Bobber/float and crappie jig

I've used minnows only for crappie fishing about 1-2 times a year so I admit not knowing much about crappie fishing. For the first time ever I started using crappie jigs this week after watching some videos. A couple of days ago, I ran across a video of someone using a crappie jig with a bobber. He was slow reeling and twitching with a bunch of success so I decided to try this a couple days ago in our neighborhood lake which is full of crappie.

Bobber, crappie jig and slow reel with a twitching netting me 30+ in the past two days with a 10"+ average. I caught several at 12". I'm crappie HOOKED. The first day I caught over 30 but catch and release because I have never cleaned a fish before. Again, more videos and decided to keep my catches and clean them for the next two times out.

I had no idea of this method or style of crappie fishing. Pretty darn cool. Yes, this week was a bunch of firsts for me using a jig, bobber and cleaning fish.

I've joined the forum to learn more. I can see there is plenty of reading here.

Congratulations, on some nice catches. What type of bobber were you using?

Round .. red/white about 2" diameter and I'm pretty sure it's older than I am because it was sorta broken not staying in place. Until a few days ago, I did not know this method of fishing existed and you can imagine how surprised I was when I started catching crappie one after another plus they were big. All from watching a YouTube video on crappie fishing.

One thing I don't understand yet about fishing, cause I'm pretty new to all of this, is in one hour I can catch a cooler full and then for 2 hours not get a bit and then twala they start biting again.

you need to buy some comal pinch on quill floats ,commonly found at Walmart in 3 packs CHEAP and your numbers will go thru the roof .
welcome to the addiction

the reason they likely come and go on bites is because they are likely doing that btw
they sometimes roam shorelines chasing baitfish
wolf pack hunting in the water
AND if you think its cool now wait till you eat them
you will be done and hooked on crappie for sure :cheers2

You hooked them and now they have hooked you.
Now time to clean and cook some and introduce them to Andy’s breading. Or at least that’s what I use. Lots of others out there but Andy’s is what my family likes and it’s sold at most large grocery stores.
Keep after them.


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

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Originally Posted by shurt

A couple of days ago, I ran across a video of someone using a crappie jig with a bobber.

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Watch some videos of TroutMagnetMan (Alphahawk here at CDC) fishing a jig without a bobber.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQxJiMUaKaw

So I've watched and helped twice cleaning crappie but this past week was the first time I've caught crappie and cleaned them on my own. Yeah, I was nervous but it worked out great! I'm now looking for a deep fryer. Torn between a countertop fryer or an outside propane deep fryer. Remember, its just my wife and I.

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Originally Posted by shurt

So I've watched and helped twice cleaning crappie but this past week was the first time I've caught crappie and cleaned them on my own. Yeah, I was nervous but it worked out great! I'm now looking for a deep fryer. Torn between a countertop fryer or an outside propane deep fryer. Remember, its just my wife and I.

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I just use a 10" cast iron skillet and a 1/4" layer of Peanut Oil @ 325Deg for ~3mins/side ... fillets dusted with yellow corn meal ... and I can do 5 fillets at a time (fillets from 9-11" fish) ... or 4 fillets of bigger fish.

If that's too "plain & simple" for you, there's a ton of recipes in the Cooking Forum.

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Originally Posted by CrappiePappy

I just use a 10" cast iron skillet and a 1/4" layer of Peanut Oil @ 325Deg for ~3mins/side ... fillets dusted with yellow corn meal ... and I can do 5 fillets at a time (fillets from 9-11" fish) ... or 4 fillets of bigger fish.

If that's too "plain & simple" for you, there's a ton of recipes in the Cooking Forum.

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Actually that advice might just be the ticket!

Like stated use a cast iron skillet if your just cooking for two people. A 10inch cast iron skillet will be less than $20 and will last several lifetimes. The method you are using is called a jig and bobber. It is a very effective method for catching both crappie and white bass in the spring when they go up creeks to spawn. Get the bobbers from Walmart because they are dirt cheap. Get the smallest one you can get away with based on the jig size your using. I fixed float is good for fishing 4ft or less and a slip bobber is good for deeper water. Crappie fishing is a great sport.

welcome and good to see you are learning grasshopper. also some great baked parmesean recipes and other methods that are simple and fantastic plus healthier.

we use a big cast iron for 2 .5 people when we fry them
we use a cookie sheet when we bake them
luck to ya

I like the bobber and float. But Oregon especially Central Oregon is not big on fishing for crappie. So finding those little floats mentioned above I couldn't do. I did find some round cork floats though, 1" and 1 1/4" and they worked fine and were pretty inexpensive! Last week I ran into those other floats and got a couple to try out on a couple of my spinning rods. The cork balls worked great and not a thing I could see wrong with them. These other one's I would think are more sensitive if that's possible. Thing I noticed about using the floats is if there's a little ripple on the water, not need to move them around much. Just let them sit and the water moves them for you.

That is a favorite way to fish from the bank in the spring.

I started making some floats from wine corks and bamboo skewers. Bend and cut down a paperclip to make a loop on the bottom tied in place with wound thread and topped of the thread with UV glue. Can be painted as you see fit for visibility. After I get the shaft secured in place I turn the float on my bench top drill press and use sand paper to shape and get the size I want. To make it a stay in place float I use a Piece of tubing for a sling shot to hold the line in place. Same float, best of both worlds, Slip float and stay in place without crimping the line...

Do you know what the size to weight ratio is? Such as 1/4 oz 2.5", 1/8 oz 2" and so forth.

I believe Thill has some floats that are marked for weight

I usually use thill or BPS balsa quill floats. I was just wondering about trying the more economical comal foam floats so it doesn't hurt so bad when i get hung up so far back in the brush I can't retrieve it. Was wondering about the ratio so I don't need to buy half a dozen different sizes trying to get it right.

Compared to the other equipment you buy floats are cheap.
Buy what works for you.

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Originally Posted by funfishers

Compared to the other equipment you buy floats are cheap.

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This ^^^^

Paying thousand (or tens of thousands) on boat, motor and electronics and then buying the cheapest floats makes no sense to me.

The rocket bobbers are made for a specific weight. They are also weighted so the they cast farther. They can be lost but otherwise they are pretty tough.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by funfishers

Compared to the other equipment you buy floats are cheap.
Buy what works for you.

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Good advice. You don’t have to spend a lot for a decent float. I got hooked on Trout Magnet EZ Floats and they are 4 for somewhere around $1.80. Can’t beat that and they work great.
Bob