Minnows vs plastic.......the winner is?

[Yaker]

Yeah I know, there are too many variables,but the results are in.My last two outings have helped moved the needle towards plastics,and since I’m more into putting some fish in the freezer,It is what it is.
Mind you,the spawn is not in,both trips are pre spawn,( perhaps another variable).The first trip put me and another boat with two men fishing within yards of each other.I fished a beetle spin with a replacement plastic,my competitors were tossing minnows under floats,my beetle spin won easily 2-1.
Yesterday was a bit slower,but the results were astounding.I tossed a black and chartreuse 1-1/2” trout magnet on a 1/16 oz pink jig head,under a float.Two other men fished the same stump field as Myself,using minnows.
I worked hard,netting 14 nice crappie,the largest was 14”,the other two men told me they had one hit,but never landed it.Again,I know there are days that results may be different,but it’s hard for me to look at these results and not wonder.
Will I ever use minnows again?, absolutely,I enjoy the doing it the old time natural way so to speak.I will tell you,plastics will do the job,often better,with minnows you are pretty much restricted,with plastics,the sky may be the limit.

[ezgoing]

I have always found that minnows will outproduce plastic if you can keep the juveniles from stealing the minnows. That said, I mainly fish jigs as I mainly fish for the fun of fishing. I only need around five crappie to make a meal and I never freeze what I keep.

[trypman1]

Beetle spin type spinners work great, good post!

[DRFISHDUCK]

With today's selection of jig bodies types and colors etc. and the excellent crappie jiggin rods and the fun of feeling the vertical jig thump -- it's jigs only for me but if you want to use minners I respect your choice.

Sent from my SM-J337P using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

[sparkie51]

It is both for me. I hate fishing a jig under a float. When I fish jigs it's cast and retrieve. Minnow only under a float.

To me it more is the water temp that dictates when I switch. Right now water temp is only in the low 40's. A minnow will get more strikes now than plastics in the lakes I fish.

[SpeckledSlab]

I like artificials for pre-spawn because you can cover more areas, but at times I will use both.

[chaunc]

Plastics work for me year round on all the lakes I fish. They make them in any shape and size I need. I’ll add a crappie nibble when needed. I’ll use minnows a couple times a season.

[ET Fish]

I pretty much fish jigs, but I don’t think it’s sac religious to fish with minnows!

[StantheMan2567]

I pretty much fish jigs, but I don’t think it’s sac religious to fish with minnows!

Sac-religious.....Good one!

[Crestliner08]

I fish jigs exclusively these days. Like the fly fishermen for trout, it's more exciting (and fun) for me to "trick" them with something totally unnatural. Since I'm a CPR fisherman, jigs just work better for me. I do not remember the last time I got skunked.