Newbie Here: What do you think of my crappie box?

[FlyingFish]

Hey everyone,

Just wanted to update everyone on how my Spring is going so far. Caught around 40 keeper crappie so far in about 10-15 outings. I think I'm doing alright except that 22 of them came in one trip. I'm having some difficulty still and I think it might be from my retrieval technique. The current rig I use consists of a bobber stop, bead, slip bobber, small snap and jig. I experiment with depth and colors. I think the main issue is my overall presentation. My retrieval consists of me casting out and letting the jig reach depth, wait a few seconds, twitch, pause a few seconds, twitch twitch, pause, twitch pause etc. I will do this until I have reeled almost all the way in. Can anyone offer me some advice as to other, better techniques to use? Should I try using the jig without the float for a faster presentation? Should I pause longer? Add more twitches? Any help is greatly appreciated.

Also, I mostly use jigs with tubes or baby shad baits and then tip it with a crappie niblet. Is the crappie niblet on the tip of the hook a good or bad idea? I think it would give the fish something to taste and the fish would keep it in its mouth longer but I suppose the niblet could also take away from the appearance of the bait and confuse the fish? Idk. Maybe I'm overthinking.

Thanks in advance everyone. Here are a few pics of me and the girl:



Brandon

[Lonnie84]

Is the crappie niblet on the tip of the hook a good or bad idea?

I use niblets 98% of time, the other 2% is only when I've lost my nib or forgot to bring them. I have fished "tested with and without" and for me they make a big difference in my catch rate.

Welcome aboard.

[Cray]

Hey everyone,

Just wanted to update everyone on how my Spring is going so far. Caught around 40 keeper crappie so far in about 10-15 outings. I think I'm doing alright except that 22 of them came in one trip. I'm having some difficulty still and I think it might be from my retrieval technique. The current rig I use consists of a bobber stop, bead, slip bobber, small snap and jig. I experiment with depth and colors. I think the main issue is my overall presentation. My retrieval consists of me casting out and letting the jig reach depth, wait a few seconds, twitch, pause a few seconds, twitch twitch, pause, twitch pause etc. I will do this until I have reeled almost all the way in. Can anyone offer me some advice as to other, better techniques to use? Should I try using the jig without the float for a faster presentation? Should I pause longer? Add more twitches? Any help is greatly appreciated.

Also, I mostly use jigs with tubes or baby shad baits and then tip it with a crappie niblet. Is the crappie niblet on the tip of the hook a good or bad idea? I think it would give the fish something to taste and the fish would keep it in its mouth longer but I suppose the niblet could also take away from the appearance of the bait and confuse the fish? Idk. Maybe I'm overthinking.

Thanks in advance everyone. Here are a few pics of me and the girl:



Brandon

Don't limit yourself to one type of retrieve. Throw it out there with the float, do what you have been doing, after a few casts throw it out then reel in with a slow steady retrieve. You can vary your depth by the speed you retrieve. If that doesn't work try taking the bobber off, do the same thing, throw out and count down 1001,1002 and so on. Every count should give you close to a ft. Try that at different depths. Reel straight in slow and steady, then reel twitch reel.