Why are Crappie so difficult for so many to catch

Not sure about other parts of the country, but in south Louisiana crappie, aka sac a lait, are consistently caught by only a select few. This seems to hold true through the years. I’m 71yo, but in my 20’s I saw the same thing.

example - 7 boats in a small dead end location canal and only one guy in a single boat is consistently catching fish. The successful angler is generous to share his knowledge, baits, and tactics. Still the others are not catching. That was ~50 years ago.

Yesterday - Fishing near an expert, both of us using livescope. He catches 54, I didn’t catch a single crappie. We spend some time fishing near one another, while he gives me pointers. In spite of his help. No fish.

If this was a rare situation, it would be understandable. But the expert consistently catches large number of fish while the great majority of other avid sac a lait fisherman catch hardly any. By the way, I had the expert on my boat last week and he setup my Garmin and caught 20 fish on a “bad” day.

I’ve spent a large portion of my 71 years catching a lot more than most, except crappie. What makes them so persnickety and elusive to most fishermen? My brother and I have targeted crappie for the last 18 months, fishing nearly once a week. We like the fact that they are a challenge, but never dreamed they would be this hard to catch.

Have others experienced this same phenomena?

Danny

I don't have any answers. But I am interested in hearing what is said

Sometimes no explanation.

Me and a buddy were fishing docs in the winter and he was kicking my.......at the end I had the exact same set up, jig, type, color, weight, same depth and I would put my rod as close to his as possible basically line touching and he was still catching fish but not me. :dono

I choose to target sac a lait because I wanted a challenge, BUT this has become way more than I bargained for. LOL

Thank, God. I am persistent by nature. I’ll need every bit of that persistence to succeed. I told the expert yesterday, I’ll dial this on IF I live long enough. At 71yo I’d better hustle up… LOL

I might have the answer. There is an old trick that has something to do with keeping your worms warm. :dono :Rofl

I have noticed the same thing through the years. For instance, my brother in law and I fished together in the same boat. Me in front and him in the back. We were anchored to the same submerged tree. After I caught around 30 to his 0 we switched places in the boat. When I had caught 20 more he quit fishing due to still having 0. I have had other similar events with other fishing partners. I tend to lean towards this. Each angler's natural odor can be offensive or neutral to fish. That being said... scent masking products such as Slab Sauce and others should offer a remedy for that, so my theory is flawed. :twocents

I think sometimes it's just sure luck while other times it can something very subtle. Back in the early 70's me and my brother were fishing for crappie off a boat dock. We both were using some small floating poppers with split shot to get them down. He was catching a fish every 2 minutes while I could not get a single bite. The only difference in our baits was his has rubber legs and mines did not. I ran into the bait shop and found on with rubber legs and only then did I start catching fish. That's been 45 years ago and I can still remember it as if it was yesterday.

If everything is the same it could just be the angler and how they present the bait. Some give more action to baits than others. It doesn’t take much to make a jig really move. Also, confidence I think pays a part of it as well. And always use scent!

As my dear old grandpa use to say, "you gotta hold your mouth right" LOL But seriously I think sometimes people get use to have a strong hit and don't notice the light hit of a crappie. Also, some folk make it look easy while folk like me are just happy to catch a few. The challenge of finding them and getting them into the boat is what keeps me chasing them. Not everyone can be a Ketchn!:dono. I have improved a bit but I don't limit out. I am a single pole guy and don't do live scope. I just love the challenge. :fish

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Originally Posted by DeadlyDan

Not sure about other parts of the country, but in south Louisiana crappie, aka sac a lait, are consistently caught by only a select few. This seems to hold true through the years. I’m 71yo, but in my 20’s I saw the same thing.

example - 7 boats in a small dead end location canal and only one guy in a single boat is consistently catching fish. The successful angler is generous to share his knowledge, baits, and tactics. Still the others are not catching. That was ~50 years ago.

Yesterday - Fishing near an expert, both of us using livescope. He catches 54, I didn’t catch a single crappie. We spend some time fishing near one another, while he gives me pointers. In spite of his help. No fish.

If this was a rare situation, it would be understandable. But the expert consistently catches large number of fish while the great majority of other avid sac a lait fisherman catch hardly any. By the way, I had the expert on my boat last week and he setup my Garmin and caught 20 fish on a “bad” day.

