1/4oz jig head with slip float for crappie fishing

I am thinking to try 1/4 Oz jig with slip float and plastic lure for crappie fishing. Use heave 1/4oz rig head is to 1). Allow jig quickly sink to the depth;2) allow jighead remains in the target depth when I retrieve or twitch line.

This application is for fishing 6 feet or deeper and for the location difficult to access to right above it or fishing from the bank.

What are your thoughts on this setup? Suggestions for method and jighead source?
Thanks!


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Originally Posted by parfume4

What are your thoughts on this setup?

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It will cast far better if you put a heavy split shot a few feet up the line with a lighter jig below.

For example, you could use a 3/16 or 1/4 oz split shot with a 1/32 oz jig below.

That said, I would avoid the float and just fish the jig, if possible.

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Originally Posted by deathb4disco

It will cast far better if you put a heavy split shot a few feet up the line with a lighter jig below.

For example, you could use a 3/16 or 1/4 oz split shot with a 1/32 oz jig below.

That said, I would avoid the float and just fish the jig, if possible.

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Thanks for the suggestion. This slip float set up is really for accessing deep hole and hanging in there while fishing from the bank.
Sorry for my ignorance, other that cast ability, what is the benefits of using slip float + heavy split shot + light jig vs. slip float + heavy jig?

One benefit I can think for heavy jig is that slip float can indicate better when crappie s feed up.


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by parfume4

One benefit I can think for heavy jig is that slip float can indicate better when crappie s feed up.

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True, but you will still see the "lift bite" with a lighter jig (if the float is sensitive enough.)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by parfume4

This slip float set up is really for accessing deep hole and hanging in there while fishing from the bank.

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As a general rule, I am very "anti" jig-and-float. I much prefer the jig alone, even in situations you're describing.

How far do you have to cast to reach the deep hole?

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Originally Posted by deathb4disco

As a general rule, I am very "anti" jig-and-float. I much prefer the jig alone, even in situations you're describing.

How far do you have to cast to reach the deep hole?

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No far, within 15 yards, with some water flow. One typical scenario is the spill water. I know there is deep hole but light jig will be carried away by water flow and won’t be able to reach the deeper water and hold in strike zone long enough. Heavy jig alone tends to snag to the bottom and stay in strike zone too short.



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My experience with spillway fishing is that Crappie won't hold position in current, but they will in any eddy water ( or behind any breakwater object).

The only problem I see with the 1/4oz jig is its fall rate (vs a lighter jig), but that's casting in still waters. In your case that may be your only option ... :dono ... unless you can get above the "deep hole" and let the float take the jig to it.

If you're looking for a 1/4oz jighead that doesn't have a shark size hook in it .... I'd check with the jig makers here on the site. I use a #2 Aberdeen hook in my 1/32oz & 1/16oz jigheads ... custom made by Grousefly ... but there are other jig makers that could probably make you jigheads however you want.

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Originally Posted by CrappiePappy

My experience with spillway fishing is that Crappie won't hold position in current, but they will in any eddy water ( or behind any breakwater object).

The only problem I see with the 1/4oz jig is its fall rate (vs a lighter jig), but that's casting in still waters. In your case that may be your only option ... :dono ... unless you can get above the "deep hole" and let the float take the jig to it.

If you're looking for a 1/4oz jighead that doesn't have a shark size hook in it .... I'd check with the jig makers here on the site. I use a #2 Aberdeen hook in my 1/32oz & 1/16oz jigheads ... custom made by Grousefly ... but there are other jig makers that could probably make you jigheads however you want.

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Hook size is exactly what I am concerned with 1/4oz jig. Thanks for the info.
Any recommendations for the (including light) jighead when fishing on top of brush pile. I want to have thin wire hook so I can pull it straight when snagged.
Thanks!


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by parfume4

Hook size is exactly what I am concerned with 1/4oz jig. Thanks for the info.
Any recommendations for the (including light) jighead when fishing on top of brush pile. I want to have thin wire hook so I can pull it straight when snagged.
Thanks!

