Jig type/style/color

I'm still working out my overall crappie attack style, so some opinions would be very welcome from guys who are able to get out there more than I. Like I tell my wife - "I fish a lot, but I don't catch a lot". I'm hoping to change that last part... LOL

Anyway, I hear a lot of folks say they like a certain type of jig (tube, marabou, etc). In general, which kind of jig, what color, style, weight, etc do you prefer? Is there a "go to standard" you use, or do you just play it by ear and hope you picked the right one before they stop biting? Does the water clarity make a big or small difference on which type you pick (other than color)?

This is, of course, in cases where live bait isn't practical for someone - I'm wondering what lures they would use and when/why. :)

Annnnnnnnnd go... :D

E

A simple marabou and chenille jig is all you need.

http://www.sportsmanswarehouse.com/i...85770_1_og.jpg

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Originally Posted by deathb4disco

A simple marabou and chenille jig is all you need.

http://www.sportsmanswarehouse.com/i...85770_1_og.jpg

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My dad and grandpa always used these on Lake of the Ozarks in MO. They always called them doll flies and almost exclusively used white on white. It sure made the tackle box simple. :)

Your Dad & Grandpa may well have been using the original "Doll Fly" !! (Polar Bear hair jig) Or your Dad may have simply called all hair jigs by the name (passed on by your Grandpa). I'm 68yo and the first jig I ever used was a White/White Doll Fly ... because that's what my Grandpa used, and what was the most popular & most available jig, at that time.

But ... to answer your question :

I prefer a 1/16oz weedless jighead (ball head, unpainted) w/#2 Aberdeen hook ... esp. for casting or jigging purposes. I add to that jighead a "stinger shad" style plastic body, in either a 1.5" or 2" length. Color preferences are blues, greens, purples, or pinks ... with a chartreuse tail or belly color.

Now, when it comes to the aforementioned "marabou/chenille" type of jig ... my preference is the 1/16oz Roadrunner ... in solid Chartreuse or solid Pink.

These are just my "current go-to baits", as I've had the most success with them in recent years. That's not to say that I don't use other styles/colors (with equal success), but just what has been the "most" successful styles/colors overall (for me, anyway). More often than not, my fishing partners will be using something different than me, to start with ... but, will "get like me" if I'm catching and they are not. And believe me ... if they are catching and I'm not, I will get like them in a heartbeat !! :biggrin

Reading this, I
'm wondering if I've been going too heavy. Almost all of the jigs I have bought are 1/8 or even 1/4 ounce. Fishing from the shore, that weight isn't easy to manage without snagging a lot.

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If you haven't already I would read up here on your exact questions. I've seen many posts on those topics.
In general you will want to have a shad imitation bait and dark and light colors usually with chartreuse combination.
But don't get hung up trying to change colors that much. If your not getting any bites you probably aren't on any fish. Work more on presentation and when you do get bit then start the color game.
1/4 is pretty heavy unless the lake is moving pretty good and you are fishing deep. You are more than likely not fishing slow enough. A lighter jig will help and give you more control as will using 6lb line. Heavy line will only loose your feel.
Next time stick with a dark/chartreuse jig. Or a Shad stinger or anything similar. 1/16 or 1/8 oz and work on getting the jig to do what you want. If you don't get anything in 30 minutes look around for different depth or cover.
Spending time on the water is the best thing. Learning what not to do as well as what works is usually only learned by hands on. If you are lucky enough to have someone show you the ropes as a guide would then that would be a quick effective learning experience.


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Originally Posted by eeker01

Almost all of the jigs I have bought are 1/8 or even 1/4 ounce. Fishing from the shore, that weight isn't easy to manage without snagging a lot.

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Lighter baits will help you. I mostly use 1/32 oz. (Occasionally, I will go to 1/16 oz.) I never go heavier than 4# line.

Awesome info guys! Went out this morning with a 1/16 round head and a dark blue shad/grub looking jig (chartreuse tail) and caught 6 crappie and a wiper (all too small to keep, but best the best count for me at this lake, so far). One of the crappie was borderline 9-1/2 to 10", but I threw him back in.

The lure looks like this (Mr Crappie Slabalicious with a 1/16 oz head) - fished it about 10 feet deep - casted from the shore - reeled in really slow.
Attachment 244684

Attachment 244687Attachment 244688Attachment 244689Attachment 244690Attachment 244691Attachment 244692 the top six type baits I carry to single pole fish are on the last picture . be sure to include 4-8 lb. test line as well as 1/64 ---1/8 jigs .