I’ve spent a large portion of my 71 years catching a lot more than most, except crappie. What makes them so persnickety and elusive to most fishermen? My brother and I have targeted crappie for the last 18 months, fishing nearly once a week. We like the fact that they are a challenge, but never dreamed they would be this hard to catch.

Have others experienced this same phenomena?

Danny

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@Deadly Dan I don't know if you felt me hugging you after you made this post through the air or not! FANTASTIC POST!:highfive Quite frankly the world needs more of this.:cheers2 I've been in this similar situation but we will discuss this later because this is about YOU & YOUR POST!. Even though your personal situation has differences I will tell you what was done & discovered the 2 times it's happened with me.
*1. They were putting an action on the bait not attractive to the Crappie
(Solution: Too Much Bait Movement. You need to think of moving like a bait fish or bait. )
*2. They were not at the depth the Crappie found interest in
(Solution: They wanted to fish at the same depth of the fish. Crappie have eyes above their heads & feed Up or Down mainly vs horizontal at the same level)
*3. They didn't know how to detect the bite
(Solution: They were straight getting bit on the drop & didn't know the fish already had it in it's mouth swimming UP or it bit & didn't run with it. All can be seen on LivesScope that you said you have to stop DAT!.)
*4. They were fishing for the "WRONG SPECIES OF FISH"
(Solution: They had to stop fishing for Dots & learn what the Dot's Were. Sand Bass & Bass normally are higher up in the water column and they swim sporadic & around trees. Get that bait too close & they are "GONE WITH THE WIND". Crappie are Prey & Predator they like ambushing their prey. TEASE THEM ACT LIKE A "STIPPER OR IS IT STRIPER" I GET CONFUSED CAUSE 1 IS A FISH. :biggrin
*5. They were truly unware/in tune with Rod Tip action & how much action gets transmitted through small tip movements
(Solution: When I brought the bait up and said look at the bait when you move they couldn't keep up with their bait nor did they know how to hold the rod for it to transmit the most sensitivity. Yes there is a way to hold a rod. :biggrin )
*6. They were clueless of how far they were fishing down in regards to where their bait was when they picked up or reeled in their line.
(Solution: They didn't realize most rods are near or at 1 full turn of the handle being 2 foot. What to see & know the guys that know what they are doing? They know where that bait is in relation to where they are fishing AT ALL TIMES!. Question? Ever seen a kid or excited person catch a fish & they reel their line all the way to the top of the rod? Even seasoned people do it at times but for them it's a lapse at the moment. A good fisherman using a 13ft rod that is fishing 15ft down knows that 2 turns has them where all they have to do is lift the rod up because their line is less than the length of their rod out the water. Real Ole school fishermen won't even reel their line in when they catch a Crappie they pull the line with their hands so they go right back to the exact same depth that they caught the last fish)
*7. Sorry "Mr.Dan" has it right, "They weren't holding their lip right". nonono :Rofl
(Solution: I finally had that explained to me as a kid but never could get an answer ON THE WATER! :Rofl I pleaded for an answer OFF THE WATER & got it. My Grandpa meant that when you are thinking Like the fish your lips are like you are cunning, tricking, & in control. When you were too anxious, not in tune, or green you facial expressions transmit how you are feeling & more than likely your LiveBait or Artificial fishing is going to be trash.) THINK LIKE THE FISH! If you saw a hamburger on the ground would you eat it? Nope. If you saw a hamburger right beside your bed that was hot sitting on the night stand as you woke smelling & looking good in your reach you more than likely would think your someone you love left it for ya.


Just saying.. There is a reason & if you have LiveScope there Needs to be NO REASON YOU AREN'T WEARING OUT CRAPPIE EXCEPT IF YOUR FISHERY ISN'T A GOOD CRAPPIE FISHERY. :cheers2 GO GETTUM DEADLY DAN!!!!!!! POSEIDON SPEED!! :pray:fish

Great writeup, Terry. I will re-read this more and plan to apply it on the water. The intricacies of crappie fishing draws me to it. If I ever become proficient with these rascals, I always remember the time and effort it took to learn. I like a challenge, so considering that, I’ll consider myself in Hog Heaven… LOL

This tip is one I will work on in a major way -
They were putting an action on the bait not attractive to the Crappie
(Solution: Too Much Bait Movement. You need to think of moving like a bait fish or bait. ) It’s not easy to do nothing.

