What am I doing wrong

[Jimimac57]

Didn’t give up. Red as a lobster from staying all day. Did finally start catching fish but missed so many.
This happened this past Monday morning. Got there early just before day break water was calm to a slight ripple. Pulled in to the tree top and it was loaded with fish. Dropped a jig in the water watched it go down, a fish went right to it and bamm a hard hit set the hook then a hard pull…. then gone. I was excited, thought I was going to load the old bass tracker. This went on for several hours. They finally just quit biting. After lunch time the tables finally turned and I wind up with 19 nice fish. But missed so many. I don’t mean a few. I mean a lot. That morning I couldn’t buy a fish but had more than my share of opportunity.



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[Don Fischer]

Well I don't have much experience catching crappie but something I noticed pretty quick is their mouth is little tuffer than toilet paper! I've had a bunch fall off trying to lift them into the boat so these days I use a net! If they just aren't getting to the boat my guess is your setting the hook to hard. The best thing for fixing the hook set is experience!

[happycaster58]

Not familiar with a Sabiki rig. Could you explain. Also thanks to all you guys for you advice. Could you all tell me what size jig and what size hook should I use. What size line. I bought 2 of the BnM 12 foot duck dynasty poles put 6 lbs clear line on them. Seems to break off awful easy.


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Available at any online store, eBay, or Amazon that sells saltwater fishing stuff. Rig is a mainline with 6-8 small VERY sharp hook jigs with a flash tail. Use a 1/4 oz weight on bottom of mainline to hold straight down and jig it slowly. Results are guaranteed if hungry fish are in the area! Just make sure they are legal in your area!

[Don Fischer]

Lot of guy's seem to like long rods for crappie, I don't understand it. My favorite crappie rod is an UL 5' long! It can cast a 1/16th oz jig farther than I actually need to cast. I think the really best length all around it 6' to 7' rods. There may be a good reason for those long rods but I fail to get it, unless of course ya simply didn't want to cast! Come to think of it, in my distant past I had a 10 cane pole I fished with. Seems I only had about 8' of line on it, worked! Wouldn't surprise me that line would seem to break easier with a longer rod, you have more leverage! On my 5' rod I use 2# line. On my 6.5' and 7' rods I have 6# only because I couldn't find 4# when I was looking for line. Keep in mind that the biggest crappie I've ever seen where I fish was only 13" and then just that one! Why would I need heavier line? But it's a personal thing. Guy want's to use 80# braid for crappie, that's his business and if it suits him, good choice!

[catchNgrease]

not sure , possibly bream , but with a 1/32 you should hook a few of them .
don't bend out the hook , that ain't helping you none for sure .
hard to diagnose without actually being in the boat beside you .
to far for me to drive , drag yourself here and we will cure whatever is up first trip , promise
BUT YOU MUST PROMISE TO GO HOME afterwards ......

How come you ain't never made me that offer to come your way...big smiles..

To the OP.
Tell us more about the bites you are feeling and missing. Are they just loading the rod or a sold single hit or are they a rat a tat tat hits. We call it machine gun fire in my parts.

In my opinion it's not possible to set the hook to fast or too hard. It is possible to play a fish too hard and try reel it in too fast. But I guess it's also possible to play one too slow.

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[deathb4disco]

There may be a good reason for those long rods but I fail to get it, unless of course ya simply didn't want to cast!

Bingo! They don't want to cast. Most of the long rods are used for trolling or vertical jigging.

[catchNgrease]

Those duck commander rods are great jigging rods. 6# Mr crappie hivis is good enough line for sure. Hivis is the most important part. 1/32 and 1/16 jig heads with a #4 hook are fine. I have had some hooks that I'm pretty sure we're just defective. Don't know what was wrong with em. I gavem away.

Not familiar with a Sabiki rig. Could you explain. Also thanks to all you guys for you advice. Could you all tell me what size jig and what size hook should I use. What size line. I bought 2 of the BnM 12 foot duck dynasty poles put 6 lbs clear line on them. Seems to break off awful easy.


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Sent from my E6910 using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

[Don Fischer]

Bingo! They don't want to cast. Most of the long rods are used for trolling or vertical jigging.

Vertical jigging? Ya mean so the bait is 10' away from the boat rather than 6.5'? Wow!

[deathb4disco]

Vertical jigging? Ya mean so the bait is 10' away from the boat rather than 6.5'? Wow!

Yep.

[binfordw]

I think Livescope has a setting for catch or release, you might have it set for release... Worth checking