Choosing techniques

[skeetbum]

Like I’ve said a bunch, I like to fish the way I like to fish and if it doesn’t catch a whole lot, most times that’s OK cuz I just like being out there. Sometimes I start with a beetle spin or rooster tail as a search bait. Once I find out where they might be, I switch to a jig, usually smaller and on a light finesse rod. If they’re under a dock or tree I’ll shoot ‘em and standing timber I’ll get a stiffer and longer rod to dip to em. I can’t get hung up on just one technique or rod, that’s why I’ve forty in my arsenal. Some similar and some specific. As the seasons change so do the fish and so does the way to catch em. Then there’s the mixed bag I usually wind up with. Crappie, gills, Warmouth, redbreast, shellcrackers, bass, golden lshiners and so on. They all make me smile and the vast majority get released. Very cool when a crappie hits my tiny finesse jig and stops the rod on the hookset. Or four pounds of bass gives me what for. Tossing jigs for crappie has morphed into something different than most folks for me, and I think everyone should try it. Slab has been in my boat and seen it first hand.

[GreenLine]

IMO , a few more things that will improve success and give you confidence that you are doing things right-
When possible, fish before a front, fish days when the moon is Not overhead, fish when there is a southerly wind direction, fish when the barometer is low / slowly falling, fish when the lake level is rising or stable.
Put all this together on one day and you will catch fish.
Also take note of the days when you do catch a lot of fish and remember the conditions, temp, water level , etc and you will be on your way.
Good luck, have patience



Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com

[Slabprowler]

Tons of structure on your lake ! Don’t think of it being 50,000+ acres dissect it a creek arm at a time or spend time in one area until covered. Check the channel edges secondary and main also scan the flats . You will eventually figure it out. As already said fish the way you want and enjoy being out .I have caught tons of fish pulling and pushing but they ant nothing like feeling that thump to me . Or watch that cork twitch.

[Slabprowler]

Tons of structure on your lake ! Don’t think of it being 50,000+ acres dissect it a creek arm at a time or spend time in one area until covered. Check the channel edges secondary and main also scan the flats . You will eventually figure it out. As already said fish the way you want and enjoy being out .I have caught tons of fish pulling and pushing but they ant nothing like feeling that thump to me . Or watch that cork twitch.

[Les Young]

I like to side scan to find cover & especially brush piles & schools of fish. Then i cast to them if i cant get close, but by far my favorite is pitching & vertical jigging brush piles. I have a few 10 footers & a 13 footer for pitching or vertical jogging brush & a 16 footer to be able to stay back & slip the bait in right beside a submerged tree or shallow brush.