Holy crapballs Batman - that's a whole lotta jigs there! I tried to build a collection like that, but then the household monetary enforcement division (aka, my wife) started checking into my spending and introduced this evil thing called an allowance. Hahahaha

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Originally Posted by eeker01

Holy crapballs Batman - that's a whole lotta jigs there! I tried to build a collection like that, but then the household monetary enforcement division (aka, my wife) started checking into my spending and introduced this evil thing called an allowance. Hahahaha

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I gave twice that many away and what you see was gathered over 10 yrs. or so . I won the sliders, buy most hair/rubber threasdnecks from crappie logic and love the Bobby Garland on light heads in clear water . I admit I have an obsession .However if I dont catch fish on them, I will discard quick . Having taught school /coach I have no problem giving them away .

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Originally Posted by eeker01

Awesome info guys! Went out this morning with a 1/16 round head and a dark blue shad/grub looking jig (chartreuse tail) and caught 6 crappie and a wiper (all too small to keep, but best the best count for me at this lake, so far). One of the crappie was borderline 9-1/2 to 10", but I threw him back in.

The lure looks like this (Mr Crappie Slabalicious with a 1/16 oz head) - fished it about 10 feet deep - casted from the shore - reeled in really slow.
Attachment 244684

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"reeled in really slow" .... that, combined with the lighter weight jig, was likely the biggest factor in your catching success.

Not knowing how you experienced or detected bites when using the heavier jigs, I would "guess" that you "felt" the hit. A lot of times, using the lighter jigs, you "see" the hit (line movement) more often than feeling it. I prefer to "see" the hit, myself, when casting jigs ... which is a big reason I use hi-vis line.

Personally speaking ... if you have a small collection of marabou hair jigs, some slider/boot tail type plastics, solid body tubes, and stinger shad type bodies ... along with the lighter jig heads (& maybe even add some weedless heads) ... then you've got enough options to be in the game, under most conditions.

If the "finance officer" likes to eat fish, and you start bringing home the goods, explain to her that the newest purchases are the reason for the increase in your success ... and that an increase in your budgetary allotment would likely continue that success, if not increase it. :biggrin

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Originally Posted by CrappiePappy

"reeled in really slow" .... that, combined with the lighter weight jig, was likely the biggest factor in your catching success.

Not knowing how you experienced or detected bites when using the heavier jigs, I would "guess" that you "felt" the hit. A lot of times, using the lighter jigs, you "see" the hit (line movement) more often than feeling it. I prefer to "see" the hit, myself, when casting jigs ... which is a big reason I use hi-vis line.

Personally speaking ... if you have a small collection of marabou hair jigs, some slider/boot tail type plastics, solid body tubes, and stinger shad type bodies ... along with the lighter jig heads (& maybe even add some weedless heads) ... then you've got enough options to be in the game, under most conditions.

If the "finance officer" likes to eat fish, and you start bringing home the goods, explain to her that the newest purchases are the reason for the increase in your success ... and that an increase in your budgetary allotment would likely continue that success, if not increase it. :biggrin

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I usually felt it, but by the time I detected the bite and tried to set the hook, it was often too late - perhaps the heavier jig needed a heavier bite for me to know what was happening. The lighter jigs made it easier to feel it as well as see the line move more - I might go to a 1/32 head and try that out with some of the bodies I got last night.

The head bean counter certainly does enjoy a good meal of delicate pomoxis annularis, breaded and fried. Once I continue to get the catching (and eating) to a higher level, I am sure she will see the significant potential return on investment and allow for more capital expenditures in the budget. Sorry - business geek came out there for a bit... Hahahaha

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Originally Posted by deathb4disco

A simple marabou and chenille jig is all you need.

http://www.sportsmanswarehouse.com/i...85770_1_og.jpg

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This is my favorite color to use overall as well!


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Originally Posted by eagle 1

Attachment 244687Attachment 244688Attachment 244689Attachment 244690Attachment 244691Attachment 244692 the top six type baits I carry to single pole fish are on the last picture . be sure to include 4-8 lb. test line as well as 1/64 ---1/8 jigs .

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Here that purple/chartruse on a 1/8 oz head is about all I use verticle jigging . Casting I would go lighter myself . Most guys buy too much stuff , they make so many colors to catch fishermen . :twocents:biggrin

That's awesome!!


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Originally Posted by NIMROD

Here that purple/chartruse on a 1/8 oz head is about all I use verticle jigging . Casting I would go lighter myself . Most guys buy too much stuff , they make so many colors to catch fishermen . :twocents:biggrin

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QUIT DIPPING, SMOKING, DRINKING AND TO OLD TO CHASE WILD WOMEN ! iT'S EITHER JIGS OR AMMO AND JIGS ARE CHEAPER .:Rofl

When it comes to fishing for freshwater species, simplicity rules!
I routinely catch over 40 fish/outing of different species in most waters using the following:
unpainted round-head jigheads : 1/32, 1/16, 1/8 oz. (those in bold 95% of the time

soft plastics only - five designs to choose from - none curl tail nor shad tail - straight tails and no tails rule!*; lure length - 1 1/4 - 2 1/2" range. When it comes to lure colors, if I find any that work in a certain design, that's it! - keep them on hand for all fishing no matter the water.

