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I’ve been seeing an interesting presentation for crappie fishing using rather large plastics. The guy even goes as far as using 1/4oz jig heads and heavy bait casting rods to jig for crappie. I have my opinion about the rods and jig heads but the large plastics idea does seem viable. What’s everyone think about using big plastics and who uses them?
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Big bait big fish. I almost always use an 1/8 oz head often with a 3 inch slab slayer. When fishing submerged brush a heavier head lets you feel your way around much better. With this I am almost always fishing corp lakes that are stained to muddy or the Mississippi river.
I let the fish show me what size jig they prefer on any given day.
When l use bigger baits and 1/4 oz head shows up better on livescope and that l like. When using in deeper depths the heavier weight gets to the target quicker and easier to control.
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After seeing crappie inhale c55 crankbaits I try large plastic baits and let the fish choose what they want. You will be surprised how big a bait crappie will eat.
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Time and place for any bait is what it all comes down to
I fish 1/4 oz heads 100% of the time when spider rigging. They don’t seem to mind. Sometimes I will also throw on a 3.5-4 inch swim bait. I’ve caught a bunch of crappie with that combo. Some that were the size of the bait too. Also when the wind is terrible I will throw on a 1/4 when fishing brush piles. Much better bait control
:hesaidQuote:
Originally Posted by Bals gib
Interesting. I’m amazed at the size of the fish that take on what for them must be huge baits.
I have caught more crappie than you would think on 4" Keitechs, not very big ones either. Usually post spawn casting on points and stuff.
I haven't seen any correlation between fish size and bait size. I catch plenty of dinks on 2" BGBS, and quite a few slabs on 1" itty bitty slab slayers.
No doubt a bigger bait will surely catch them, but I don't see the advantages over a smaller bait in my situation.
Either for me, feed them what want that day.
I have a client that came over 5 times last year to fish with me. He fishes with a 3" Gulp minnow all day every day. He does really well. His goal is a fish 15" or better to mount. So far he's caught lots of 13's and 14's.
SSR05 FatRap , 3/8oz, 4' of water, April 2018, 15" crappie.Attachment 395717
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I’ve caught crappie on the old original Hellbender crankbait or plug as they were called in their day. That bait has to be 6 inches plus! A big crankbait like mentioned earlier isn’t for numbers of fish, it’s for big fish.
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I have caught Slabs with Shad so big the tails were sticking out of Crappies throat . Seen Crappie with Yellow Bass and Bluegill stuck in mouth floating . Caught them on huge 3/8 oz spinnerbaits with double #5 willowleaf blades while Bass fishing . I never use small baits . My main bait is a 2'' tube and 1/8 jig head . Sometimes use 2.5'' tube and 1/4 oz jigheads . Crappie will feed on big stuff . People are changing their attitudes thinking that you need tiny presentations . This is a 2'' bait and a Sunfish from one's stomach .
Attachment 395802
I use long Crappie rods ( Todd Huckabee 13' Phantom )with a baitcasting reel . Flip big baits on them with livescope or verticle jig brushpilres with bigger baits .Quote:
Originally Posted by Slab Slayen
Attachment 395803
the recent big money crappie event was won with 1/16 handties and that fella continues to put 3 lb. plus fish in his boat daily using the same little jig on lake fork as well .....
I saw the jig in person when we met up one day and it is 1.5 inches long and plain jane as it gets ,,,,,,food for thought :highfive
I use Keitech 3"-4.8" swimbaits with 1/8 jigheads for Crappie year-round, and in every lake I go in the North to South....it's more about techniques and what you can make the lures do...I only use 1/4 oz in wind or deep water over 40'.
I catch fish everywhere...I also think Crappie hitting a big meal, will hit harder and fight better! They also don't have time to look the bait over, it's a quick decision if you're swimming it. They swallow big swimbaits, so the hookup is definite.
Until the shad spawn in May the threadfin shad run a bigger size than most anytime of the year. When the shad spawn I catch crappie sometimes with live shad under a cork fishing for catfish. I use shad up to four inches long.
I’ve used bigger baits, 3 and 3 1/2”, on 1/4oz brushguard jigs and slammed em. Brought guests and they did the same, up to 60 in 3 hours one day. Slab slayers and swim baits both do a fine job. That was in 55 fow.
Nowadays I’m throwing a 1/43 with a 1 1/4” Itty Bitty slab slayer and still catching big fish on 2lb test. Jigs from 1/80 up are doing the deal for me.
No real point other than to fish what you like to fish. Techniques will be some different but once you refine yours, the fish will come.
Few summers back was casting and dragging an 1/8 oz weedless head with a 2.5” carrot tipped with a 3” minner and hammered them. I’m usually using an 1/8 - 1/4 oz head when dipping. Last couple trips out been using 1/16 oz with a 1/4 oz weight above it. Plastics anywhere from 2-3”. Starting to use more of my hand ties lately too.
The largest black crappie I've ever caught"over 4 lbs" was on a 12" black plastic worm.
Big or small. It’s all whatever the fish want...
You have a pic? Always love seeing big crappie pictures!Quote:
Originally Posted by FIN
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