For Every Season Turn Turn Turn

[S10CHEVY]

Minnows do grow, lol. In spring, if using them, medium and large will be used, because there are no small ones. They actually spawn, after all the fish do, mid June, into July. You want to watch when getting on the bank, and watch for minnows along the shore, to see how big they are. During summer, then use small minnows.

[DockShootinJack]

Threadfin shad can spawn several times during the summer. Even as late as September. That provides smaller bait in the fall

[skeetbum]

As Jack said, you’ve come a long way in the last year. It’s been interesting reading your documentation of your path through the learning curve some of us have already traveled. I usually troll with something curly and some flashy, changing colors along the way. As you now know, they’re picky little things that we chase. I’ll be changing my spread next time out and see if what works on your waters will work on mine. A color you mentioned that always is in my spread is purple/chartreuse. I stumbled into it when trolling cranks. I noticed that while other colors would go hot and cold, this one was a constant. It produced consistently much like solid black and a certain shade of pink that Bandit has now discontinued. I use it in several forms and it seldom sits on the sidelines. Keep after them and telling of your thoughts. I, for one ,enjoy them and remember when I was there.

[crappieseeker]

Grainraiser I think the topic of color not mattering as much to crappie as it does to the fishermen might more so be based on the lake itself. I do agree that size and profile is a huge factor too like you said, however I think color is just as huge. That is the case at least in all bodies of water that I have fished. I remember a time when I had a jig on my rod that I was catching fish on almost every throw until it got to the point it would not stay on the hook well so I changed the jig. I got another of the same color plastic jig out of my box but I noticed moisture had gotten into my box and changed the shade of the jig ever so slightly. I mean it was just a very little change. I did not catch a fish on it. I picked back up the damaged jig out of curiosity and put it back on and started catching fish again immediately. One area I use to fish was close to other areas that were fished regularly by other people who mainly caught fish on one or 2 colors only and they would try that color in the area I am talking about and had no luck. I would go in behind them and wear the fish out on a color I knew worked there. I was fishing with a guy one day was throwing in the same place I was with the same style bait working it the same way and he probably only had a couple of fish. I had caught an extremely high amount of fish on a different color. He seen enough and changed and started catching fish. So do add color changing to your line up more often because it can be a huge factor. I do agree with you that profile is huge too.

I tie jigs in all sizes from 1/4 to 1/80oz. They also have all size different hooks from size 12 to size one. In the winter they typically like tiny baits be it jigs or plastics. I will go as low as a 1/64 with a size 12 hook. I lose some fish due to the small hook and I have to use a net. These are necessary because sometimes they want touch a bait unless it is tiny. During the spring it is just the opposite. They will hit baits larger than most would use for crappie. I personally don't think color matters as much to crappie as they do to crappie fisherman. I think the profile and size of the bait is a bigger factor. For years I kept a journal on the fish I caught. What I found amazing is the crappie certainly follow seasonal patterns and water temperature is a huge factor. I also found that just when you think you have them figured out they will throw you a curve ball. They are a fun fish to pursue.

[DockShootinJack]

Grainraiser I think the topic of color not mattering as much to crappie as it does to the fishermen might more so be based on the lake itself. I do agree that size and profile is a huge factor too like you said, however I think color is just as huge. That is the case at least in all bodies of water that I have fished. I remember a time when I had a jig on my rod that I was catching fish on almost every throw until it got to the point it would not stay on the hook well so I changed the jig. I got another of the same color plastic jig out of my box but I noticed moisture had gotten into my box and changed the shade of the jig ever so slightly. I mean it was just a very little change. I did not catch a fish on it. I picked back up the damaged jig out of curiosity and put it back on and started catching fish again immediately. One area I use to fish was close to other areas that were fished regularly by other people who mainly caught fish on one or 2 colors only and they would try that color in the area I am talking about and had no luck. I would go in behind them and wear the fish out on a color I knew worked there. I was fishing with a guy one day was throwing in the same place I was with the same style bait working it the same way and he probably only had a couple of fish. I had caught an extremely high amount of fish on a different color. He seen enough and changed and started catching fish. So do add color changing to your line up more often because it can be a huge factor. I do agree with you that profile is huge too.

I saw that one spring in an area the size of 3 football fields. There was avout 10 boats in the area. I was in a kayak. 2 guys in a flat bottom was wearing out the fish. Nobody else was catching nearly as much. These guys were catching them every cast. They limited out as they trolled by the threw me a pack of Bobby Garland Baby Shads. I believe the color was Smoke. I caught fish cast after cast until those 2 bodies were too torn up to stay on the jig

[GrumpyLoomis]

That is why I am so impressed with spring collar jigs, plastics last much longer.

[GrumpyLoomis]

Sorry, not sure why that came up 3 times. Oops

[DrNip]

I hate Bobby garland plastics for one reason, they use a soft plastic. No need for that soft of a plastic. I like a medium to medium hard plastic that will last longer.

[GrumpyLoomis]

They are soft for sure. Bout 2005 I was in the south and stopped by a tackle shop that sold what they called hard heads. They had a solid body and softer tail section. It was the rave at that tourney but once I came back north I never saw them again. In those days I was not on the net much and don't know what happened to them.

[DockShootinJack]

That is a lot ot jigheads