Stick Baits and Crappie

[MonteSS]

And no I didnt pay $15 each for them

[no1son]

We have had luck in the early spring, using the smallest sinking Raps either cast straight or under a tiny bobber if they need to be suspended over brush or bottom trash.

There is a bit of a mention of these kinds of baits for trolling right now on the Minnesota state forum. Jigging raps and hard baits like that normally used through the ice also work very well at times for dipping and other types of vertical jigging. Some folks fish them cast under a sliding bobber which allows one to fish in place.

When cast slow with pauses works best. Don't forget the pauses.

[slabbacks]

Thx guys, can see me getting a bullDog as well in reference to the brush. They proud of some of them lol

[bluedrifter]

I like this thread because its a technic that I don't think most crappie fishermen think about. I use them early in the year, about march, or whenever the ice comes off the lake. I like the smithwick suspending rouges. unlike some of the post, I use them that time of year in water 6ft or less. shallow sandy bays with a small stream running in at the back. works great until spring rains muddy the water. if you fish them early in the year always look for a bank that is getting the most sun. the water will be a few degrees warmer and the crappie will be more aggressive.

[jackie53]

I just got a couple Lucky craft Pointer 65DD wich say suspend at 6-10'. Cute lil bait. Have not tried it yet.

Lurecraftonline has them just add split rings and hooks!!! Jann's netcraft has the( suspending pointers) (just add split ring's and hooks).

[slabbacks]

I like this thread because its a technic that I don't think most crappie fishermen think about. I use them early in the year, about march, or whenever the ice comes off the lake. I like the smithwick suspending rouges. unlike some of the post, I use them that time of year in water 6ft or less. shallow sandy bays with a small stream running in at the back. works great until spring rains muddy the water. if you fish them early in the year always look for a bank that is getting the most sun. the water will be a few degrees warmer and the crappie will be more aggressive.

Thanks bluedrifter, some of the guys here have talking about mud flats and warmer water temps pulling in the crappie. Never thought of using them up there during that time of year. Using the SI and finding the bait will be a good locating tool then hitting them with the the stick bait. Got some good advise of what others are using.

[bluedrifter]

thanks slabbacks! I am usually not fishing structure that early in the year because I think they are just shallow for warmer water and there is a lot of small shad moved shallow. the lake I fish has an8ft winter draw down so when the creeks get flowing in the winter it pushes a lot of leaves and small twigs out to the mouth of the creek where in the summer it would be 10ft deep or so. it also produces shallow sand bars now but deeper sand bars when the water get back to summer. its good crappie fishing most of the time. don't be afraid to try 1ft of water that early if you've had some sunny days and some wind.

[no1son]

Crappies in some of the early spring warming water areas come to hand exceptionally cold. I think they move back and forth especially in unsettled weather. Very often the colder ones are the larger ones, too.

[bluedrifter]

the early season shallow bite is usually better in the afternoon. I was wondering if anybody has tried suspending baits with a small jig or fly tied to the back split ring? maybe a floating model might work better for trying this.

[slabbacks]

If I'm not mistaking Jann's Netcraft has the floating jig. Got some this time last year for those fish hugging bottom. Fished them like a Carolina rig with the aid of a splitshot about 18'' up the line and a bass assassin crystal shad body. Was able to creep it along the bottom, ended up watching the line more than the tip due to lite bite and gap from jig to splitshot I guess.

Dont see why it wouldn't work.