verticle jigging question

This year has been my first attempt to try and learn and catch crappie on a somewhat consistant basis. I've read so many good comments on this sight and have come a long ways. Although i've had some success catching crappie dragging a jig under a bobber, i'm still trying to learn how to catch them verticle jigging. What is the difference in the way you fish jigging in the cypress trees to jigging over the top of sucken structure? I generally use 4 lb test line with 1/16th oz jigs. My question is how do you work those jigs? Do you let em sit. Move em around? Raise them up and down in the water? Drag them side to side? I've never been in a boat with another crappie fisherman so it has been a long learning curve for me this winter. My Dad taught me from a youngster how to Turkey hunt, but he was no fisherman. So it has been alot of trial and error. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

The fish usually hit'em on the way down. Slowly lower the jig, pausing occasionally and twitch your wrist. Watch your line. If it goes slack you either have a fish on or your jig has hit brush or the bottom. By jigging vertically (not side to side), you can drop the jig on top of them without getting hung up (usually). Good luck.

Got to try it all and let the fish show you what they want sometimes.

Pm sent!!


You can take the boy out of the country but you can't take country out of the boy

You pretty much said it all in your original post. All can, and does work. But a word of caution... When in thick cover, NEVER go side to side, only up and down. You will get hung up.

I've also wondered this, great question. I usually just let it fall all the way and bounce it up and down once it is at the bottom with little success. I'll have to try twisting my wrist along the way down.

I'm with Nimrod on this one. I let the fish decide. I've had them try to grab it on top if the water and then I've had them sit there staring at the jig like they are sulled up and mad at me. When they are sulled up, I've had to hold the jig perfectly still for near a minute before they would take it.
I also agree that in most cases the fish will hit the jig on the fall, but sometimes they don't.
There is no right or wrong. Try different presentations until you find one that works

Fish slow and have confidence. And use mid south

pay close attention to the trees and stumps in the lake that will catch the most sunlight this time of year early in the morning. i have had good success with it. if the bite stops -fine. troll till late afternoon. more than likely they will show back up to same areas before dark where you can jig em again. this time of year most crappie are just not sure what they wanna do? sure hope i helped ya a little.

I believe the old saying "you don't know what you don't know" can apply to fishing as well. It's hard for you "old pros" to understand just how ignorant someone who's trying to learn just what all we don't know that only experience will teach us. It's easy to take for granted the things that an inexperienced person don't know. I'm just trying to shorten the learning curve a bit. Like I said I got a late start in learning how to catch crappie. Thanks for all the input.