Why are Crappie so difficult for so many to catch

[Rojo]

I don't have any answers. But I am interested in hearing what is said

I have the answer, Presentation, Presentation, Presentation, my Bud is preparing the video as I write this. You just can't explain it, you have to see it. I take guys close to me and teach them how. Some say it doesn't matter I say the same guy catches 1/2 what I do. Another thing is Focus - when I'm single poling I enter a Zen, no what did the wife say earlier, I think the engine in the Fishin' Expedition needs spark plugs, not even did the bills get paid this month. I'm single minded listening to what my jig pole is telling my fingers! If you're looking at a screen to catch a fish I beat you all day in numbers - total weight in the box. I went out and shot video to support the last CrappieNow article out this month but my cheap Windows Computer starts crying, skipping, green screening, trying to edit for those wanting to learn. I had to have someone else make it for me but it's on the way. I'm at the stage in life if I can help I will but I run into resistance all the time by those who can't catch half of what I boat in twice the time. The distances between all of us makes doing a clinic difficult at best. Presentation of a jig properly is really a one on one education. Let me say this then I'm off, for those willing to pay more attention to your jig pole than your screen there is hope, for those who have bought a screen expecting it to put fish on your hook - you have put the cart before the horse. Please forgive my rant.

[Grainraiser]

Livescope will quickly teach you how crappie react to baits from day to day. Sometimes they do not want any movement at all. Sometimes they only want it moving. It's pretty interesting to see them react to a bait in real time.

[GreenLine]

Some people have no patience grasshoppah


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[UnLikeU]

I have the answer, Presentation, Presentation, Presentation, my Bud is preparing the video as I write this. You just can't explain it, you have to see it. I take guys close to me and teach them how. Some say it doesn't matter I say the same guy catches 1/2 what I do. Another thing is Focus - when I'm single poling I enter a Zen, no what did the wife say earlier, I think the engine in the Fishin' Expedition needs spark plugs, not even did the bills get paid this month. I'm single minded listening to what my jig pole is telling my fingers! If you're looking at a screen to catch a fish I beat you all day in numbers - total weight in the box. I went out and shot video to support the last CrappieNow article out this month but my cheap Windows Computer starts crying, skipping, green screening, trying to edit for those wanting to learn. I had to have someone else make it for me but it's on the way. I'm at the stage in life if I can help I will but I run into resistance all the time by those who can't catch half of what I boat in twice the time. The distances between all of us makes doing a clinic difficult at best. Presentation of a jig properly is really a one on one education. Let me say this then I'm off, for those willing to pay more attention to your jig pole than your screen there is hope, for those who have bought a screen expecting it to put fish on your hook - you have put the cart before the horse. Please forgive my rant.

@Rojoguio "YOU ARE HOLDING YOUR LIP RIGHT!" P E R I O D T !!!!!!

[CrappieNight]

First off, screw the electronics. Second, for me at least, it’s all about the speed your jig falls. 1/32, 1/16,3/32, 1/8 is all I use. I like 2” plastics the most typically on a moon jig. But, I get my crappie on the drop just as I do most bass, etc. Keep your line tight obviously but do whatever you have to do to keep that line tight while it falls through the column. The way my hand trained itself I guess is I flick my handle (instead of constantly reeling) to turn about w full rotation every couple seconds that way I can feel more as I’m not doing two things at once. I love crappie fishing for the same reason you do, the challenge. I let them go 99% of the time even. But for me the most consistent way to catch ‘em is on the drop. If 1/8th ain’t working, try 3/32 and so on. I won’t use the electronics because that’s not fishing to me but to each their own. Probably easier to see your jig falling on the screen I’m assuming. But have your line tight the second it hits the water. That’s just my body of water anyways, im sure it varies big time from place to place. Most importantly, enjoy it! Good luck

[Ketchn]

Not sure about other parts of the country, but in south Louisiana crappie, aka sac a lait, are consistently caught by only a select few. This seems to hold true through the years. I’m 71yo, but in my 20’s I saw the same thing.

example - 7 boats in a small dead end location canal and only one guy in a single boat is consistently catching fish. The successful angler is generous to share his knowledge, baits, and tactics. Still the others are not catching. That was ~50 years ago.

Yesterday - Fishing near an expert, both of us using livescope. He catches 54, I didn’t catch a single crappie. We spend some time fishing near one another, while he gives me pointers. In spite of his help. No fish.