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All the jigs I "cast" with are weedless jigs (some with the Y guard & some with the brush fibers style guard) and the hooks are gold Aberdeen #2. When I first got weedless jigs from Grousefly they had bronze Aberdeen #4 hooks & I could usually bend them open with 4# line. I now use 6# line and can "sometimes" bend the #2's open.
If you want a lite wire hook ... you might get them thru Grousefly, :dono ... or you might have to contact litewirehooks.com and talk to Curtis Hobbs (site name - litewirehooker)

1/4 is for real deep water on crappie vertical jigging in the winter time , its far to heavy to use under a float of any kind if you want to ketch crappie .
1/16 maximum and the smallest slip float possible . that should cast about 2 miles with 6 lb test and decent rod and reel .
but as stated if its in the current you are likely wasting time anyway if you want to ketch crappie .
in current scenarios they will be behind some kind of heavy cover most likely .
my 2 cents

Try both ways,

Like trypman said. Try different ways. Get you a couple 1/4 couple 1/8 and couple 1/16. Get a couple of slip floats and match them to your jig weight. And here is how I do that, get a short piece of mono, tie on your jig head, then on other side use a stop of some kind to keep jig close to bobber as you can. Fill sink with water, set float in water. See how it sits then from there you can change floats and jigs around until your happy with the way they sit. I slide a plastic bead on line between jig and float to keep float from sticking on knot. For bank fishing they way you describe your situation that’s about best set up. I think 1/4 is a little on heavy side but current is really going to dictate what you need. Like others said the smaller you can get by with the better. Crappie for the most part go for smaller size baits. That’s main reason d4d suggested split shot above small jig. Still have the weight to cast and control but smaller presentation.

Got a friend who has poor vision and he only fishes 1/8 jigs with a popping cork. It's loud but it works. I've only fished in the springtime with him though.

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Originally Posted by Cray

Like trypman said. Try different ways. Get you a couple 1/4 couple 1/8 and couple 1/16. Get a couple of slip floats and match them to your jig weight. And here is how I do that, get a short piece of mono, tie on your jig head, then on other side use a stop of some kind to keep jig close to bobber as you can. Fill sink with water, set float in water. See how it sits then from there you can change floats and jigs around until your happy with the way they sit. I slide a plastic bead on line between jig and float to keep float from sticking on knot. For bank fishing they way you describe your situation that’s about best set up. I think 1/4 is a little on heavy side but current is really going to dictate what you need. Like others said the smaller you can get by with the better. Crappie for the most part go for smaller size baits. That’s main reason d4d suggested split shot above small jig. Still have the weight to cast and control but smaller presentation.

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Thanks for the comments.

YouTube
This video shows the situation in spill water. I was able to use jig to catch some crappies, but a guy he use (10’m30”s) slip float was able to catch a limit ( I am in Texas), especially when other cannot catch any more!!. There is relatively strong flow. I have a hard time to reach and maintain over the fish hole. But he was able to with slip float and heavy rig.


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Cray

Like trypman said. Try different ways. Get you a couple 1/4 couple 1/8 and couple 1/16. Get a couple of slip floats and match them to your jig weight. And here is how I do that, get a short piece of mono, tie on your jig head, then on other side use a stop of some kind to keep jig close to bobber as you can. Fill sink with water, set float in water. See how it sits then from there you can change floats and jigs around until your happy with the way they sit. I slide a plastic bead on line between jig and float to keep float from sticking on knot. For bank fishing they way you describe your situation that’s about best set up. I think 1/4 is a little on heavy side but current is really going to dictate what you need. Like others said the smaller you can get by with the better. Crappie for the most part go for smaller size baits. That’s main reason d4d suggested split shot above small jig. Still have the weight to cast and control but smaller presentation.

