My first Crappie Jig- Question: Long or short tails?

[Fatman]

Some will say yes some say no, but the fish are the ones' that will tell you for sure.

[thill]

Update:
I went to test the boat out yesterday. While there, I put one of my new jigs on to see how it looked in the water.

WOW, that is a good-looking lure in the water. Excellent movement in the water. I really like how the bucktail and flashabou work together. They are constantly moving, even when the lure is holding still. I have a good feeling about these!

After seeing the lure in the water, I just had to fish a little. Ran up to the bridge, but didn't mark anything. Made a dozen drops - nothing. Went to the store to grab a cup of hot coffee, and got a dozen minnows while there. Dropped them all around the pilings- nothing. Never marked anything, no sign of fish.

The water was 38 degrees, and 20-29' deep. I've heard all the fish are down-lake, where the temps are warmer. Must be something to that. Will head south, next time.

-TH

[thill]

I just noticed the replies - Thanks for that!

That is interesting as to how crappie hunt. I'm going to look up some YouTube on that.

But I'm definitely going to make some short ones, and then do a fish-off with them. Which will win out? Will the greater movement of the longer tails cause more strikes? Or will the shorter tails have perhaps fewer strikes, yet higher hookup ratios?

It will be fun finding out!

-TH

[bowhunter63]

Really nice ties.

[Two Dog]

Nice jigs, let us know how your test turns out.

[kickingback]

A lure is made to catch fish. Some like it long. Some like it short. It all depends on them dang fish! Try different lengths and see which works best on your lakes. Most fish in the winter are slow to bite and the smaller the better. In the spawn and summer the 2.5" are good for me. It all depends on where you are at and the fish's appetite.
Once you find the bites, that will usually be the length they want throughout the lake.

[thill]

Well 7 years later, I have a follow up report. For 7 years I never caught a single fish on these jigs, no matter how I tried. I tried using one this week and finally caught fish just fine. I trimmed the tail and added a drop of slab sauce, and they grabbed it. I just made a post about plastic versus hair/feather jigs.

I suspect my technique is what has mostly changed, besides the slab sauce. I used to move the lures way too much.