If this was a rare situation, it would be understandable. But the expert consistently catches large number of fish while the great majority of other avid sac a lait fisherman catch hardly any. By the way, I had the expert on my boat last week and he setup my Garmin and caught 20 fish on a “bad” day.

I’ve spent a large portion of my 71 years catching a lot more than most, except crappie. What makes them so persnickety and elusive to most fishermen? My brother and I have targeted crappie for the last 18 months, fishing nearly once a week. We like the fact that they are a challenge, but never dreamed they would be this hard to catch.

Have others experienced this same phenomena?

Danny

it is such that many folks just don't get how crappie behave and sometimes can't break the same old patterns that do not produce fish .
been out with struggling crappie chasers a few times myself and emulating EXACTLY what the fella that is ketchn is doing is critical in some scenarios .
of course there are time anyone can ketch them ,but many times it is such that you need to certain things just so so or its a no go .
fish SLOWER , keep your bait above them AND for sure go tiny with the offering if they won't cooperate . AND >>>
sometimes they just do not want to be ketched as well ....just saying

[Barnacle Bill]

Back in the late 40's Dad use to tell me I wasn't holding my mouth right. Never did learn the right way I guess.

[Rojo]

First off, screw the electronics. Second, for me at least, it’s all about the speed your jig falls. 1/32, 1/16,3/32, 1/8 is all I use. I like 2” plastics the most typically on a moon jig. But, I get my crappie on the drop just as I do most bass, etc. Keep your line tight obviously but do whatever you have to do to keep that line tight while it falls through the column. The way my hand trained itself I guess is I flick my handle (instead of constantly reeling) to turn about w full rotation every couple seconds that way I can feel more as I’m not doing two things at once. I love crappie fishing for the same reason you do, the challenge. Hell I let them go 99% of the time even. But for me the most consistent way to catch ‘em is on the drop. If 1/8th ain’t working, try 3/32 and so on. I won’t use the electronics because that’s not fishing to me but to each their own. Probably easier to see your jig falling on the screen I’m assuming. But have your line tight the second it hits the water. That’s just my body of water anyways, im sure it varies big time from place to place. Most importantly, enjoy it! Good luck

The daily desired sink rate is one of the dial-in's I do automatically, I'm glad you posted this because with your presentation on the fall the crappie's desired speed varies daily. Deep winter fishing I run a #4 BPS Clamshot above a 1/32 jighead with a 1.5in plastic because the bigger fish do not like the sink or Fall rate when the water is very cold. The Clamshot is needed to get the bait down to the 20ft level. I rig it 5-6ft above the jig so it has no effect of the jig's fall rate. This downsizing was pulled out of one of Ketchn's ramblings that I didn't do before that doubled my winter "Super-Sized" Slab catch rate. I had the presentation down but not the size & weight jig to use. As suggested above downsizing on finicky Slabs has continued to be Sage grade advice.

[Micanopy]

I went on a head boat to catch large bluefish. 15 people or so. Everyone was catching twenty pound bluefish, one right after another, all except me. I watched and did everything the exact same. People on either side would hook up, but I could not get a nibble. When the melee ended, everyone had five or six fish. I had not one. Only one on the boat that didn’t have fish, including the girls. Then later we setup in a different location and man was it slow. Nobody was catching anything. Nobody except me. I was hooked up one right after another. I caught five while everyone else crowded me, tried to match me, but nobody else got a bite. Just me.

So fishing can be weird. Sometimes while trolling I will catch fish on just one side of the boat. I suspect we have all seen weird stuff. It doesn’t mean all that much, but it can be difficult to watch others catching while you do without. Your mind gets to racing and soon enough you have clobbered the dude in the back of the head with a shovel and over the side he goes. Maybe not, but I have gotten pretty mad before. That is why I prefer to avoid them pros, and stick with imbeciles when it comes to fishing. Sort of like when a so so looking girl hangs out with an ugly girl to look a little better. It’s OK to come home after just one tiny little fish all day, so long as the other guys stinks of skunk.

In your situation, I am guessing you didn’t move the lure in the same manner, or you imparted an odor that was different than his. I also imagine you didn’t have a shovel on board or you would be real quiet about now.

[Mstr Dan]

Back in the late 40's Dad use to tell me I wasn't holding my mouth right. Never did learn the right way I guess.

As I said earlier I was told the same thing. I think it was my grandpas way of saying Be quiet and shut up.