Does it matter if jigs hang level or tail down?

[whackmaster]

I am a huge believer in "loading" the jig...that is, moving the knot to the back of the eyelet when fishing a somewhat stagnant or still presentation under a bobber. I belive it is alot more natural and I get more hits fishing this way. I've watched them on a underwater camera and at times they will literally stare down your jig for a minute or more trying to make up their minds whether to hit it or not. Obviously casting it doesn't matter. I sometimes will use a cross-eyed jig and that will allow me to present the jig level......Keep doing what your doin....make it horizontal....lol

[Y-SLABS]

Crappie want a horizontal presentation. Gills want a vertical presentation. Just my 2 cents worth. I,am set in my ways. OLD!!!

[Ken Jones]

Makes no difference two me, weather I'm bobber fishing or jigging. Always a slow retrieve. I fish with nothing but tubes in 1&1/2inches long. Dosen't matter what color. I fish with two jigs all the time. Upper jig is on a loop knot. and twelve inches below is my bottom jig. 1/16oz. & 1/32oz. tube jig that I will catch most of my fish with. Crappie like a moving target-- Period. Out twice first time 75 fish second time 30 fish. Second my presentation was different than the firs trip. Bottom 38ft. Fish were suspend up at around 14ft. Used a slip bobber setup on second trip. Vertical fishing the first trip.

[JIG Gene-e]

A dying shad or minnow swims around with it's head up. When I'm fishin I try to imitate a wounded or dying bait. So horizonal doesn't seem to matter at all.
Knit one and pearl two. JMO

[Crappie Chaser]

Fishing it LEVEL makes a difference for me. Leveling the jig makes it look more realistic.

[Arkie John]

The specks don't care! If you're jiggin' the thang is gonna be all over their radar anyway. When you start to get too technical, well, it just take the fun out of fishin' (for me).

You gotta remember that crappie act on instinct. Fish never had an original thought in their life so go into it with that mentality.

I look at all the "fishin' pros" on tv and just laugh with disgust when I see Roland Martin stop in the middle of catchin' (always) big bass and swig an 'energy drink' ($3 for 3 or 4 ounces) and says, "Now I'm really ready to catch some fish." What BS!

Guess what I'm tryin' to say is that you don't need a level jig to catch crappie any more than you need a silly energy drink and Bill Dance tennis shoes to catch bass.

Spring is here!! Go have some fun and if something doesn't work, try another tried-and-true technique. Then, late that evening when you're tired and have cleaned your last fish, just think: "Now THAT'S fishin'."

aj

[split handle]

I can tell you who will know, give Larry Russell with Crappie Pro a call he's done hours of tank testing on his plastics to see how crappie respond to the baits. 918-689-3606

Thanks for the tip. I just did that. Larry says he's always used a loop knot, whether a jig is casted and retrieved or hanging below a bobber, so he doesn't have to worry about the knot getting stuck in the wrong position when pressure is applied.

The jigs he sells are center-balanced--that is, designed to hang level--something I like a lot; another nice thing is that he sells them unpainted in 1/24 oz., which is nice when you need some casting distance but a slower fall than you get from a 1/16. I ordered some last month, along with some Wasshoppas, and look forward to using them soon.

[Wiskers]

i vertical jig 98% of the time. i always move knot to keep jig as horizontal as possible. not a problem to reposition it. don't know if it makes a difference, just the way i do it. when casting i don't worry about it.

I vertical jig & spider rig a lot. I always (might be an OCD thing) :D try to keep my knot positioned so my jig is as horizontal as possible. I'm very picky about it. I don't think it matters all the time, but when the fish a being picky I try to do everthing I can to keep the odds on my side.

I have had occations that a partner & I were sitting side by side, using the same rods, same line, same jig & bodies & I would be catching fish & he wouldn't. I've made the suggestion to move the knot & it seemed to make a difference for that person.

Again I think there are times that you can tie the line to the bend of the hook & they will hit but there are times that I believe it makes a difference.

I move the knot forward for casting.

[NoMinners]

Just tie it on and fish. Color is more important too me.

[Tim The Lippa Rippa Mon]

I can tell you who will know, give Larry Russell with Crappie Pro a call he's done hours of tank testing on his plastics to see how crappie respond to the baits. 918-689-3606

I fully agree. Larry and his wife are great Crappie fisherman, and also my sponsors. Their center balanced jigs are all that I use. The black nickel hooks used in them are 2nd to none!

I personally believe that a horizontal presentation will out produce any others since it would be mimmicking nature. Especially if you are fishing vertically. Baitfish normally don't swim through the water on angles. However, dying minnows often will hang tail down at the surface, so that would be an alternative presentation to try at times. = )

Big bites, full baskets, and God's blessings to you all

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