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Originally Posted by DockShootinJack

I don't have any answers. But I am interested in hearing what is said

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I have the answer, Presentation, Presentation, Presentation, my Bud is preparing the video as I write this. You just can't explain it, you have to see it. I take guys close to me and teach them how. Some say it doesn't matter I say the same guy catches 1/2 what I do. Another thing is Focus - when I'm single poling I enter a Zen, no what did the wife say earlier, I think the engine in the Fishin' Expedition needs spark plugs, not even did the bills get paid this month. I'm single minded listening to what my jig pole is telling my fingers! If you're looking at a screen to catch a fish I beat you all day in numbers - total weight in the box. I went out and shot video to support the last CrappieNow article out this month but my cheap Windows Computer starts crying, skipping, green screening, trying to edit for those wanting to learn. I had to have someone else make it for me but it's on the way. I'm at the stage in life if I can help I will but I run into resistance all the time by those who can't catch half of what I boat in twice the time. The distances between all of us makes doing a clinic difficult at best. Presentation of a jig properly is really a one on one education. Let me say this then I'm off, for those willing to pay more attention to your jig pole than your screen there is hope, for those who have bought a screen expecting it to put fish on your hook - you have put the cart before the horse. Please forgive my rant.

Livescope will quickly teach you how crappie react to baits from day to day. Sometimes they do not want any movement at all. Sometimes they only want it moving. It's pretty interesting to see them react to a bait in real time.

Some people have no patience grasshoppah


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com

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Originally Posted by rojoguio

I have the answer, Presentation, Presentation, Presentation, my Bud is preparing the video as I write this. You just can't explain it, you have to see it. I take guys close to me and teach them how. Some say it doesn't matter I say the same guy catches 1/2 what I do. Another thing is Focus - when I'm single poling I enter a Zen, no what did the wife say earlier, I think the engine in the Fishin' Expedition needs spark plugs, not even did the bills get paid this month. I'm single minded listening to what my jig pole is telling my fingers! If you're looking at a screen to catch a fish I beat you all day in numbers - total weight in the box. I went out and shot video to support the last CrappieNow article out this month but my cheap Windows Computer starts crying, skipping, green screening, trying to edit for those wanting to learn. I had to have someone else make it for me but it's on the way. I'm at the stage in life if I can help I will but I run into resistance all the time by those who can't catch half of what I boat in twice the time. The distances between all of us makes doing a clinic difficult at best. Presentation of a jig properly is really a one on one education. Let me say this then I'm off, for those willing to pay more attention to your jig pole than your screen there is hope, for those who have bought a screen expecting it to put fish on your hook - you have put the cart before the horse. Please forgive my rant.

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@Rojoguio "YOU ARE HOLDING YOUR LIP RIGHT!" P E R I O D T !!!!!! :Rofl:cheers2
Attachment 474254

First off, screw the electronics. Second, for me at least, it’s all about the speed your jig falls. 1/32, 1/16,3/32, 1/8 is all I use. I like 2” plastics the most typically on a moon jig. But, I get my crappie on the drop just as I do most bass, etc. Keep your line tight obviously but do whatever you have to do to keep that line tight while it falls through the column. The way my hand trained itself I guess is I flick my handle (instead of constantly reeling) to turn about w full rotation every couple seconds that way I can feel more as I’m not doing two things at once. I love crappie fishing for the same reason you do, the challenge. I let them go 99% of the time even. But for me the most consistent way to catch ‘em is on the drop. If 1/8th ain’t working, try 3/32 and so on. I won’t use the electronics because that’s not fishing to me but to each their own. Probably easier to see your jig falling on the screen I’m assuming. But have your line tight the second it hits the water. That’s just my body of water anyways, im sure it varies big time from place to place. Most importantly, enjoy it! Good luck

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Originally Posted by DeadlyDan

Not sure about other parts of the country, but in south Louisiana crappie, aka sac a lait, are consistently caught by only a select few. This seems to hold true through the years. I’m 71yo, but in my 20’s I saw the same thing.

example - 7 boats in a small dead end location canal and only one guy in a single boat is consistently catching fish. The successful angler is generous to share his knowledge, baits, and tactics. Still the others are not catching. That was ~50 years ago.

Yesterday - Fishing near an expert, both of us using livescope. He catches 54, I didn’t catch a single crappie. We spend some time fishing near one another, while he gives me pointers. In spite of his help. No fish.

