Off for Christmas?

[ET Fish]

The crappie have obviously taken an extended holiday! In my pea sized brain, today should have been perfect. Not too cold, overcast, pre front, and 48-49 degree water. What am I missing? First stop is a blow down, caught a few little uns. Ok, they are gonna bite, just gotta go find some bigger ones. First dock on the list provided another little one. Gotta run to a bridge a few miles away, they HAVE to be there! Well, wrong again! I scanned, saw nothing of interest, and didn’t pick up a rod. Time to hit bridge number dos. Nope! When all else fails, try a deep water marina. Are you kidding? If they were there, I couldn’t find em! Ok, let’s run all the way back, and go the other way. Stopped at a dock, and finally got a good one! There’s gotta be more, right? Negative! Scanned some more docks, and finally found a school. The first taker came unbuttoned right at the boat. I must have pulled him through the school, because they scattered! Picked up a couple more around the dock, but no numbers. Finally, I have had enough, so head back to the first blow down with my tail between my legs. There were a couple of guys anchored on it, which told me it’s time to go home. I offered them my fish, and they accepted. As I’m doing the handoffs, I fumbled the big guy! I guess it was just his day!
Now, what went wrong (and I’m asking, not answering)? A lot of current was being pulled, I assume to prepare for the heavy rain that is forecast. I fished jigs instead of minnows. Should I fish minnows this time of year? I fished main channel and creek mouths. Should I be looking elsewhere? I’m a single pole guy. Should I resort to spider rigging, even though that’s not my favorite method? Multiple rods out usually stresses me, especially when alone like today. I’ve not been able to fish much lately, and even though I ain’t getting skunked, I’m not catching many. I welcome any and all advice!



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[JonathonJEB]

Sounds like you found more than me yesterday. But I did notice a lot of bank fisherman under a very popular bridge yesterday morning with what looked like bucket fulls. I think they were there most of the night fishing minnows and jigs under a float.

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[blueball]

Here lately for me scent or tipping jigs with minnows has helped a bunch.ive been using the Johnson shad scales in my tube jigs and it seems to help.Last year this time of year it was straight jigs and was doing pretty good.

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[ET Fish]

Here lately for me scent or tipping jigs with minnows has helped a bunch.ive been using the Johnson shad scales in my tube jigs and it seems to help.Last year this time of year it was straight jigs and was doing pretty good.

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I actually use scent, usually Crappie Nibbles, 100% of th3 time. Maybe minnows? I haven’t used minnows in about a year, so probably time to give them another go.

[Slabprowler]

Bought minnards at Thanksgiving first time I’ve bought them in over 3 yrs still using jigs but minnards been out catching jigs as much as 12-1

[ET Fish]

Bought minnards at Thanksgiving first time I’ve bought them in over 3 yrs still using jigs but minnards been out catching jigs as much as 12-1

12-1! I like those odds!