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Agree that need to use as light and small float as possible. 1/4 Oz seems to be the lightest being practical. With lighter jig, you cannot sink to the right depth.;When you retrieve, it is the light jig being pulled upwards instead of float moving.


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by CrappiePappy

All the jigs I "cast" with are weedless jigs (some with the Y guard & some with the brush fibers style guard) and the hooks are gold Aberdeen #2. When I first got weedless jigs from Grousefly they had bronze Aberdeen #4 hooks & I could usually bend them open with 4# line. I now use 6# line and can "sometimes" bend the #2's open.
If you want a lite wire hook ... you might get them thru Grousefly, :dono ... or you might have to contact litewirehooks.com and talk to Curtis Hobbs (site name - litewirehooker)

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Thanks for the specifics on wire size and line #size and sourcing info. That helps for selecting proper jig.


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Good information in this thread, thanks guys!

If you are worried about not bending the hook when hung, either bend it with pliers or burn it with a lighter to take the temper out and most of the time it will bend when hung up. Good luck.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by parfume4

Thanks for the suggestion. This slip float set up is really for accessing deep hole and hanging in there while fishing from the bank.
Sorry for my ignorance, other that cast ability, what is the benefits of using slip float + heavy split shot + light jig vs. slip float + heavy jig?

One benefit I can think for heavy jig is that slip float can indicate better when crappie s feed up.


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More fish will hit the lighter jig . I would have said 1/100 or 1/80 th .

For whatever reason I avoid 1/4oz jigs and plastic's over about 1 1/2". But the first two crappie I ever caught I got on 1/4oz jig's and 2" plastic's while fishing for bass! But everyone seem's to say smaller is better and being a new guy to this I follow that advice. Need to get full of myself this year and try a few 1/4 oz jigs again. That will screw up my crappie tackle if it works. All I have are 1/8 oz and smaller jigs and 1 1/2" plastic's.

I do like to fish with a float in current especially when I can let the current take the jig away from me

Quote:

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Originally Posted by parfume4

Thanks for the comments.

YouTube
This video shows the situation in spill water. I was able to use jig to catch some crappies, but a guy he use (10’m30”s) slip float was able to catch a limit ( I am in Texas), especially when other cannot catch any more!!. There is relatively strong flow. I have a hard time to reach and maintain over the fish hole. But he was able to with slip float and heavy rig.


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Here is what we are flowing where I live. This is also cubic feet per second. Typically we run at 60K. I probably fish heavier than most but a 1/8 is as high as I will go unless trolling. It's just my opinion but the odds of seeing a lift bite with a quarter oz. Is small. They will spit it out when they feel that much weight. Look for the eddies in other words the bobber will come back at you opposite from the flow and downsize. Tuning a bobber properly meaning fishing the perfect weight for the bobber is Paramount. I struggled with too much weight for a long time. And probably still do. Tight lines and good thread.Attachment 364083

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Something about float's. First used them in moving water in Germany fishing for trout. Stream was so shallow I couldn't get the bait off the bottom. Tried a small float and started catching fist. Never did it again till I gt into crappie. Use the small plastic jigs and about a 1" round cork ball, works great! Can't find the floats you guy's use out here. Pretty much gave up using the slip float in water much over abut ten feet and only set it to go down about 4". But the thing I really like abut the float is watching it go under water!

But the thing I really like abut the float is watching it go under water!

I can totally understand that. As a child I can remember a day of fishing and at night at bedtime seeing my cork going under when I closed my eyes.
Occasionally I still fish micro with a Quill. That is how my dad taught me how to fish.

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The crappie are not spitting out jigs around here.
An older angler this morning told me the crappie are consuming jigs like a fat boy digging into a bag of cheese curls!

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Originally Posted by TheGrandPoohBah

The crappie are not spitting out jigs around here.
An older angler this morning told me the crappie are consuming jigs like a fat boy digging into a bag of cheese curls!

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Had to re read that. For a minute I thought the ole man had been watching me fish. Cheetos are my favorite.

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