If this was a rare situation, it would be understandable. But the expert consistently catches large number of fish while the great majority of other avid sac a lait fisherman catch hardly any. By the way, I had the expert on my boat last week and he setup my Garmin and caught 20 fish on a “bad” day.

I’ve spent a large portion of my 71 years catching a lot more than most, except crappie. What makes them so persnickety and elusive to most fishermen? My brother and I have targeted crappie for the last 18 months, fishing nearly once a week. We like the fact that they are a challenge, but never dreamed they would be this hard to catch.

Have others experienced this same phenomena?

Danny

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it is such that many folks just don't get how crappie behave and sometimes can't break the same old patterns that do not produce fish .
been out with struggling crappie chasers a few times myself and emulating EXACTLY what the fella that is ketchn is doing is critical in some scenarios .
of course there are time anyone can ketch them ,but many times it is such that you need to certain things just so so or its a no go .
fish SLOWER , keep your bait above them AND for sure go tiny with the offering if they won't cooperate . AND >>>
sometimes they just do not want to be ketched as well ....just saying

Back in the late 40's Dad use to tell me I wasn't holding my mouth right. Never did learn the right way I guess.

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Originally Posted by CrappieNight

First off, screw the electronics. Second, for me at least, it’s all about the speed your jig falls. 1/32, 1/16,3/32, 1/8 is all I use. I like 2” plastics the most typically on a moon jig. But, I get my crappie on the drop just as I do most bass, etc. Keep your line tight obviously but do whatever you have to do to keep that line tight while it falls through the column. The way my hand trained itself I guess is I flick my handle (instead of constantly reeling) to turn about w full rotation every couple seconds that way I can feel more as I’m not doing two things at once. I love crappie fishing for the same reason you do, the challenge. Hell I let them go 99% of the time even. But for me the most consistent way to catch ‘em is on the drop. If 1/8th ain’t working, try 3/32 and so on. I won’t use the electronics because that’s not fishing to me but to each their own. Probably easier to see your jig falling on the screen I’m assuming. But have your line tight the second it hits the water. That’s just my body of water anyways, im sure it varies big time from place to place. Most importantly, enjoy it! Good luck

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The daily desired sink rate is one of the dial-in's I do automatically, I'm glad you posted this because with your presentation on the fall the crappie's desired speed varies daily. Deep winter fishing I run a #4 BPS Clamshot above a 1/32 jighead with a 1.5in plastic because the bigger fish do not like the sink or Fall rate when the water is very cold. The Clamshot is needed to get the bait down to the 20ft level. I rig it 5-6ft above the jig so it has no effect of the jig's fall rate. This downsizing was pulled out of one of Ketchn's ramblings that I didn't do before that doubled my winter "Super-Sized" Slab catch rate. I had the presentation down but not the size & weight jig to use. As suggested above downsizing on finicky Slabs has continued to be Sage grade advice.

I went on a head boat to catch large bluefish. 15 people or so. Everyone was catching twenty pound bluefish, one right after another, all except me. I watched and did everything the exact same. People on either side would hook up, but I could not get a nibble. When the melee ended, everyone had five or six fish. I had not one. Only one on the boat that didn’t have fish, including the girls. Then later we setup in a different location and man was it slow. Nobody was catching anything. Nobody except me. I was hooked up one right after another. I caught five while everyone else crowded me, tried to match me, but nobody else got a bite. Just me.

So fishing can be weird. Sometimes while trolling I will catch fish on just one side of the boat. I suspect we have all seen weird stuff. It doesn’t mean all that much, but it can be difficult to watch others catching while you do without. Your mind gets to racing and soon enough you have clobbered the dude in the back of the head with a shovel and over the side he goes. Maybe not, but I have gotten pretty mad before. That is why I prefer to avoid them pros, and stick with imbeciles when it comes to fishing. Sort of like when a so so looking girl hangs out with an ugly girl to look a little better. It’s OK to come home after just one tiny little fish all day, so long as the other guys stinks of skunk.

In your situation, I am guessing you didn’t move the lure in the same manner, or you imparted an odor that was different than his. I also imagine you didn’t have a shovel on board or you would be real quiet about now.

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Originally Posted by Barnacle Bill

Back in the late 40's Dad use to tell me I wasn't holding my mouth right. Never did learn the right way I guess.

