Guess an ol' dog CAN learn new tricks! Heavier jigs/ larger soft plastics used deep

I'm basically a shallow water angler having preferred water shallower than 7'. But summer can kill that pattern and all I'm left catching (unless a front is moving in) is around a few dozen fish. Plus I never use jigs heavier than 1/16 oz or soft plastic lure larger than 2". But outings the day before yesterday and today that changed for good!

I've rarely used 3/32 oz jig heads because I suspected they would have to be fished faster. But braid line has its own buoyancy and still allows the jig to be worked slow over structure plus it cast much further and into the wind much easier. I also like it better to skip it under over-hanging shoreline trees.

That's number 1. Number 2 is the use of larger lures. By larger I don't necessarily mean total length.
Increasing body size is easier for fish to target and many times is preferred vs smaller lures like the Crappie Magnet.

Number 3 is fishing in water around 8' or so when certain weed patterns exist in open water. The lake I fished today had the same deep-water pattern as the one a few days ago. I caught all sizes of fish and 4 different species on 3/32oz jigs and larger lures. Key were the long stem weeds that grew to the surface in 8-10'. Fish caught were mid-depth. Here are a few photos of those outings:

French Fry stick worm segment and curl tail
https://i.imgur.com/Vw6pMlu.jpg?2

Claw added to grub body
https://i.imgur.com/zWKGuYC.jpg?1

Crappie Magnet tail added to French Fry segment:
https://i.imgur.com/igvS4Sa.jpg?1https://i.imgur.com/zpI0UO1.jpg?1

Even small fish hit this grub segment attached to the cone tail and 3/32 oz jig:
https://i.imgur.com/UOjK8TZ.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/oG6wcBh.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/bwezcgd.jpg?1

Slugo tail adde to French Fry segment and 3/32 oz jig:
https://i.imgur.com/GNei2UF.jpg?1https://i.imgur.com/kwYryen.jpg?1

This hand-poured taper tail caught some nice perch:
https://i.imgur.com/XcfBjsl.jpg

All caught in deep water from 10am - 2:30pm. Total for two days was over 60 fish and under a bright hot sun. (Good thing for the breeze both days!)
https://i.imgur.com/Oe6FSSN.jpg?1

Great post for information and a nice bunch of fish. That perch was a nice sized one.
Bob

Those are some nice catches

Today is perfect to be out on the water. Problem - too many weekenders. Just as well. I spent the morning making more lures, organizing tackle and putzing around. One thing I noticed going through my jig heads organized by hook size and weight. Too many jigs supposedly of the same size and weight were different when comparing jigs from different companies. Some of the 3/32 oz jigs were lighter; jig hooks of a certain size weren't the same. For example, a #6 hook was actually between a 4 and 6, i.e. a #5 if there was such a size.

Comparing 3/32oz to 1/8 oz I couldn't see much difference so I'll be trying 1/8 oz jigs for deeper water fishing next week. Problem is, the smallest hook size for 1/8 is #1. Guess I'll have to make larger lures to fit.

Look like you had a fun filled day and I can only imagine the baits you've got matched up..... Look like they're working....

Update
Yesterday started out nice with a 12" yellow perch taken on a crappie spin an Mo Magic flat-tail grub and soon after a 8.5" sunfish taken on a a spike tail grub. I anticipated using larger jig heads and lures to catch larger fish but that didn't happen though a 2 lb bass taken at 2pm was a pleasant surprise.
Attachment 406948Attachment 406949Attachment 406950

Problem was, after 11am except for the bass, I couldn't find decent fish and resorted to 1/24oz jig and mini lures to catch 38 fish bringing the total to 43 fish. The bass was caught on one in 3' of water while most fish were near pad island edges in 8'. Unless I downsized, those little sunfish only hung on to the tails of moderate size grubs, many times ripping the tails off. This was one of the mini-lures and small jig that caught a dozen sunnies:
Attachment 406960
It was made using a Trout Magnet tail attached to a grub body.

This was made using a Crappie Magnet tail and grub body. Same light jig head.
Attachment 406961

Today and the next three days will be brutal with a heat index near 100. Unless I go at sunup, there's no point. Time to organize.

Good trips and some very nice fish. I’ve used 1/4oz and 3” baits in deep water in the winter, tied directly to hi viz braid. The thump was massive! Most of my days crappie fishing start out with 2” baits but when the bite slows I downsize as you did and continue to boat fish. You have a lot of fun doing the Frankenstein thing with the baits and they clearly work well, enjoy your posts.

Thanks Skeet.

1/4 oz.!! - Man that's a big jig used with a 3" lure! And I thought a 1/8 oz jig was big!!! Might be time to try 1/8 oz.


"You have a lot of fun doing the Frankenstein thing with the baits and they clearly work well"

I can't help myself! LOL ....especially on days like today (+90 degrees) when I can't be on the water. But hey, it's the only time to imagine fishing/boating related possibilities.