What is the correct way to bring crappie up out of water?

I know this is probably a stupid question but here goes. Is there a certain way to bring a fish up out of a tree top, brush pile, etc. I have heard from a few folks that if you let the fish thrash and run into a lot of stuff while bringing them up that it spooks the other fish and your chances have now gone down to get another from same structure. Is this a wives tale? Also when I was fishing Harris Brake yesterday I had several bites but never caught a fish. I could feel the fish nibbling at the jig but they would never take it. I tried several different colors with no success. This happened most of the afternoon. I know the crappie where there and that's what aggravates me. Please give me some of yall's crappie wisdom. What would you have done different?

I think when you pull a fish up out of a brushpile the thrashing excites the rest and may make them bite. I usually pull with steady pressure and pull them out quickly.

Do you concern yourself about the boat bumping into a tree or top that you want to fish? I guess it depends on how finicky the fish are. What about my biting question? What's that telling you when they bite like that?

It tells me that they just aren't that agressive and that you need to change your presentation with a crappie nibble, or a hair jig, or a scent. As far as pulling a fish out and the boat bumping structure, I always try to stay as stealthy as possible. Sometimes if it's a big fish, you just can't force them. Kinda got to take your chances.

Sometimes they are just not real aggressive. We have been getting alot of bumps or pecks which are mostly Bream and tiny Bass. I fish structure verticle jiggin which has been sunk , but always try to stay quiet and run trolling motor slow as possiable. I've seen fish fire up after catching one, a boat motor past or even hang up causing cover to shake. Most folks build structure too tall IMO, I perfer to build about 1/4 of water depth. That saves lots of time trying to get a jig down and fish back up through cover. Here our water is off colored most of the time and we can get away with more than folks fishing clear water. Crappie usually bite sometime each day or pull to cover when sun gets bright. I never use nibbles but depend on presentation.

Thanks Bluethunder and Nimrod for your insight. I use nibbles when I fish. Never tried anything other than a plastic type jig. Maybe I need to expand my arsenal. What seems to be the best type of hair jig to use?

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Originally Posted by Catahoula06

Thanks Bluethunder and Nimrod for your insight. I use nibbles when I fish. Never tried anything other than a plastic type jig. Maybe I need to expand my arsenal. What seems to be the best type of hair jig to use?

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Each to there own but I use 1 type tube jig except when fishing extra deep (over 25') in winter on Dardanelle to get it down quickly. At Nimrod I never change and I think presentation more important than bait in most cases.

I think the key word was Quick so you don't get em hung in the brush and spook the rest by hanging up in the cover.


Big River Marine
Bill Burnett
870-635-0202

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Originally Posted by Catahoula06

Thanks Bluethunder and Nimrod for your insight. I use nibbles when I fish. Never tried anything other than a plastic type jig. Maybe I need to expand my arsenal. What seems to be the best type of hair jig to use?

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I mainly keep 3 hair jigs. Black and chart, blue and white, and a smoke gray with a streak of chart. Those have been fairly productive for me post spawn and when the fish get finicky. As far as plastics. I've always been a bobby garland fan and this year I broadened my arsenal and bought a couple mid south jigs simply because they are bigger. Sometimes more meat is what they want.

I say keep pressure all way up and don't let em flop on top water cause barbs on sickle hooks are small

With a hook in their mouth is what always works best for me:)


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I try to cross their eyes when I set the hook, so they normally don't have much time to thrash around down there.

Hard quick hook set and steady pressure till in the net or boat. Some of those down south crappie was like setting a hook on a stump. Now that I think about it, some of those hook sets were on stumps:yikes

frequently

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Originally Posted by bluethunder

It tells me that they just aren't that agressive and that you need to change your presentation with a crappie nibble, or a hair jig, or a scent. As far as pulling a fish out and the boat bumping structure, I always try to stay as stealthy as possible. Sometimes if it's a big fish, you just can't force them. Kinda got to take your chances.

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Hey blue, seeing your Xpress logo, if u are familiar with Xpress, is there a way to get pre-cut carpet for a older (1999) Xpress? I have an H56 and want to replace the carpet.

Pm sent to ya HUD

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Originally Posted by arkansasbowhunter

I say keep pressure all way up and don't let em flop on top water cause barbs on sickle hooks are small

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Keep pressure all way up and don't let em flop on top water! Just ask RCC , he got schooled today. Buckwheat ""RCC 's hand tied jig got a work out too, Drum , Catfish, Bream , and oh yea of few accidental Crappie too.