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Can you guys please give me some advice on single pole jigging laydown tops on the bayou and rivers? I basically suck at single pole jigging. I don't know where to start, I don't think I've ever caught a single crappie trying to jig a tree top. [emoji854] Thanks guys.
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Just do it! It's like a friend of mine told me years ago when I started bowhunting. He said, "You won't ever kill a deer with your bow until you leave your rifle and pistol at home and take nothing but your bow." You know what, he was exactly right.
Just some things I have learned about fishing tops.
1. Always start on the outside and work your way in. That may mean that you start fish several feet or even yards from the visible structure of the top.
2. Fish slow, especially when lifting the jig back out of the top. it will help avoid too many hang-ups. If you do get hung up, don't panic. All is not lost. Simply put the rod in the water and pull the line tight against the rod tip and most of the time the jig can be pushed free.
3. I like to tie my jig on with a loop knot so that it will swing back and forth, giving it as much action as possible since you may be simply lowering your jig into a mass of branches and can't swim it very much.
4. Wind permitting, I usually start with a 1/32 ounce jig, which keeps the jig in the strike zone longer if fish are in the top.
5. A side imaging depth finder can help you determine if fish are in a top that you may want to fish.
6. Fish slow and try different colors if you don't get bit right away.
7. If you don't catch any fish the first time you try a specific top, don't give up. You may catch them later that day on that top.
8. Fish slow and enjoy the THUMP. You may not catch as many fish as those who troll or pull crankbaits, but if you like the THUMP as much as I do, it's the only way to go. Don't get me wrong, I will troll some of the time during the colder months when the fish are deep, but I much prefer to single pole tree tops or stumps.
9. I know that I said to fish slow several times. Personally, I think that that is the key to fishing tops. You can run and gun between spot or tops, but when you stop your boat to fish a top, FISH SLOW, feel the THUMP and have FUN. Remember, leave your rifle and pistol at home. :cool:
Disclaimer: These suggestions are only some of my personal observations during 40-45 years of fishing. They in no way reflect the opinions or experiences of others on this site or any other crappie fishing site that may be better fishermen or fisherwomen than I am.
Hopefully others on this site, especially those who have more experience than I do, will also chime in with their advice.
Remember to follow rule #9.
Great response Pastor!! Single pole jigging is by far and away my favorite way to fish also, I'll fish whatever way I have to to catch a mess but nothing beats that thump! Brad, I'd like to add that where there's one there are usually more, so when you catch one on a top, stick to it for a while. Even try approaching the top from several angles if you can. Sometimes they're only feeding or looking for bait on a particular side or retrieved in a certain direction. I also like to drop to the bottom right on the side of the brush and then VERY slowly reel it back up all the way to the boat. If you have a bump and miss it don't reel all the way in, just let some line out and try the same depth again. This is a good time also to jig your bait up and down slowly at his depth. A lots of times right after you feel your line tighten up, you'll feel a slight "tap"... set the hook. If you miss, keep try jigging at his depth. When you're jig is falling and you don't feel you're jig "bounce" at the end of the fall or your line doesn't tighten up... set the hook because lots of times a crappie just "sucked it in." A lots of time the biggest fish won't "hit" your jig they'll just suck it in and you'll have to learn this feel. Like Pastor said, just keep trying. Good luck and good fishing!
Richard Gene on U Tube says start fishing above the top then deeper till you find the fish that will bite
Pastor makes some excellent points. I don't care much for fishing tops in current myself but I will make a couple additions.
Look for tops as much out of the current as possible.
A single isolated top is almost always better than several tops right next to each other.
When I fish old weathered tops I like to pitch a jig out around where I think the end is. Fish seem to suspend on the end of old tops.
Newer tops you have to fish more inside of those than out the ends.
HTH
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Good info.
Thank yall for all the good info! Yall are da best!
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When you're fishing the tops, what length and stiffness rod are you using? Or is that personal preference?
I use a 4'10" ultralight with 4-6 lb hi-vis Mr. Crappie. I'll keep 3 rods all with different jigs on them ready to go. When I get hung I just assume break off and pick up my next rod, I don't want a strong line pulling the top and disturbing the fish in it.
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It's also easy with the short rod when vertically jigging to let out about 5 foot of line at a time. Just open the bell and count it down. If I'm trying to get to a 15' strike zone just lift it and drop it 3 times. If my line doesn't tighten up by the time it should.. set the hook cause a crappie just sucked it in on the fall. It's just what works best for me
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Makes sense. I've seen videos of guys fishing around standing trees and they were using long rods. I wasn't sure if it was the same for fishing tops.
I use long poles around trees in shallow water so I won't disturb the fish but in deep water (15-30+ fow) I'm not worried about disturbing anything straight below me. Remember, you want to start from the outside casting over and around your top picking up the fish that are suspended above and around the brush. Then move to directly above the brush to drop down into and on the sides of the brush. Another bonus is I can fish all day with a 4'10" ultralight and never get worn out but after several hours of jigging trees with my long poles I'll start getting arm, shoulder or wrist fatigue.
Just my 2 cents
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I’ve tried several times last year to fish like this and I will try again. It’s not the easiest way to fish but for me it’s the most challenging. Thanks for all the great advise guys. Pastor you put it out there nicely thanks so much.
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When you throw that Marker Buoy -- if it is a long top, throw a second one so you know how it is laying on the bottom
Boat position is EVERYTHING!! Come in downwind or down current and EASE up to that top. when I get just a hint of brush on the front sonar, I stop right there.