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As I said earlier I was told the same thing. I think it was my grandpas way of saying Be quiet and shut up. :Rofl

Sometimes it is a thing of where the crappie are hanging out and it can be just a few feet. I remember being on KY lake a long time ago and many ,many boats in one area. No one catching much, then one boat started catching some , then more and more, they threw out an anchor and put on a show. None of the other boats did much. I decided that I would be back and check out this exact spot. Next trip I was able to troll around the area found out it was a small rocky hump area. The fish were moving into it to spawn. Water around it went from 15-20 ft up to 4 ft on this hump. I fished it many times after that. Brush piles were scattered around the edges at deeper depths. Everybody on that one morning except that one boat was not at the correct depth and spot. It is a very small area.

Saw it one summer in a lake fishing for bluegill after the bedding and spawn. A buddy and I found a little spot that they were stacked in for some reason. About the size of a car hood, thus we named it and took many fish off it the rest of the summer. It had one little branch sticking up from the bottom in about 6 ft of water. If you were not in the little spot , you were out of luck.

As some have had said , it can be weird sometimes. I have seen it trout fishing sometimes. Both fishermen throwing the same bait or lures and one wearing the other out. I usually suspected that was a case of different reel speeds. Just a slight difference made the difference to the fish. It seems that sometimes it is only a very subtle difference.

Well , I am no expert. I was fishing with a buddy a few years back . I was catching them pretty good , he was not catching any.
I started watching his rod tip. He was getting bit with no reaction. I asked to see his bait. He held the jig in front of me , and
I told him to look away. I gently thumped his jig. I asked, " did you feel that ? " he replied " Yes" I asked if he had felt anything
like that while fishing, He replied " yes" I told him to set the hook when he did. He started catching fish, He said " I thought they would
hit harder"
Some folks just don't get it.

Mo

Here's my take on this. It's about knowing when a crappie bites. A good majority of the time you don't feel a crappie bite. I recently took two trips with a guide on lake Fork. To learn the lake an learn live scope. What I found out that I was consistently lacking was knowing when the crappie bit. Basically they guide would say "hit him"...I'd set the hook and have a fish. I never felt it bite. So I started paying attention to what he was looking at on the screen when he knew it was a bite. By the end of the second trip I was getting much better at getting the fish before he told me to set the hook.

Another anecdote. I fish A LOT more than a buddy of mine. When he comes to fish with me I always out fish him. We're using the same setup with the same bait in the same spot. The difference, I recognize the subtle movement of the bobber (we mostly fish the spawn together) that signals a light bite when he doesn't. Obviously if the bobber goes under he gets the fish. But crappie sometimes inhale a minnow and then just sit there. It's that subtle tick, or just the way the bobber sits a little "weird" that I recognize and he doesn't. All because i get more practice.

Anyway, that's my take on why some fisherman out fish others even in the same circumstances. And why those "experts" are catching when others aren't.

Here is the presentation video I mentioned earlier. For those who don't know what I'm talking about it is how you enter the water with your jig, how you lower it down, and how to tease a Crappie to bite. I hope you find it helpful. For those who already know how to fish it would be interesting to see if you like it or not. I'm also posting along with last months CrappieNow article we did to support that article.

Above the Fray - YouTube

https://youtu.be/ynGakHkdyns?si=3sh5P-pAT4pcB5IO

a fella some know here and I used to talk when we ketched fish , we often had conversations about the amount of bites folks get and never knew it was bite .
there is something we called the crappie touch , it isn't really about your tackle and or line or rod , it is about that subtle bite and the differences between it and the cover they are near .
many times I thought it was brush or cover and tried to "ease" my jig away from the brush only to have a stubborn crappie pull back as I tried to not get hung up on said cover. crappie can flat out have a bait in their mouth and you will never know it . many times over LS we would say he/she is looking at it as a fish got up really close to the jig .....THEN KABOOM I set the hook and up came said just looking at it fish .
my sixth sense or "crappie touch" knew without watching that fish wasn't just looking .....

Good video. Thanks for posting.

