Lifelong live bait user needing advice on artificial baits/lures.

Hello all. deepiper from Central Texas here. I have been fishing for Crappie/bream/bluegill/panfish since I was a kid. My favorite bait of choice has always been nightcrawlers, followed by crickets, minnows, bread, whatever organic material I had on hand. I have neve really had alot of experience or confidence using plastics be it jigs, or any other artificial bait for crappie or other panfish. They just never seem to work for me. My grandfather taught me how to fish using a flyrod when I was a kid, and he always used white and yellow popping bugs with good results, so thats what I use when I have a flyrod in hand. I dont have a boat to fish from, I am pretty much exclusively a shore/bank/pier or dock fisherman unless I go out with a friend who has one. My rods and reels of choice are mostly Zebco (yes Zebco), spincast and spinning rods and reels. I do also have a Diawa spinning combo with a medium action rod and an Abu Garcia Silvermax combo I just picked up a couple months ago for bass fishing. My father has always used baitcasters and I have always wanted to learn to use one to catch bass on.

My rig for fishing is pretty standard among whatever I have in my hand to use. I fish mostly with a bobber with a split shot sinker with anywhere from a size 4 to size 8 bait hook. Baiting with nightcrawlers or other worms. I have started putting together a collection of jigs and tubes, but for the life of me I dont know what color works best for what days or anything like that. I have tubes with pink heads and white tails, yellow heads and white tails, blue heads and white tails, black and chartreuse, red and white, chartruese with glitter. Jig heads ranging from 1/8, 1/16, 1/32, and 1/64. Unpainted and painted. A few grubs in chartreuse, white, purple, and some Mr. Crappie 2' shadpoles in "Tuxedo Black Chartruese". I have little to no luck with any of it. I can have two poles just a few feet from one another. One with live bait, one with an artificial in the water and they go for the live bait always. Not sure if I am fishing the jigs right. Sometimes I use with a bobber, sometimes not. Anyway... sorry to be so long winded. Any advice or tips will be much appreciated.

Artificials need to be cast out and slowly reeled back in ... in most situations. They can be used under a float, but normally that's when the fish are shallow.

Detecting a bite from a Crappie, when casting your jigs, usually requires watching your line for subtle movements, rather than waiting to feel the rod tip bend ... but, occasionally you will see the line move AND feel the "thump" at the same time.

Line movement on a Crappie strike can come in several different forms : a single thump or tic in the line ... a sideways movement ... a gradual heavy feel (like you're jig has a leaf or moss on it) ... or the line suddenly goes slack and you know the jig cannot be on the bottom. In any of these circumstances ... set the hook !!

If you're in a boat or on a dock (or even on a bridge) and you can fish straight down beside some object in the water ... you can try using this technique : Crappie Pappy Article

Sounds like you have the start of some good choices for jigs/plastics, for now. But, I would suggest getting a few marabou Roadrunners to add to your arsenal. Pink/char or straight chartreuse would be good choices, and I'd get them in 1/16oz. Cast them out and let them sink for a few seconds, then start reeling them back in at a moderate speed. You'll know your speed is right if the blade is spinning when the Roadrunner comes into sight.

4-6lb test line is all you need ... and hi-viz line will help you detect those visual signals (line movement) that I mentioned above.

These things are just the tip of the iceberg, so hopefully more people will chime in with their thoughts and tips.

I just started using jigs for crappie and it's not the easiest thing to get use to, crappie strike jigs very gently not like using live bait which they strike a lot more aggressively. Using jigs takes time and practice to get use to, chances are you've gotten bites with the jigs just didn't know they were bites cause they hit artificial baits so softly and no where near as aggressive as they hit live bait. They are not like bass or a catfish and strike hard. As far as what colors to use you or what type of plastic bait to use it all just depends on the crappie. Just gotta start with one if it don't work try another and keep on till you find one they like! I have only been fishing for crappie for about a year and half now and have done alot of research and studying on crappie and I've learned that they are a very grumpy picky depressed fish lol but I guess I would be to if I only got to spawn one time a year! Anyways that's just about all I can tell you other than to just do some google research lol good luck and may the force be with you

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Originally Posted by deepiper

Not sure if I am fishing the jigs right.... Any advice or tips will be much appreciated.

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Read this, and take it to heart. Focus on the "how".

Charlie Brewer's Slider Company - Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â* Weedless Crappie Slider "Why&How"

The slider is a good bait, but this method works with any jig.