1-2' leader of 6 # test mono or fluorocarbon, added to mono or braid as the main line.
Note: I use small diameter leaders only for the purpose of allowing the best lure action, on the slowest retrieves at any depth and never because fish are line shy.

spinning and spincast reels on 5-6' light to medium action rods

lure designs more than adequate to catch most fish species:

Attachment 246443
The above was the tail cut from a plastic worm and added to a 1/16 oz jighead. This sunfish was one of a dozen sunfish caught in 10' of water.

Attachment 246444

The crappie was caught on a hybrid bait made by fusing together the tail and 1/4" front of a senko type worm using a candle flame. The actions of the two are different but effective!

Attachment 246445

The thin tail grub was poured not using a mold and is one of my most productive designs. I produce the style grub in 1 1/2" - 2 1/2". The smaller size works under a float.
Attachment 246446

This design below was made by dipping a worm tail in hot plastic once. The lure waddles & darts causing suspended fish to slam it!
Attachment 246447

The rod tip action applied and slow reel handle turns make these designs always work when fish are present temperatures ranging from 40-85 degrees.

For me, simplicity due to the use of finesse baits and retrieves - rules!
45 fish caught yesterday - missed around 10. Largest fish on one of the above: 7lb catfish and 5lb catfish on the same day.

I use this jig 90% of the time.http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...844cb96288.jpg
It's a 1/64 oz I pour from a discontinued doit mold called a button head. Tied from mallard drake butt feathers and a #8 sickle hook. I use it in clear stained and muddy water. I usually tip with a power wiggler if fishing under a float on 4lb line. Tip with a 1" chartreuse green glitter curly tail grubs when swimming on 2lb line. It is my go to bait or a 1/24 -1/16 oz jighead with a #6 hook with a panfish assassin.

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TEAM WALMART
Those gigs are so effective and the cost factor is nice, especially if your fishing over a lot of structure like rebarb/cement and old crushed culverts on the bottom
years ago the color selection was much beter
chippo

"Those jigs are so effective and the cost factor is nice"

..and they catch so many fish !!! Every week I find new lure designs among the plastics I've owned for a few decades that I lost confidence in. Modifying them (shorten or fuse parts together) has opened the door to always having lures I can depend on in most of the waters I fish which I prove every time I go fishing. All of these work great but only using a jig head:

http://i.imgur.com/cjpNgOx.jpg

But I will still buy some lures that have proven themselves that I can't duplicate with a mold and aren't too expensive (IE Crappie Magnet) even with free shipping. Jig fishing is addictive and the lure I have the most confidence.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by eeker01

Reading this, I
'm wondering if I've been going too heavy. Almost all of the jigs I have bought are 1/8 or even 1/4 ounce. Fishing from the shore, that weight isn't easy to manage without snagging a lot.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk

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Have you tried using your jigs under a cork, works good in current and shallows, a twitch of the cork makes the jig dance, the pause makes them hit. crappie tend to feed at their level or above, if your dragging the bottom with the jig its a tough presentation
but lighter is better

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Originally Posted by chippo

Have you tried using your jigs under a cork, works good in current and shallows, a twitch of the cork makes the jig dance, the pause makes them hit. crappie tend to feed at their level or above, if your dragging the bottom with the jig its a tough presentation
but lighter is better

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That's how I roll most of the time.
Under a slip bobber...
Jig-jig-jig, wait, jig-jig-jig, wait
Then boom fish on.
I catch more on the wait but sometimes those bluegill get froggy and smash when I'm jigging it.

Attachment 283949
Anyone ever have any luck on 1.5" club tails.
These grape sparkle caught my eye.
Grape is our best color for bass in our lake.
Wonder how it would do on bluegill/crappie.

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Originally Posted by lemmylemon

Attachment 283949
Anyone ever have any luck on 1.5" club tails.
These grape sparkle caught my eye.
Grape is our best color for bass in our lake.
Wonder how it would do on bluegill/crappie.

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Put one on a 1/16oz jighead and start slinging. A slow & steady retrieve should put fish in the boat. One of my favorite color combos is purple/chartreuse.

Warm/hot water=plastic ; cool/cold water=marabou. An old timer told me once "use any color you want, as long as its chartreuse!"

Nice looking plastics. I agree that marabou has my nod when it comes to cold water, spring, ice out conditions. But, not surprising to me is that marabou horsehead spin jigs dressed with marabou work year round as well. Normally anytime after April I'll be tossing plastics, but I always have a marabou tied on one rod. :)

Not sure about the fish, But caught a fisherman....when I go to the bait/tackle store, I see and have gotten bit by the mesmerizing amount of colors and variety of baits. It's totally unreal...