Thread: best fall bait

I like using jigs best.

Originally Posted by brettw

thanks, I was being pushed around a bit and moving some on my own trying to find fish. So when i moved, the rod at 30 ft would swing up to maybe 20' and that's when I got some hits.

This tells me the fish were suspended around 20' and you were fishing below them at 30'.............. remember crappie feed up

Brett, I think most of us around here use a loop in our line about 12 to 16 inches above our lead. This way your minnow has room to do their thing while being pulled or bounced off the bottom. As for amount of lead that's up to you and how you are fishing. You want to maintain a direct line down as much as possible. If you let it get out and away from you the bite will be not felt as good as is when straight down. The only other way to help you is you get in the boat with one of us and see how we do it. I hope this helps you some.

About the weight to use....I start with a 3/8 oz and go heavier depending on the depth, water current present, and wind. I know you mentioned 40 ft. deep, I rarely fish over 25-30 ft at most, and at that depth 1/2 oz works fine. Use whatever is necessary to get you bait to the target area and keep it there. If you are using jigs, the will be added weight on the rig as well. Bell type sinkers work well for this, I don't use egg sinkers because the way you have to tie them off will cause the line to break easily, but they can be used in a bind.

guys,
i went back to my spots that failed me last week,
better set up, drop shot and what ever it's called with the minnow on the end and the weight above,
I did pretty good with some very big fish.
I was very patient this time,
kept 13

Brett, glad you got into them. You can drop shot any way you want, hook on top of lead or on the bottom either way you still get results. When we do a day trip why don't you join in with us. We all would like to meet you.