You said the very key to a lot of what this is about "Confidence"!

There are literally thousands of bait types, combinations, colors, and sizes on the market. Finding the right one can be a daunting task. One that many people simply don't want to take up simply because of the gigantic expenses they associate with purchasing all the different color combinations under the rainbow.

People will tell you "I only use this color" or "I only use this bait". Maybe because they have "confidence" in that bait. Maybe because the lake they fish, that is all they need.

Not all lakes are equal. In one lake, I kill the crappies on an orange twister body and Chartreuse tail. A lake two minutes down the road, they won't touch that color but will destroy a "parrot" color. Another lake, they like "tractor green". The take away from that is the clarity of water in relation to what the fish see. In other words, it does help to have a variety of baits to be able to find exactly what works best for that body of water.

I've been in a similar situation. I started with a hand full of core colors and went from there. I cannot say what would work best for you but I would say a selection of packages of different core colors would be where to start. Everyone has their favorites and some are region specific. For me, I like the "Big Bite" company and really like their twister style tails in a variety of colors. Pink and White, chartreuse and orange, blue and chartrues... (you start to see the "core" colors I am talking about) are all good starters.

As I said, some colors don't always work best in every lake or situation. One bait I have found that has worked for my in a variety of lakes and situations has been the Big Bite "Shad" in the standard gray and black 2 inch variety. We use them so much that I purchase them in bags of 50! The rest are in packs of 8 or 10 for around 1.25 or so (depending on where you get them).

Don't go hog wild and break the bank on buying 100's of colors as the project of selecting a color when you reach the water can and will be overwhelming! Select a few colors, try them out and see what happens. Casting deep to shallow can be great (like bank fishing). Slow lift retrieve, popping, twitching and retrieving, all can work at different times. Sometimes it is more about cadance than the bait.

I could write on and on about it all but that would be what I would recommend to get started.

I fish one bait in one color almost exclusively . It is more about presentation than bait in most cases . Artificials have to be worked and presented to look like some thing alive . I favor tight line so I can react to a bite with no hesitation . Under a cork bites sometimes appear suttle . They don't always hang on to artificials like live bait so you have to stay focused . :twocents

Thanks all for you advice and feedback on this. I really appreciate it. Going tomorrow to try some tubes and grubs in a few colors. Again thank you all.

Ok folks I am back. Went fishing this morning. Actually came close to catching a bluegill or bream or whatever it was on an artificial bait. I tried two different color tube baits, one red with a while skirt and the other purple with a yellow, chartruese skirt. Neither one really worked well. I do think I got a couple taps on the red/white one. Then I tied on one of the baits I have in my tackle box, a Lip Ripperz Mini Ripperz. It was a bit smaller than the tubes. I fished it with a smaill bobber. I dropped it in where I was fishing and immediately got a few good bites on it. But nothing ever took off with it. I kept trying though and the bites continued off and on. Nothing really took off with it though. I dont feel bad though because it was further than I have gotten so far. There were alot of minnows in the water where I was fishing and I guess this was the closest thing to a minnow I have.

Bluegills/Sunfish are pretty hard to catch on tube jigs, except for the bigger ones. They like to "dismantle" the bugs or small minnows by nipping off legs, fins, eyeballs, etc. before swallowing them ... so, they tend to grab onto the "legs" of the tube, rather than inhale the whole thing (like most Crappie will do). You'll usually know it's a Bluegill when the bite is like a machine gun hit ... whereas a Crappie will usually only make the line slightly jump once (from inhaling the jig). The instance that one "jump" of the line occurs, set the hook immediately.

As far as using artificials under a bobber/float ... you have to do more than just pitch it out there and let it sit. Slowly reeling it back in, and even occasionally shaking the rod tip to make the float wiggle/dance for a second or two, will impart "action" to the bait. Live offerings have either action of their own (movement) or smell that draws the fish ... plastics have to be made "active" by the angler (reeling in) or smell by adding a scent product to the bait.

Of course there are those that add "live" offerings tipped on the hook of their artificial baits, but then you aren't really "fooling" the fish into biting something totally "artificial" ... which is what I assume you're goal is !!

