To use rubber jigs or not to use?

[jkw_fly]

Out of curiosity ... since you seem to have good results from dark grey/black feather/chenille jigs -- why the rainbow colors in your plastics ?? Also ... are you more likely to catch Black Crappie or White Crappie, or do you catch both in relatively equal numbers ??

Not sure:D I like to try different ones to see what they want. When fishing the marina I do catch some small ones on the tubes. I do really well on minnows. I "free-line" them with a small split shot vertical and casting.

I mostly have used the vertical jigging from a boat with the tied jigs... However, a buddy and I were talking about how much better we did casting with a slow retrieve across the brush piles and parallel to structures

Most of the fish are black crappie:D

[crappiepappy]

Not sure:D I like to try different ones to see what they want. When fishing the marina I do catch some small ones on the tubes. I do really well on minnows. I "free-line" them with a small split shot vertical and casting.
I mostly have used the vertical jigging from a boat with the tied jigs... However, a buddy and I were talking about how much better we did casting with a slow retrieve across the brush piles and parallel to structures
Most of the fish are black crappie:D

I've got 3 tackleboxes full of "colors" of all descript :D ... "just in case" (it just happens ... so blame it on the Bait Monkey, like the rest of us do)

Do you have any docks at Lake Somerville ?? Stationary ones, mounted on wooden poles ?? If so, read this : http://www.crappie.com/crappie/south...-shooting.html Give it a try and see if you like doing it. You might need a slightly shorter rod, but all the other equipment you have should be fine. You "can" shoot a dock with a 8ft spinning outfit ... I do, occasionally ... but, if you have a 5-6ft spinning outfit, it might make it easier.

I was kinda thinkin that you were more into Black Crappie ... just a hunch ... but, one based on the fact that Black Crappie tend to eat more than just minnows/baitfish. Emerging larvae, craws, and other water critters are on a Black Crappie's menu, moreso than on a White Crappie's menu. Could be why the dark (blk/grey) colors are successful for you. Or it could just be the different action of a hair jig vs a plastic one

Here's your mission, if you accept it :

Get yourself a pack of 1/16oz weedless jigheads ... just one pk will do for starters. Put a plastic body on the jighead ... something in black, or green, or dark blue, or brown ... and with a chartreuse tail. Go to your brushpiles and stay back away from them, far enough that a good cast will overfly them by at least 10-15ft. Make that cast, and lift your rod up to a 45deg angle ... and hold it there, while you slowly crank the reel handle. Forget about everything else, EXCEPT the line ... watch the line, from where it enters the water up to the first three feet of it that's out of the water. Reel slow enough that the line maintains a slight bow in it ... not slack or tight. Any bounce or single jump/bump in the line, any tightening and sidewards movement of the line, or if it goes slack all of a sudden .... SET THE HOOK with a fast upwards jerk of that 8ft rod. Repeat as needed, as long as the bites are coming every few minutes. When the action slows ... move over the brushpile and try the Vertical Casting method (see link in previous reply). You can keep the same bait on, or switch colors, or even switch to your hair jigs if you want. But, just try not to disturb the brush by hanging up in it

Doing just this very routine, and succeeding in catching Crappie doing so, is what has me loving casting jigs

... luck2ya ... cp