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Guys,
I'm using my own tied jigs now and they look pretty good I suppose, but I don't really know what I'm doing on the brush.
What is your strategy ?
One rod, best color?
When do you change to another color?
when do you decide to go to another area?
I find I'm sticking with Chartreuse when I'm not getting fish because I think its the best color and maybe staying too long in one spot.
I think I need some help or a plan when fishing brush with my jigs,
thanks,
brettw
What pole and equipment are you using and what water clarity and depth?
I jig a lot of timber and brush, tell me a little about your equipment and water and I'll try to help.
Well if fishing brush and not spring time, most lakes are going to be stained enough that once you get down 10' it's dark! So I use Chart with most anything. If it's sunny I probably will go with my Chart/Blue/Chart or Maybe a Bright Green/Black & FL Yellow/Chart or Chart/Black/Chart and if cloudy I sure would want to try Black/Blue/Black jig. If fishing deep stay away from Orange, Red and probably Yellow as these colors will stop showing their colors first. First and foremost is use a color you have confidence in as you will fish it different and longer. I will maybe just grab a different rod to try a different color. I usually have 3 to 5 ready and a different jig tied on each one.
If you try a brush pile and don't get a hit in 10 minutes, go to another brush pile.
Rod? What ever you like!
When I hear jigging brush, I tend to think off a 10-12' pole and vertical jigging. Try several different "retrieves" while vertical jigging. Straight slow movement at the same depth, dead stick, and then popping the jig up and down a few times. If that doesn't work, change color, change depth, or change structure. Fish brush in deeper or shallower water, or near another type of contour, like on a point or steep drop off. Keep changing and fine tuning until you are satisfied with your results.
Size jig and line size can make a big difference also . WE could not get bit this past Friday till we went to a 1/32 on 4lb. test . I always take along a pole with 4 lb. . stren to try before moving on . Usually 20 min . with a 1/8 oz. and ten more with a 1/32 ,then move .
thanks,
I was using a much shorter rod and maybe sitting right on the pile, which is not such a great idea I suppose.
I also cast across it and to the side.
I'll try lighter line also, staying in contact is tough right now.
Tip with crappie nibbles?
Colors suggested look like lighter colors for stained water in bright light, darker for stained water in lower light.
thanks,
if you know that the crappie a Pacific area and they are not striking whatever you are using then change to something else . as far as a color some say it has a big bearing I say it's the action most of time I will use something was chartreuse or white. also keep in mind that the type of jig that you are using sometimes they do not want any action so you will switch to a hair type jig that has a slower action. when I go after crappie I carry a wide variety of plastics in hand tied jigs because you never know what they may want. one thing keep in mind that you should have a fishfinder if the fish are not showing up in a certain area that you are fishing it is time to go hunting. for his rod size I use a 7 foot light action custom-built graphite rod with 4 pound test. back in the early 60s we used 8" fly rod with monofilament line a deadly combination if you are certainly working brush piles or treetops. know you do not use the fly rod like you would normally with the monofilament line you use it by bringing the line back in with your fingers slowly in jigging lead me if the fish were there you'll find them are to explain how I did this here it would take a video.
bob.
Well if you using an anchor just make sure you don't destroy the brush pile with that. If tying up you can tie up right on top of it, but your also making it hard to try different parts of the pile. with a longer pole you can reach all around your area a lot better.Quote:
Originally Posted by brettw
Staying in contact with the jig, I actually go to a 1/8 or 1/4 Oz jig in the summer and can feel them well.
Lots use the Nibbles, I don't like them because they come off too easy, however if I had to I would. I would prefer finding some other type of add on for the smell, maybe one of the artificial maggots?
skip they have a new one out besides the crappie nibbles: crappie bait they stay on fairly good and they are just as good but I do not leave home without either one also they used to have a powder that was sold by Cabelas and we used to dip are jigs in it it stunk to high heaven but it did the job in the step stayed on the jig like glue tried to find a name and post it later.
I will fish two 1/64oz weedless jigs with a white tube jig followed 8 inches behind with a bright colored crappie carrot plastic. The light heads can "glide" over the limbs without too much aggravation. Fish it slow with gentle lifts - sometimes the "no nothing" action is the best. That works best for us for brush up to 6-8 feet deep. For deeper water I will go to a Weedless Road Runner style bait tipped with a Slider style grub.
I'm going to get after it. I just got to find a good morning to go and it's not looking good till June
Pop em on the nose, they always bite it.
One rule on lay downs n brush piles, WITH A LONG POLE, work top - down fast. Bottom-up slow. Color ain't gon differ much from whatcha usually catch on.
Trolling or casting n retrieving I can't help you with.