMROD]

I also use tube jigs and prefer 1/8 oz but at times use 1/4. Like said before it is impossiable to hold a jig perfectly still on the end of a 11' jig pole . It move it slowly trying to hit every part of brush or condo . The fish will let you know if they want it fast or slow . Up high or low . Sometimes it will need to bump cover and other times they suspend over or near it . I too use purple / chart but use Southern Pro umbrella tubes which are fatter and use unpainted heads up inside them .

[Crestliner08]

We use a vertical presentation 90% of the time while drifting. No action by us at all, but we do pay attention to the depth the jigs are presented. We mainly use 1/8 oz. heads with BG plastics, mostly the straight tails. Occasionally I'll "tap" the butt of a rod to see if that stimulates a bite, but mostly not needed.

When we cast and retrieve, very little action is applied. Just a slow, steady retrieve is all that is normally needed, with an infrequent pop from time to time.

[skunked again]

[gatoloco]

I dead stick 90% of the time and I do use a marabou jigs but I trim back the skirt to 1/8 passed the hook.

[jay the baptist]

It's mid November and I see small shad in major creek mouths. Should I spider rig through them, cast to them or what? The locals are up in the creek fishing wood. Kinda confused.

[sinkermaker]

Do what the locals are doing if they are catching fish. A lot of lakes the fish are still on brush