Small Baits, When and Where

[Atimm693]

I keep a supply of those tiny baits in my tackle bag. Have you ever marked fish to only find out they will not touch your offering. Drop them a three inch or tiny bait and see if they don't attack it. I don't know the right time to use tiny baits but I do know there have been times when they made a difference.

Sometimes. I'll pull up on a bridge column and Mark them. Start casting a BGBS on a roadrunner and I might pick up a couple of the active fish, nothing after that.

Thanks for the great advice. I'll be buying some.

[skeetbum]

Something else I want to bring up. The thump we feel is the jig hitting the back of their throat. Using these little baits will teach you how to pay attention for the tiniest of tics on the line that would be a thump on a bigger jig. Line watching and line control at the reel(loops) is yet another part of this. Be careful of line with strong memory as it will absorb some of what you’re waiting to feel.

[SKs Crappie Catching Adventures]

I know a guy …..that consistently WINS crappie tournaments with a 1 INCH long bait …..
I been with him and another man that drops tiny baits many times and let me tell you this …..
these boys will wear lips out so fast a fishin tv show would be jealous …
that's what I got to say about that …
summer is the best time in most cases to use the tiny jigs it seems to me
when fish are on baby bait lots of times they wont touch a larger bait
anyone says otherwise is missing out on the action in a big way
….this is factual and I had it happen to me this week
it isn't just a I think thing ...its an I know thing
been there done that don't ya know
p.s. and YES one of them pitches them there itty bitty slab slayers ….fyi

No doubt......

[Atimm693]

Something else I want to bring up. The thump we feel is the jig hitting the back of their throat. Using these little baits will teach you how to pay attention for the tiniest of tics on the line that would be a thump on a bigger jig. Line watching and line control at the reel(loops) is yet another part of this. Be careful of line with strong memory as it will absorb some of what you’re waiting to feel.

Been using nanofil with a short leader. Sensitivity is amazing.

[RK1]

Just my opinion but all this bait switching, going through 20 colors, sizes, weights etc just means you’re spending a lot of time trying to convince less active fish to bite when you could be covering more water looking for active fish. Bigger jigs and jigheads plus a stiff rod and heavier line equals the most sensitivity you’’ve ever felt. You just need to spend more time finding active fish, they eat every day


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[Spoonminnow]

Just my opinion but all this bait switching, going through 20 colors, sizes, weights etc just means you’re spending a lot of time trying to convince less active fish to bite when you could be covering more water looking for active fish. Bigger jigs and jigheads plus a stiff rod and heavier line equals the most sensitivity you’’ve ever felt. You just need to spend more time finding active fish, they eat every day

Agree with color and finding active fish more easily provoked to hitting lures, but for sensitivity on long distance casts I use braid with an 8" - 8# test fluorocarbon leader. Every little tick is felt up the line. Light action vs medium action rods don't allow the fish to pull free as easily after feeling resistance and the light action allows fish to load up or bend the rod to the point that the fish panics and sets the hook deeper.

I agree with everything Skeetbum posted. I might add:

1. larger crappie and fish in general are more aggressive when it comes to larger lures - though not too large.
2. 2.5" or less in lure length works 365 days of the year if you find fish and depending on lure design.
3. jig weight and lure design/size affect lure speed. The lighter the jig, the slower you can work a lure, which at times is a necessity especially in water less than 8' deep or after cold snaps.
4. Many lure designs are universal when it comes to fish in general. I can catch just about any species and any size fish on the Crappie Magnet - including very large catfish. I've posted many of those designs and keep on finding more.
5. Curl and shad tails are my least favorite designs for finesse fishing: a type of fishingexhibiting the most subtle lure action at the slowest speed retrieve. When fish are more active as they are around the spawn, most lures work. But when water temperature drops fast as it has recently in the northeast, slower works better. Fish senses magnify lure motion and a little goes a long way!
6. I rarely go lighter than 1/32 oz when using ball head jigs (unpainted of course). Hook size does matter when it comes to lure action and if I'm going smaller in lure length than
1 1/4", a #8 hook is called for. But for most jigs 1/32 oz and heavier, a #6 hook or larger is what I choose for the larger gap. For some lures, I use a 1/32 oz jig with #2 or 1/0 hook.

[skeetbum]

Been using nanofil with a short leader. Sensitivity is amazing.

2lb Nano and 5’ of clear 4lb for the abrasion resistance. I didn’t want to get deep into that being as I already hijacked your thread. Thanks for bringing it up. I’m amazed at how far I can cast a 1/64.

[VaCrappieMan]

I use the itty bitty bg under a float often... I have caught numerous limits on them from the bank... in clear water they work great with a 1/64 oz jighead... really great baits that can turn on the finicky fish...

[Atimm693]

I tried the itty bitty slab slayers for the first time today, and I just about tore 'em up.

I did try my go-to initially, 1/16 sickel jig with a BGBS. Had some short strikes but that was all.

Used the blue ice color on a plain 1/48 ounce jig. Had to sort through a ton of shorts, but ended up with 6 10-13" keepers. 10' down, and swim it very slowly. Most bites were subtle, and seen not felt.

The plastics are tough and I only used two all afternoon, because it's so small they don't seem to grab just the tail.

[skeetbum]

Glad they did the trick for you.