Does a porcupine quill resemble a stick

[skeetbum]

Never used a quill but I do have some floats that are painted dark on the majority of the bottom side. I’m also in the camp of casting past the target and easing it back into place. And then there’s some spooky fish that you’ll never get close to without a good bit of luck.

[Ketchn]

I know some folks that use the actual porcupine quill with a treble hook set about 3 foot deep and blood bait for catfish in the cattails, just a quick fyi

[Ketchn]

There is trough in fish sometimes being spooky as a thousand hours on livescope has proved to me. Sniping open water crappie sometimes the splash of a 1/32 jig on a suspended fish 2-4' deep will cause him to flee as if you threw a firecracker in the water, at other times they hear it and charge it. Water clarity does come into play as less spooky in water with at least a little color but in the same conditions on the same day have seen fish do both. My guess would be one is actively feeding and the other is not but don't know for sure. Scott

likely so , the fish that are just kinda hanging around seem pretty jumpy , seen several myself bolt out like a lightning bolt hit them when you barely twitched the jig

[Jamesdean]

Another advantage to a quill float is the wind don't push it around. But now casting a light set up in the wind can be very challenging...just sayin'

[ezgoing]

There is trough in fish sometimes being spooky as a thousand hours on livescope has proved to me. Sniping open water crappie sometimes the splash of a 1/32 jig on a suspended fish 2-4' deep will cause him to flee as if you threw a firecracker in the water, at other times they hear it and charge it. Water clarity does come into play as less spooky in water with at least a little color but in the same conditions on the same day have seen fish do both. My guess would be one is actively feeding and the other is not but don't know for sure. Scott

It is not just in open water that a crappie will flee a small jig. I've approached them suspended in brush using a 1/64th jig and watched them flee as the jig approached them. I've also watched them approach a jig that was being held still turn and flee if you barely twitch the jig, causing any movement. I've often wondered if it is the line movement causing them to flee as the vibrations from the line movement may make them think it is a bigger fish.

I don't think they could actually see the line. I use an army green braid in stained or murky water so I don't think the line stands out that much. And I'm not sure they would know what a line meant, even if they could see it.

I haven't fished quill floats since I was a teenager, over 60 years ago. So I can't comment on them but I'm in the group that believes it is best to cast beyond the fish. I only started using floats for crappie again last year. But I allow the jig to sink to their level, slowly move it into their area and then stop while in front of them. After a slight pause I will then start slowly moving it out of their area. That will often trigger a bite as it moves away from them. But this is also how I fish a jig during vertical jigging.

[Ketchn]

It is not just in open water that a crappie will flee a small jig. I've approached them suspended in brush using a 1/64th jig and watched them flee as the jig approached them. I've also watched them approach a jig that was being held still turn and flee if you barely twitch the jig, causing any movement. I've often wondered if it is the line movement causing them to flee as the vibrations from the line movement may make them think it is a bigger fish.

I don't think they could actually see the line. I use an army green braid in stained or murky water so I don't think the line stands out that much. And I'm not sure they would know what a line meant, even if they could see it.

I haven't fished quill floats since I was a teenager, over 60 years ago. So I can't comment on them but I'm in the group that believes it is best to cast beyond the fish. I only started using floats for crappie again last year. But I allow the jig to sink to their level, slowly move it into their area and then stop while in front of them. After a slight pause I will then start slowly moving it out of their area. That will often trigger a bite as it moves away from them. But this is also how I fish a jig during vertical jigging.

You know the line jump might be the problem, I often see the line on other graphs when we move , if we see it , it is likely they see or feel it as well .....