Very well said Ketchn. It is very hard to describe what you just wrote. Best I have been able to say is "My Arm is Setting the Hook before my Conscious knows I got a bite". This along with a good Presentation is extremely hard to teach. I have noticed since Live Sonar came out those focused on a screen over their jig pole tip and blank seem the hardest to teach this. I feel it is the visual distraction causing the less than stellar performance Crappie fishing. Just my :twocents

Ketchen makes a good point the more you fish the more tuned in you get to your tackle. Perfect example is when I haven`t fished Walleyes for a while. Pitching a 3/16 ounce jig in current, cover and depth it takes me a few hours to get the feel back of what and where my jig actually is. Feeling the difference is it ticking bottom as it`s drifting is that a rock, piece of wood sand gravel, clam shells or a fish bite. When I Crappie, Walleye fish I am a huge line watcher looking for that slight tick of the line or just gong slack.

Try some slab sauce could make all the difference. Available on crappie.com store


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

I've been the guy catching 'em and I've been the guy not catching them. Usually, if anyone around me is catching, I do OK. My problem is finding them outside spring time. I fish a real big lake and struggle to find them for half the year.

Ok, I had to dive in here. Amen & amen to rojoguio he speaks the truth . Our electrics is only a tool. I recall as a young kid, dragging a treble hook to find brush or a stump, then taking a stick line and sinker to mark it with and there it was before electronics or I could afford them. Catching crappie or white perch as I use to call them.
Our presentation is a art, Rojoguio is 100% right. If what you’re doing ain’t working you need to change as the fish do. I like him, most days I out catch whoever is with me. Some people fish to fast others could be said fish to slow which I have a hard time believing. Some people jig while others mimic bait. You have to learn to have the patience of Job in the Bible.
Also watch how the bait that a crappie eats acts. What bait they are feeding on that particular day. I am only 63 but I was the outdoors man of three boys. Neither of my brothers can catch fish worth a flip. But one of my brothers will tell you, the way I fish to him feels like work. It as Rojoguio said and true for me my focus is like this, me and the pole, line and jig is one. If I know the fish is there and he’s hungry enough to taste it “he’s mine”! Back when I use to bream fish and always catch my limit when one of my friends would go with me and their wife would be back home with my wife after a few hours or so they would ask my wife when to expect us back home. She would tell them I don’t fish with him, as long as he has a cricket leg in that basket he ain’t coming home. So you gotta love it.
Wish I could help you, but don’t give up once you figure it out, it’s very rewarding. Nothing is happening in the world when I am fishing!


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I had a teaching session last week with a total novice, retired neighbor and my son who fishes but not as successful as I am. So it was crappie 101 time. I see a lot of folks struggling on the docks and banks and will offer them some advice. I have fished for them for long time and usually ketch quite a few more than my buddy who owned the boat we would fish for them on. sometimes we would park over brush at the back end of folks docks and he would literally be right next to mine with similar jig and I would ketch one after another while he would only ketch a few. so I showed them how to stay in contact with your jig as it goes down so you feel instantly when a fish takes it or once you reach your level to hold it for few seconds and then slightly tic your line to give it action. Then if no bite you slowly raise your rod up and that often triggers the bite. My neighbor and my son had AHA moments after a bit and seeing me reel in fish after fish and the both "GOT IT" and they joined in the fun. Biggest thing is don't overthink it, it's really not that hard and always when in doubt set the hook!

But once we bought our cabin and started trying the local lakes we really struggled fishing off the rip rap as most of the locals did who were very successful ketchn. Finally I got tired of that and started talking to all of them and watching what they were doing. mostly they were bobber and 12 foot pole guys who knew where the brush was and they would slowly bring their baits right over them and tick the brush and that's when they would ketchm. One time I would try a pier and had a guy right next to me fishing with bobbers same depth and baits and he was ketchn one after other and I wasn't. then he moved to a dock and continued ketchn and I determined to go meet him and find out. I introduced myself and asked him why he was getting bit and I wasn't, he laughed and said oh you were getting lots of bites but crappie bit UP and your bobber was coming up and you didn't notice but he did. He was correct as most of us expect the bobber to go down or bounce. He and I became great friends and he has laid a LOT of knowledge on me and is my mentor and is like ketchn down in texas in the numbers and size he ketch's.

Now I have figured it out while fishing with him. mostly it's about touch and using hi vis line so that you see any tick at all and you simply raise your wrist and you will greatly increase your ketch. As he says hooksets are free and you don't have to dramatically raise your rod to do so and if it wasn't a fish it simply moves your jig up and down and often that triggers a strike.

Easiest method of ketchn tho is simply dragging your jig thru the water if your on top of brush or reeling it in slowly either tight line or under bobber. Crappie and other fish will then set the hook themselves and takes all the guesswork and feel out of equation.