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Originally Posted by deepiper

Ok folks I am back. Went fishing this morning. Actually came close to catching a bluegill or bream or whatever it was on an artificial bait. I tried two different color tube baits, one red with a while skirt and the other purple with a yellow, chartruese skirt. Neither one really worked well. I do think I got a couple taps on the red/white one. Then I tied on one of the baits I have in my tackle box, a Lip Ripperz Mini Ripperz. It was a bit smaller than the tubes. I fished it with a smaill bobber. I dropped it in where I was fishing and immediately got a few good bites on it. But nothing ever took off with it. I kept trying though and the bites continued off and on. Nothing really took off with it though. I dont feel bad though because it was further than I have gotten so far. There were alot of minnows in the water where I was fishing and I guess this was the closest thing to a minnow I have.

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A few thoughts:

1) Lose the bobber. I almost never use one when fishing artificials.

2) Lose the tube. I agree with CP that there are better baits for bream. Go to Walmart and get some trout magnets. I prefer darker colors. Small beetle spins are also great. See post #4 for how to fish.

3) I reread the OP and noticed you have fly fished. Instead of top water, try small sinking flies and small jigs. (The 1/64 trout magnet will cast just fine on the fly rod). Let them sink and retrieve slowly.

Thank you CrappiePappy and deathb4disco for the helpful feedback and advice. I appreciate it. deathb4disco I just remembered I have a beetle spin in my tacklebox. It's a 1/8 oz one that seems like it might be a bit too large, no?

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Originally Posted by deepiper

Thank you CrappiePappy and deathb4disco for the helpful feedback and advice. I appreciate it. deathb4disco I just remembered I have a beetle spin in my tacklebox. It's a 1/8 oz one that seems like it might be a bit too large, no?

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For Bluegill ... yeah
For Crappie ... no (due to their bigger mouths)

One of the best I have seen for Bream would be a tiny jig /weighted fly called a '' Rockhopper ''. I comes in 1/32 oz weight and I think maybe 1/64. Fished under a cork and slowly worked in will catch all kinds of Bream as well as some Crappie and Bass . I have friends that swear by them . Terry's Tackle Distributors Waterloo, IA 50703

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Originally Posted by NIMROD

One of the best I have seen for Bream would be a tiny jig /weighted fly called a '' Rockhopper ''. I comes in 1/32 oz weight and I think maybe 1/64. Fished under a cork and slowly worked in will catch all kinds of Bream as well as some Crappie and Bass . I have friends that swear by them . Terry's Tackle Distributors Waterloo, IA 50703

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Saw some of those at Wal Mart here where I live. I'll pick up a couple. Thank you!

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Originally Posted by deathb4disco

A few thoughts:

1) Lose the bobber. I almost never use one when fishing artificials.

2) Lose the tube. I agree with CP that there are better baits for bream. Go to Walmart and get some trout magnets. I prefer darker colors. Small beetle spins are also great. See post #4 for how to fish.

3) I reread the OP and noticed you have fly fished. Instead of top water, try small sinking flies and small jigs. (The 1/64 trout magnet will cast just fine on the fly rod). Let them sink and retrieve slowly.

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Picked up some small panfish size beetle spins at Wal Mart and Academy here a couple days ago. I did read the post on #4 also. I am going to order some Trout Magnets and Panfish Magnets from Bass Pro. They did not have either of those at the Wal Mart or Academy where I live. Thank you for your help.

Hello all. Ordered an assortment of panfish magnets from Bass Pro and waiting for those to get here now. No fishing this weekend with Hurricane Harvey going on. Looks like we are safe where we live. All we are getting is alot of rain.

First of all I'm 64 years old and just started crappie fishing in the spring of 2013 everything I know I have learned from reading on Crappie.com and trial and error. I also have no boat and fish mostly from a bridge using a Zebco 8 foot crappie fighter w/ spinning reel and have never used live bait , with this long pole I am able to cast pretty far under the bridge with a 1/16 jig head and a 2 inch curly tail grub ,( it does take some practice ) once under there count it down 1001,1002, till maybe 5 and retrieve try slow ,try fast , try stop and start if nothing than try count down to 8 than 10 just keep trying . This method has paid off for me I can't guarantee you will catch fish but you will find snags .1/16 jig with 2 inch curly tail in Chartreuse w/ silver flake , solid black and pearl seem to work for me . keep tying you will find a method that works for you . good luck , tacklebuster

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Originally Posted by tacklebuster

