Thread: how to's to jig fishing

i just started crappie fishing on the chowan. been catching some on minners but i am having difficulties jigging them up. anyone have any tips for these dark waters.

are you drifting corks?

that is what i ve been doing. is there a better way?

Originally Posted by Chowan

that is what i ve been doing. is there a better way?

You can pull corks or tight line. Tight lining is what I do. jig on the bottom with 1/2 ounce weight above it about 15 inches. Bright colors are needed in dark water. Use nontransparent colors. 2 toned solid colors work best for me. Pinks and Oranges in muddy water. I know a lot of folks pull corks too and there is nothing wrong with that. If You like pulling corks, stick with it. CF

so u tie a jig to the end of the line and about 15inches above the jig you put a half oz wieght. How fast do you tight line.

hey chowan have you been fishing the river very long? never crappie fished it before. just bass and did not have any luck last time i fished the river for bass, i think i would check out some of the bigger creeks with deeper water. i would agree with C/F on the tight linning this time of the year because of the depths the crappie suppend. pulling corks i can only fish 12 to 16 ft deep. when i get the extra money would like to rig my boat both ways. in the spring i'll be trolling corks because the fish will be in some skinny waters. catch some slabs & don't ba a stranger tite lines JIM,B

wow paddlefish, that is really a nice graphic. and very helpful. thank you. i will have to give it a try.

Jim, thanks for the help. Ive been fishing for bass a long time. I want a change this winter and kept telling myself I was going to get into crappie fishing for several years. GOt me some poles got me a rod holder got me some minners and jigs and away i go. got out on thanksgiving and had a good day.

For dark water, try jigs with dark colors combined with chartreuse (black/chartreuse, purple/chartreuse, etc.). The body style of the jig (tube, paddle tail, curly tail, etc.) is determined by the activity level of the fish. More active = more action (paddle tail, curly tail) and less active = less action (tube, stinger). Speed and size are other variables. Some days the fish want a still jig and others they want to be going at warp speed. Some days they want big jigs and others they want small jigs. COLD water usually means very small jigs.

Just keep switching jig colors, styles, speed, and size until the fish show you what they want.

hey chowan were you fishing the main river or fishing in the creeks. also their is a C.COM crappie tournament this sat and your welcome to come fish. tite lines JIM.B