Biggest thing is GO FISHING CAUSE IT"S GOOD FOR YA! A great man says all the time. Plus if you see someone ketchn while your not go over and stick your hand out and introduce yourself. Most good fisherfolk I know are generous with their knowledge and will give you tips that will help you. my biggest advantage is all the folks I know at my home lakes and I call them before going and get the latest intel.

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Originally Posted by rojoguio

I have the answer, Presentation, Presentation, Presentation, my Bud is preparing the video as I write this. You just can't explain it, you have to see it. I take guys close to me and teach them how. Some say it doesn't matter I say the same guy catches 1/2 what I do. Another thing is Focus - when I'm single poling I enter a Zen, no what did the wife say earlier, I think the engine in the Fishin' Expedition needs spark plugs, not even did the bills get paid this month. I'm single minded listening to what my jig pole is telling my fingers! If you're looking at a screen to catch a fish I beat you all day in numbers - total weight in the box. I went out and shot video to support the last CrappieNow article out this month but my cheap Windows Computer starts crying, skipping, green screening, trying to edit for those wanting to learn. I had to have someone else make it for me but it's on the way. I'm at the stage in life if I can help I will but I run into resistance all the time by those who can't catch half of what I boat in twice the time. The distances between all of us makes doing a clinic difficult at best. Presentation of a jig properly is really a one on one education. Let me say this then I'm off, for those willing to pay more attention to your jig pole than your screen there is hope, for those who have bought a screen expecting it to put fish on your hook - you have put the cart before the horse. Please forgive my rant.

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Rojoguio, saw the video. It was amazing…
Never thought crappie would that high to get a bait. Hope the tactic works for me!

Deadly Dan, I don't believe the fish were really that high up in the water column, but were teased to come up to the bait away from the school so as not to disturb the school as one would dropping the bait into the school and pulling fish away from it. Great technique rojoguio, and esplaining how it works. Proof is in the box, not counting all the throw backs...I for one thank you Sir.

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Originally Posted by DeadlyDan

Rojoguio, saw the video. It was amazing…
Never thought crappie would that high to get a bait. Hope the tactic works for me!

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I'm fishing in driving distance for you in that video but I don't want you to expect it works every time but it works. Today I had to see 8.5ft on the Plotter and have the jig 6 inches off the bottom. I tried to tease but I was fishing 2-3yr old Laydowns with all those little limbs. You went to depth and didn't move till your hook was in a fishes mouth. Still have several wrap, had to work them out of the limbs.

Talking to my daughter this weekend dhe wanted to know why I catch and she dose not. I told her practice and patience. I am just niw getting the hang of the light crappie bites. Like Ketchn says you need to be in tune with your equipment and understand the finicky creatures. I figure in a few years I may be better at it. [emoji41]


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Originally Posted by Mstr Dan

Talking to my daughter this weekend dhe wanted to know why I catch and she dose not. I told her practice and patience. I am just niw getting the hang of the light crappie bites. Like Ketchn says you need to be in tune with your equipment and understand the finicky creatures. I figure in a few years I may be better at it. [emoji41]

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I hoped my video would show how lite some of the bites were. Holding my line in the off hand helps me feel a change in the weight of the jig. That is the secret. Feeling the weight change through the Blank alone can be difficult but holding the line in the off hand, resting the line in the fingertips greatly increases our ability to sense the change. Just my :twocents

Good tip Rojo.

I also like holding the line in the hand opposite the rod, I find that lifting the bait with my hand gets more bits than with the rod. I think it moves upward more slowly and smoothly. I also like to “tick” the jig with my line hand. BUT, I really wished I had 3 hands, with one hand dedicated to the LS pole. LOL

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Originally Posted by Rojo

Here is the presentation video I mentioned earlier. For those who don't know what I'm talking about it is how you enter the water with your jig, how you lower it down, and how to tease a Crappie to bite. I hope you find it helpful. For those who already know how to fish it would be interesting to see if you like it or not. I'm also posting along with last months CrappieNow article we did to support that article.

Above the Fray - YouTube

https://youtu.be/ynGakHkdyns?si=3sh5P-pAT4pcB5IO

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Thank you for posting this! I tried this Friday but still got to get used to it! It was a rough day and Lowe175 agreed it probably would be (after a front) I’m starting to feel while feeling but not the vertical jig (while still) or on the drop


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