First of all I'm 64 years old and just started crappie fishing in the spring of 2013 everything I know I have learned from reading on Crappie.com and trial and error. I also have no boat and fish mostly from a bridge using a Zebco 8 foot crappie fighter w/ spinning reel and have never used live bait , with this long pole I am able to cast pretty far under the bridge with a 1/16 jig head and a 2 inch curly tail grub ,( it does take some practice ) once under there count it down 1001,1002, till maybe 5 and retrieve try slow ,try fast , try stop and start if nothing than try count down to 8 than 10 just keep trying . This method has paid off for me I can't guarantee you will catch fish but you will find snags .1/16 jig with 2 inch curly tail in Chartreuse w/ silver flake , solid black and pearl seem to work for me . keep tying you will find a method that works for you . good luck , tacklebuster

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Thank you tacklebuster I appreciate your advice. Still trying to catch crappie/panfish on artificial lure. With the help and input of some folks here I have found some more kinds of lures to try. I have a bunch of panfish and trout magnets. I tried drop shotting a couple weeks ago and actually got something big like a catfish to bite and had fun chasing him around until he decided he'd had enough and snapped the 4lb test mono I have on my ultra light setup like it was sewing thread. Going out in a little while to try again. Need to stop by Wally World and pick up a new fishing license.

Two words: crappie nibbles! I to was once a live bait fisherman. Until I met a gentleman that taught me to use nibbles. They are just like minnows in a cup. Doesn't matter which brand you get: Berkley or Magic Bait. Tip your jig with one and I guarantee you will see a difference.

Ok folks accomplished my goal today! Caught 4 bluegills using Berkley Gulp Nightcrawlers. Had gone pretty much the whole month of September without getting a bite on anything, including the Berkley bait. Today was a good day though and the fish were biting. The Berkley Nightcrawler really did well. I even broke it into pieces like I do with a regular nightcrawler. After catching the 4 bluegills I tied a Rebel Micro Minnow and even had a couple bites with it, just didnt catch anything. So the journey continues...

Keep trying with the jigs. Small jigs will catch everything in the lake.

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Originally Posted by deathb4disco

Keep trying with the jigs. Small jigs will catch everything in the lake.

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Thanks, will do.

Pick you up a couple key stone minnows should be on the end cap at Walmart in individual packs pick out the ones with the orangest/red bellies, use (fast drying) super glue to glue the body to the jig head.if you don't glue it .it want last but 8-10 fish but glued will last most the day. Can fish it under a cork just like you did the real worms but fish it slow.or float less Also a bison colored trout magnet. Probably have to order it most stores don't have that color.they are just as soft as the keystone so super glue will be your friend on those as well. Good luck and keep at it.

Whatever you do, don't give up. I'm a self taught jig fisherman. I promise as long as you don't give up you WILL figure it out. Artificial baits work.!! I can't tell you how many times I've walked up to a boat dock or the bank with people Crappie fishing with minnows and not catching anything and I limit out in 30 minutes.
The best advise that I can give you is to pay very close attention to whats going on when you catch a fish. How deep it's the water? At what depth was your bait? How were you presenting that bait (lightly or agresively jigging, swimming it and how fast, etc.)? Did you catch it in cover? Around rocks, docks, poles? You get the picture every thing plays a role? Put as much of all that together as you can and then duplicate it.


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Crappie Magnet and Trout Magnet should work. Dude Special, Bulldog, and Tennessee Shad are my go to colors. If you can't find them at WalMart or a BassPro, you can get 50 packs from their website very reasonable. They'll catch em! GTT

Well allright allright allright folks! Good news today! Accomplished my goal! Caught a little bream/bluegill/whatever it was on a rootbeer colored Leland Lures Panfish Magnet!
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Yes indeed it was a good day. Got there early this morning. Started using a Berkley Gulp Nightcrawler. Fish were really biting this well. After a while the fishing got a little slow, so I decided to try some other baits/lures out. Got out the panfish magnet kit, and started trying different colors. They were hitting some on the dark brown/bison, the one that looks like cranberry sauce, the one with the black head and the green tail, and the bronze/gold looking one. I got bites on all the colors, nothing really took it though. So I switched to a different kind of grub. A few more bites, nothing exciting. Then I decided to use the brown rootbeer one. This one did the trick. After a few casts, twitching the rod tip and reeling it back it and casting again, the small little bobber I was using took off and went underwater. I se the hook and reeled in this little guy. I'll take him! :) Thank you all so much for your support and advice and help. I really, really appreciate it. God bless everyone.

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Originally Posted by deepiper

After a few casts, twitching the rod tip and reeling it back it and casting again, the small little bobber I was using took off and went underwater.

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Next time, try it without the bobber.

Congrats, anyway!