Printable View
Hey guys!
As you all know I'm new to the sport of Crappie fishing and am looking for some quick fixes. I need some jigging techniques! I have some newly purchased jigs, with my newly purchased rod and reel and would like to hit some Crappie. I've netted 3 so far, one on a worm, two on a rapala swimming lure w/ two treble (spelling?) hooks.
I couldn't get anything to hit on the jigs I had..
Do you fish them cast and reel? Or let them sit?
Ah! So many questions!
The way most jigs are fished, especially fishing from the bank, are by suspending the jig under a bobber at the depth you want to fish it at. that way you can move it really slowly and keep it in the strike zone. CHAUNC and others here, SHIPAHOY41 included, are masters at this and I have learned a TON of info from these guys. It is pretty simple to do, set the bobber on the line at 2-3 feet above the jig and cast it out. move it slowly back toward the cover you are fishing and wait for the float to twitch or disappear completely. Not sure if this helps, but that is what I do and it works pretty good. Good luck and good catching to you.
Anything helps.
Colors used?
Just a jig...piece of worm on it?
Artificial anything?
Or just the weighted head and skirt?
that's how i do it, and a lot of guys will use a second jig 12-18" above the first one. this gives you more depth coverage cause crappies are known to be in different depths from day to day, and hour to hour, this helps you find them quicker. when only your bottom one is getting bites you know to lower your setup deeper, and vice versa. my preffered bobber is the thill tg waggler. it's long and skinny, and when you're reeling it at the right speed it is very sensitive; reel too fast and under it goes, forcing you to keep the right speed.
i also like beetle spins with curly tails or tubes. i bounce them on the bottom, or slowly retrieve, or if the situation is right you can reel it fast enough to make a bulge on top of the water without breaking the surface, that is fun, you can see your spinner shining and then BAM the crappie hits it. good luck, and have fun.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sailor Jerry
My first choice for crappie is always a 1/32 oz solid chartreuse marabou & chenille jig. Second choice would be solid white. I occasionally will go up to a 1/16 oz. I have tipped my jigs with Crappie Nibbles in the past, but generally don't. You can catch plenty of fish on plain jigs. If the fish are really shallow, a float (bobber) can help. I generally do not use a float with jigs, though.
Cast it out, and count it down: one thousand one, one thousand two, etc. Experiment with different depths. A steady, slow retrieve works best. Don't "jig" the bait. Just bring it back slowly. I've been killing the bluegill, crappie and bass lately doing this.
All these are good tips for you to start, my advice this time of year is to watch how the baitfish are moving in your body of water, try to mimic their movements and the crappie should reward you. A jig / float is not a bad way to go either. Dont be afraid to mix up wieghts and colors till you find the right ones. Good crappie to ya!
You might want to try cast/retrieve, especially if you can get the jig out far enough (now, while the Crappie are prone to being close to the bank).Quote:
Originally Posted by Sailor Jerry
I don't usually add anything to the jig, just a jighead and plastic body. Color is up to the individual, but most any color with a hint of Chartreuse is always a good bet. Tubes are pretty easy to use, come in most any color or color combination, and come in hollow or solid body form. I prefer the solid body, because it stays on the jighead better. I also prefer weedless jigheads, but that's mostly because I'm normally throwing my jigs around timber ;)
I cast out, then hold the rod tip up at the 10-11 o:clock position, and reel in only as fast as I need to keep the jig coming towards me. My line is not straight from the rod tip to the water ... it's sloping down, like a playground slide. I watch the line, and when I see the line make the slightest jump, I set the hook ... fast, more than hard. I also set the hook, when the line tightens and moves to one side or the other ... and anytime the line goes slack (and I'm sure my jig is not on the bottom). I "see" more hits than I ever feel, even with the most sensitive of UL's ... I'm using hi-vis lines, for that very purpose.
One trick I've learned, that helps keep from snagging the jig, when you pull it across a branch ... is NOT to jerk the jig, when you feel the jig coming in contact with the branch. Instead, I see that where the line enters the water, it's not coming towards me any longer ... that signals to me that I'm pulling the jig over something. I slow my retrieve, even more, until I feel the jig come in contact ... then I drop the rod tip towards the jig, about 6 inches, and lift the rod tip back towards me about 12 inches, all in one smooth motion. This usually allows the jig to hang down past the branch (on the 6 inch forward motion), then bump up and over the branch (on the 12 inch backward motion). Once it bumps over the branch, I continue my previous retrieve speed ... and EXPECT to get a hit :p (it's happened too many times to be a fluke ;) ) This will work with regular jigs, but is more effective with weedless ones. But, they too will get snagged on occasion .. just not as often.
