I’m no pro…..

But I would like to share a few techniques that I use that help me at times. Crappie are a challenge which I love because at those special times they become somewhat less than a challenge.
I use 11 foot rods most of the time.
In SOLA I use 6 lb low vis line.
I fish laydowns and stumps broken off but exposed at the water line as this stump will draw baitfish feeding on the algae.
With laydowns and stumps I hold the line in my left hand pretty much all the time for control and sensitivity. Here’s some other things that I love to do to develop some sort of pattern. Again this is things that I have had success with more than other things that I’ve tried.

When I’m alone I just love to undress a lay down trying to create a pattern. I tight line mostly with my left hand holding the line. I do this because I can manipulate the jig various ways VERY SLOWLY! In thick cover I have to do this. Next: patience and quiet this goes without saying. Next: confidence in what’s on the end of the line. I go light (1/32 oz) with a slightly bigger hook on the jig. Next: pay attention to the angle of the dangle, depth, shade creation underwater (this helps me a great deal) and most of all see these conditions when you get a strike. That is the pattern for me so I give these situations a longer look.
Another thing that I do is to imagine where things are that I can’t see in a lay down. I normally approach from the top ends that I can’t normally see but I give this area a good look. I have no live scope so I am guessing at this point. I have guessed right many times as the Sacs love that type of structure at times. It looks like open water but I figure where the top ends are and start in. Another bonus is that the limb angles are generally toward me which reduces hangups.
It’s a labor of love and I’m as patient as they come. I just stick and move and try to build a pattern and repeat it. LOVE IT!!

Thank you for the insight on this method. Will be tryin' it for sure...

Thanks for sharing

Sounds like a very good plan. The main thing you said is slowly and patience. That helps you entice and catch many as well as not stay hung up in structure. Good job.

You methodology makes complete sense. I will keep your technique in mind and see if I can put it to use.

been doing the same type of non pro crappie ketchn a long time and to be sure it will load the boat once you get dialed up , nice read

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SLIP-CORK

When I’m alone I just love to undress a lay down

---

I might give it a shot but will it work if I keep my clothes on? :Rofl

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by keeferfish

I might give it a shot but will it work if I keep my clothes on? :Rofl

---

:Rofl I noticed but wasn't going to say anything on that.

Sounds good to me. But how do you keep from hanging up so much, when that jig drops down in the branches?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ranger690

Sounds good to me. But how do you keep from hanging up so much, when that jig drops down in the branches?

---

Thanks for asking. [emoji106]


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

The original method of stalking and sniping. Thats reason we do this in the fall/winter so we dont sunburn sensitive areas. Bahahaha. Thanks for taking the time. Pretty sure i felt the kaboom in that.

Sent from my SM-N970U using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ranger690

Sounds good to me. But how do you keep from hanging up so much, when that jig drops down in the branches?

---

Don't know about Slip-Cork, Dayton .... but I resorted to weedless jigheads to reduce hangups in those situations. :ThumbsUp

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ranger690

Sounds good to me. But how do you keep from hanging up so much, when that jig drops down in the branches?

---

I would say clothes help! :Rofl

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DockShootinJack

Thanks for sharing

---

It's almost like being in a AA meeting. We all share the good and the bad. Wonder when we get our token.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CrappiePappy

Don't know about Slip-Cork, Dayton .... but I resorted to weedless jigheads to reduce hangups in those situations. :ThumbsUp

---

I need to be reassured by a legend. Do you think you get less bites with it? Crazy question I know,because I’m sure you don’t,but for some reason I don’t have as much confidence when using one.


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Damion Kidd

I need to be reassured by a legend. Do you think you get less bites with it? Crazy question I know,because I’m sure you don’t,but for some reason I don’t have as much confidence when using one.


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

---

I haven't experienced any "less bites" because of the weedguard. The bites have always been just as much a thump as I've experienced on open hook jigs. And I still use them when casting a single jig to wood cover. Basically, the only difference between using them vs an open hook jig is that you must do a "hookset" to insure getting the hook into the fish ... not just the simple raising of the rod, like some do when using pen hook jigs (or regular hooks).
Been using them for over 30yrs, in one weedguard form or another, for Smallmouth & Crappie ... and even though I don't simply cast a single jig all that often (now that I fish Livescope w/double jig rigs; open hook), I am planning on trying double weedless jig rigs w/LS in the near future. I've used a single weedless jig rig several times in the past when fishing w/LS ... but, that was using my backup rod in order to keep fishing until moving to another spot (after having lost my double jig rig to the brush at that spot). It worked just fine, so I'm gonna try it with the double jig rig to see if I can avoid so many hang ups & the wasted time having to re-rig.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Damion Kidd

I need to be reassured by a legend. Do you think you get less bites with it? Crazy question I know,because I’m sure you don’t,but for some reason I don’t have as much confidence when using one.


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

---

never EVER use weedless jigheads is me ,not sure if my status is legendary or not , but it just isn't me to use them .
a fat body with a number 6 exposes less hook point and works fine .
look at how a plastic worm is used and think of the fat body hiding the hook point to some degree ...
exposed big gap hooks are NOT a good thing in heavy cover

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ketchn

never EVER use weedless jigheads is me ,not sure if my status is legendary or not , but it just isn't me to use them .
a fat body with a number 6 exposes less hook point and works fine .
look at how a plastic worm is used and think of the fat body hiding the hook point to some degree ...
exposed big gap hooks are NOT a good thing in heavy cover

---

Of course you are. Lol. Don’t know why but I’m just not comfortable using them. But I do get tired of breaking off. I’ll try this. Thanks.


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CrappiePappy

I haven't experienced any "less bites" because of the weedguard. The bites have always been just as much a thump as I've experienced on open hook jigs. And I still use them when casting a single jig to wood cover. Basically, the only difference between using them vs an open hook jig is that you must do a "hookset" to insure getting the hook into the fish ... not just the simple raising of the rod, like some do when using pen hook jigs (or regular hooks).
Been using them for over 30yrs, in one weedguard form or another, for Smallmouth & Crappie ... and even though I don't simply cast a single jig all that often (now that I fish Livescope w/double jig rigs; open hook), I am planning on trying double weedless jig rigs w/LS in the near future. I've used a single weedless jig rig several times in the past when fishing w/LS ... but, that was using my backup rod in order to keep fishing until moving to another spot (after having lost my double jig rig to the brush at that spot). It worked just fine, so I'm gonna try it with the double jig rig to see if I can avoid so many hang ups & the wasted time having to re-rig.

---

Thank you sir. I also wondered about hooking issues. I’ll have to work on my hook set with them.


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ranger690

Sounds good to me. But how do you keep from hanging up so much, when that jig drops down in the branches?

---

I use a long pole most of the time. 12 & 14 ft.
I don’t worry about getting hung up. That’s where the fish are.
When I do I run the tip of the pole down to the jig and unhook it. ( no cork)
I can get unhooked about 95% of the time.


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com

First use a simple loop knot to have the jig hang more horizontal rather than vertical. You’re going to hang up but to minimize hangups I vertical slowly and when I detect a branch that I can’t see, I don’t get crazy but I gently nudge the jig without embedding the barb into a limb. It works at times but at times it doesn’t. I only drag without flipping much if I can’t see the structure. If I can see the layout I’ll flip further and gently swim it back. A split shot above the jig can be used to dislodge a jig by dropping the shot below where the jig is hung. If the jig isn’t embedded, this works at times. Good luck and keep it slow and quiet!!