Jigging Techniques

[tchilds]

This is all very useful information. I've been struggling to fish with jigs due to lack of knowledge. I asked some guys at the sporting goods store about fishing under a bobber and they looked at me like I was retarded. Then I asked them about what size and they said anything smaller than 1/8th will catch too many gills etc... I try to ask about vertical jigging and got the answer "that is when you move the jig up and down in the water"...

Thank you so much for all this information is a huge help. The hardest things for me to understand are:

1.) How slow is a "slow" retrieve?
2.) When fishing under a slip bobber do you need to cast and retrieve constantly or do the waves make the fish hit the jig? Any specific techniques for fishing jigs under a bobber are useful!
3.) I have a mess of jigs and "panfish" lures. So far roadrunners are all I've really caught fish on (probably because I cast and retrieve the whole time). When I go to the store I have no idea what to buy... starting to think I need some kind of tackle guide for fishing crappie!
4.) When do you fish dark colors/light colors? So far I just put random colors on my jig until one works then I'm afraid to switch!

Thanks for all the help it is very much appreciated because I am on my own when it comes to crappie fishing.