Size wise

Lately the Crappie have been very deep, around 30' around here. I've noticed that a lot of more successful anglers are using heavier jigs. Myself, I live for the thump or subtle take. Feeling them on the other end is what it's all about. Cast and fall is a lot of my fishing. Point I'm getting at is that we get hung up in smaller sizes for doing one certain type of presentation. Today one guy was using 1/4 oz heads with a Bobby Garland tail and doing pretty well with it, all things considered. I didn't have a 1/4 in my box, much less in the colors that were working today. Think outside the box and do some tying for what might be the deal of the day one day soon. Maybe get that extra box for the bigger stuff. Just my thoughts, input welcome.

I expanded my box this year to include a bunch 1/4's to use in 20+ FOW. So far they are experimental and un-tested. Hoping to use them sort of as a working vert. drop shot rig with a smaller (1/32-1/16) jig tied a foot or so above the big one. Not even sure yet how my UL rod will handle that much weight, just have to see.......

For sure when they are deep like even in their summer pattern I use almost all 1/8 & 1/4 and have for about 3-4 years now. I go with 1/32 this time of year though and almost 90% of the time until May or even June depending on when the finally leave the 14' water depth headed for deeper waters.

They will knock the fire out of a 1/4 oz just as easy as a small jig. If the wind is up and they are in 11' or more now I would use the 1/8 oz for sure and have. Troll it right beside the boat and still using one pole most of the time.

Skip

I always carry a full range of jigs up to and including 1/4 oz.
Don't use the 1/4 oz much, but on rough windy days and down by the dam
where there is 42 feet of water they work well. I prefer 1/16 oz most of the time, but ya gotta go where they're at. If you think about it, a 1/4 oz jig isn't
any bigger(profile) than the minnows they eat. Does fall faster though.

Hey guys i took a jigawhooper mold and changed the mold so that i could put a wire form in and make a jigging spoon. I paint it then .attach a large eye single hook that has marabou tied to it. these can be run very deep and work well up north were i fish. Just a thought

We all get caught up in fishing one way or with our confidence baits. For a few years i went the other way, it went smaller down to 1/500 oz. I was either fishing a very shallow water lake or dinking around in a clear heavily pressured water I have seen it make a differance in numbers in shallow water fish. Even back them i could see there was alot if possibility in deeper water and heavily lures. Then when i started hitting deeper water with my 2 and 4# test shallow rigs it wasnt working. I stepped up to 3/32 and 6# test and that really helped me even for detecting lift bites because the lure is heavy enough keep the line straight. I went ahead and made some molds even heavier but the the head capable of using small hook from size 6-2 Most might even take size 8 if i had some to try. The last time out we had so much wind and was jiggin so i pulled out my 28" ice fishing rod with strike indicator to fish out of the wind with more control and sensitivity it really surprised me how well it did on a few different trips and fish species , it worked great on cold bullheads. Id encourage that when in the fish to experiment with flys, lured jighead size and depth. as well an non conventional crappie lures. I an probab ly going to get the first pour out of my molds in the next few days.

Whats wrong with using a splitshot to make your small jig go deeper?

Dennis

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Originally Posted by dvuks

Whats wrong with using a splitshot to make your small jig go deeper?

Dennis

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You end up with a dead zone... If you put split shot 1 foot above your jig, a fish can grab it and swim up 2 feet before you would ever feel it. Split shot work fine if you are swimming/trolling jigs and have constant contact with the rig, but fishing vert. or under a float, you get the dreaded dead zone!!!!! :eek::eek::eek: :p

Tried it with the exact scenario Attica described. Saw or felt nothing and had one moving with it, lifted to tick the jig some and it was heavy:confused: - for a second. Definitely not the same.:( So I came home and got as close as I knew to what was producing yesterday. Hoping I got close. These are 1/4oz.

what size hook is in them??

I made some 1/4 oz. minnow heads just to have.The same pattern as all my other shad in lighter weights.Glad that you posted this skeet,made me go get them and put them in my box,lol.

Pbug, I don't know but they're pretty big. when I get back I'll post some next to a quarter for comparison. Gotta go play in traffic, Y'all have a good week.

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Originally Posted by skeetbum

Tried it with the exact scenario Attica described. Saw or felt nothing and had one moving with it, lifted to tick the jig some and it was heavy:confused: - for a second. Definitely not the same.:( So I came home and got as close as I knew to what was producing yesterday. Hoping I got close. These are 1/4oz.

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Nice Ties Blue/Chartreuse tough color never had much luck with in my area but as crazy as the weather has been just might work.... you never know