Two other baits that are effective for cast & retrieve, are the Roadrunner & the Beetle Spin. Both are straight cast & retrieve lures, with retrieve speeds slightly faster than the swimming of the jig method I've previously described. In-line spinners, like a Rooster Tail, are also good cast/retrieve baits. My favorite of these, is the marabou Roadrunner ... and I trim the tail feathers down to half the length they come in the package. (that's halfway between the tip end of the feathers and the bend of the hook)
All any of them are doing, is imitating a "minnow" swimming thru the water. Crappie are stealth/ambush predators ... preferring to slip up under the minnow and engulf it, then turn it around (while it's in their mouth) so that it goes down their throat, head first. When fishing a jig in the cast/retrieve "swimming" method ... a jump in the line is caused by the fish sucking the jig in, and remaining stationary -- a sideways movement of the line is caused by the fish grabbing the jig, on the move, and turning back towards where they were -- a sudden slack line is caused by the fish grabbing the jig from behind/underneath, and continuing to come towards you.
... cp :cool:
Good Job Guys!!! Lot's of good info here and very good refresher tips.
Crappiepappy thank you for the great information on jig fishing. I try using jigs but never seem to catch anything on them. But next time I'm out I will be using your great tips!
Might I add that when fishing stained water the darker colors seems to produce the best...anything dark with green/chart. Brighter colors in clear water seems to do the better job...red/white, yellow/white, etc.
I agree with Steve about the second jig. It all makes so much sense, yet when I try it I get less hits than with a single jig. I think its best to start with one jig to me the 2nd has always decreased my catches. I suppose it would depend on your water if there is not that much brush to hang up on and if the water is muddy that would be different.Quote:
Originally Posted by grizzlysteve
There is an ice fishing article "critical jigging for more panfish" that is interesting.
Personally i like to pound my jig down close to the bottom usually. I i get it where i want it then do a really quick pounding motion with my rod tip by dropping it and bringing it back up, only moving maybe 2-3 inches then of course a pause.
Just a little tip for those that use marabou jigs. All jigs straight out of the package are fine for trolling but when you jig or shoot docks first put the jig in the water and look at the action, now rub the marabou between your fingers to break up the fibers. Now dip it back in the water and see how much more action you get from the tail. Jigs with any kind of good quality marabou will look like the marabou is breathing in the water. Works great under a bobber also. Give it a try and see if you see the difference.
__________________
Alot of good info. Here's something that helps me get some more bites. When the wind is not blowing too hard, I like scale back to a 1/64oz jig head and put on a tripple ripple grub on 2 or 4lb hi-vis line. The tripple ripple grub has good action even when retrieving at a very, very slow speed, which I do. Depth of water dictates when to start winding in. Sometimes I stop the retrieve to let the jig fall a little. Seems to work alot better than using a heavier jig winding faster. Sometimes I even drop back to a 1/80oz. It helps to anchor the boat where you can let the wind be behind you.
This is all very useful information. I've been struggling to fish with jigs due to lack of knowledge. I asked some guys at the sporting goods store about fishing under a bobber and they looked at me like I was retarded. Then I asked them about what size and they said anything smaller than 1/8th will catch too many gills etc... I try to ask about vertical jigging and got the answer "that is when you move the jig up and down in the water"...
Thank you so much for all this information is a huge help. The hardest things for me to understand are:
1.) How slow is a "slow" retrieve?
2.) When fishing under a slip bobber do you need to cast and retrieve constantly or do the waves make the fish hit the jig? Any specific techniques for fishing jigs under a bobber are useful!
3.) I have a mess of jigs and "panfish" lures. So far roadrunners are all I've really caught fish on (probably because I cast and retrieve the whole time). When I go to the store I have no idea what to buy... starting to think I need some kind of tackle guide for fishing crappie!
4.) When do you fish dark colors/light colors? So far I just put random colors on my jig until one works then I'm afraid to switch!
Thanks for all the help it is very much appreciated because I am on my own when it comes to crappie fishing.
Nice refresher guys. Actually their's a couple fo good books out there and if your local library has them all the better:
Babe Winkleman - Jigs and live bait fishing
Ken Oberecht - Anglers guide to jigs and jigging (for anyone who molds this book should be like a bible - it's older but the section on molding is right on the mark for new molders)
Fatman
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fatman
I have a copy -- excellent book.
Quote:
Originally Posted by tchilds
Sent you a PM.
You aren't on your own ... you've got all of us to help confuse you even more :pQuote:
Originally Posted by tchilds
But, seriously ... here's "my" answers to your questions - IMHO:
#1 - slow retrieve (casting - swimming a jig) -- takes me about 3-5 full seconds to turn the handle one complete turn. I'm basically just taking up slack line, in unison with the jig falling (swimming) back to me. Jig weight and depth I want jig to get to, determines whether it's 3 seconds or 5 seconds per turn.
