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Guys
I'm wondering about the size of the bait presentation in early spring.
I use basically a 1/16 oz jig with lead below it to tight line .
By the time I add a minnow on the jig I have a 4" bait. I'm thinking it's just too big?
I could go bare hook?
Suggestions?
As always, I'm eternally grateful to our local experts!
I was always told crappie like tiny bait. I either use a jig or a minnow. Just me. The thing is when you open a crappies stomach they are usually full of 3"-4" threadfin. Btw, crappie I caught Saturday were full of eggs. And threadfin.
Brett, over here I use a 1/8 pony head on bottom with a big blade, 2 in plastic and 3 in minnow. Dosnt slow them down. But there are days if I'm pole fishing up shallow I'll go down to small bait. I think the difference is when shallow they are feeding on small minnows and insects while out deeper they are feeding on larger shad.
Control the length with the size of the minnow you use "if" you use minnows on a jig or use the minnow on a #2 gold hook and you still need to use the right size minnow to get the most bites.
I use one rod, 1/32 head, something like a bobby garland on it, never minnows, vertical jig real slow. Its a killer on the crappie.
In the Spring? All year?Quote:
Originally Posted by Countryboy N.C.
Thanks
I appreciate the questions and replies as I am looking to learn and hopefully get better at crappie fishing. I went a long time without having much time to fish due to work and other stuff getting in the way. Many years ago my crappie fishing was normally done with a single pole and jig and casting. I had pretty good success when the crappie were easy to catch during the spawn. When I decided to get back into it and the internet had come around I am now trying different stuff. Tipping jigs with minnows seemed odd to me as I had used one or the other and casting with a minnow is tough. It seemed to me that the minnow would inhibit the action of the jig. I have done it now with some success trolling but it is hard for me to say if tipping with the minnow increases the bites although it seems a lot of people swear by it. I try to use the smallest minnows in the bunch for tipping. Maybe using crappie nibbles or another fish attractant would do the same thing?
I think I read another post you made that you drop the jig to the bottom and then bring it up really, really slow as in the reel handle just barely moving. Is this right? Do you do this mainly around brush? What depth?Quote:
Originally Posted by Countryboy N.C.
I'm guessing this is only done when sitting on top of a brush pileQuote:
Originally Posted by MidHillbilly
It can be done anywhere. Bridges, brush, docks, ect. It can be on top of the brush, down in the brush, beside the brush. Just depends on where the school is located.Quote:
Originally Posted by brettw
Brett .... check this out : Crappie Pappy ArticleQuote:
Originally Posted by brettw
Crappie Buster is correct ... it can be done pretty much anywhere, and I've even seen people do it in open water (no cover present), around schools of baitfish !!
As to the size of jig body/minnow combo ... I've caught Crappie on crankbaits nearly as big as they were, even caught one on a 4" plastic craw, & seen my spider rigging buddy put a large minnow on a jighead with 2"-2.5" plastic body & catch Crappie the size of your hand.
Personally I like to use several different sizes of jig body in my spread, when I'm pushing jigs. I haven't gotten around to adding a minnow, just yet. If/when I do, I won't stress too much over the size of the minnow OR the overall length of the bait rig ... I've just seen too many times when the smallest minnow in the bucket catches the biggest fish, and just as many times when the biggest minnow in the bucket catches them. :twocents
... cp :kewl
All year, sometimes I do better than other times.,Quote:
Originally Posted by brettw
I like to feel that thump!
Yep, real slow, around , over and in the brush, tree tops , around bridges and anything else holding fish.Quote:
Originally Posted by MidHillbilly
Brett, take this and run with it!:twocents
Yep, real slow, around , over and in the brush, tree tops , around bridges and anything else holding fish.
Well put!:highfive
Brett,
I like to use 1/32 hair jigs in colder water temps...Stumphunter also had a good suggestion with the small minnows. I know there are exceptions, I've seen a crappie caught on a 7" herring before. But, I believe your overall success is better with 1/32 & 1/16 jigs tipped w/ small minnows. Just my .02
In my younger days in Texas a pendulum swing with jig presentation would annihilate the crappie. It looks like a injured bait floating down. I use this on bridge pilings and on top of brush piles when I am off the side of a brush pile swinging over the top also. When you are not catching them straight down sometimes this gets them stirred up.