#2 - I don't use slip floats for jigs, but when I do use a float (clip-on type), it's generally a slow & steady retrieve that's used. Stop and go retrieves also work. It generally depends on the mood of the fish, as to how fast/slow you need to retrieve ... and whether or not you need to "jiggle" the float, to impart extra action to the jig. Choppy water will impart all the action you want ... but, flat water conditions may require a little extra action, but not always ;)
#3 - you'd have to have a half dozen large tackleboxes to keep some of all the possible "baits" that are used to catch Crappie. Don't let the Tackle Monkey get the best of you :D ... he'll put you in the poorhouse, quick :p
If you have Roadrunners, some tube jigs, some marabou jigs, some hair jigs, and an assortment of jigheads (in weights of 1/32oz to 1/8oz) to put your plastic bodies on ... then you're sufficiently equiped to get started casting for Crappie. Most all types of "jigs" will catch Crappie ... so don't break the bank trying to accumulate a wide range of them. Where & how you present them is far more important than which one you choose to use.
#4 - nothing wrong with doing it your way ... experimenting with colors can have very positive effects. Personally, I choose to use mostly greens & blues with some chartreuse (usually the tail color is chartreuse) ... but have also done good on solid pink, solid chartreuse, solid white, and yellow/chartreuse. I don't fish crystal clear water lakes, but even on the stained water lakes I fish ... when the water is clear enough to see a jig a couple of feet down ... these colors still produce. Again, success is as much in "presentation" & "location" ... as it is in color or size.
While there's nothing wrong with fishing a solid color bait ... generally speaking, if it has contrasting colors (dark/light - dull/bright), it's going to be more visible to the fish, and usable for more water clarity conditons (and/or light conditions ... like cloudy days, windy days, shaded water, etc).
Everyone has their own opinions about colors, jig types/styles, weights, using floats or not, retrieve speed, techniques, added attractants/scents, etc .... and they vary widely, from one end of the spectrum to the other :eek: .... and you know why :confused: --- it's because they all work, at one time or another. :D
The biggest factor in catching Crappie .... is "finding" them. Knowing where they should be, given the conditions & situation & time of year & the particular body of water you're on ... then finding the depth they're holding at ... is the key to solving the puzzle we call successful Crappie fishing. They're not always where they should be, so you may have to expand your search area ... and eliminate those areas/depths that are not productive. But, Crappie are creatures of habit ... so, if you find a successful pattern ... make note of everything concerned !! Where, when, what on, technique used, speed, depth, water conditons/temp, weather conditions (current and previous days prior), type of cover fished, and so on, are good points to make note of .... as there's a good chance that you will find yourself faced with the same or a similar situation, at another time/place, and those notes can be a good starting point from which to start figuring out a pattern.
... luck2ya ... cp :cool:
I have read all the suggestion that has been given. Some are very good others I would question. I strickly fish with crappie tubes nothing else. I have a variety of color combinnations. Most of the time I fish with a slip bobber. I tip my jigs with Crappie niblets and I haven't had a slow day. I catch fish ever trip winter or summer. Learn to fish tubes and you will produce a lot of fish. Twitching bobber is a good method, with a slow retrieve. Remember just this one thing Sailor Jerry a crappie likes a moving target.
Also, if there are any docks around that are over some deeper water, people usually drop brush underneath to attract crappie. I do most of my crappie fishing on these docks and do pretty good. Sometimes they will be stacked up under a dock and you can slay em, other times they just won't be there and you will dance with the dinks. To fish docks, you vertical jig. Don't confuse this shooting docks, which is done from a boat, but is still targeting dock fish. I always fish two 1/16 oz. jigs, about twelve inches apart, with two different colors. I move the jigs more horizontally than vertically, with the occasional twitch. The slower the better. You just want the marabou to breathe. Same with tube jigs, you just want the tails to move, and try to make the jig move like a baitfish.
Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveCourington
I'm flattered, but I am not a master at it. I'm just an old man who loves to crappie fish with jigs.:D:D:D:D The majority of the time I am swimming jigs that imitate a minnow or minnow shape under a slip bobber. I love to cast to targets like weed edges and brush. I set the bobber stop so that my offerings are swimming about 7-10 inches above the structure. When you think you are fishing it slow and swimming your presentation slow, then slow it down some more. The most important tool you have in your tackle box is CONFIDENCE in the PRESENTATION you are using. The fish will tell you whether they want it like that on that particular day. I love to cast, "swim the jig" for about a foot or two and let it just sit there 30 seconds. Then swim it a little more and let it settle in and sit another 30 seconds. The majority of your hits will come on the pause as the jig "swims" back under the float.
Sometimes I will add cod liver oil and anise to the lure as a scent and/or tip with a wax worm. Pictures of my setups are on my website. Here is one setup I troll or cast under a float.
http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/d...ngerDanger.jpg