Jigs in the creeks/river?
Hey fellas, I have been snagging a few crappie lately here in eastern, NC while bream fishing. I would really like to target them, but I can't seem to figure out what exactly to do. How do you guys use jigs? they seem too small to cast, do you dip them around structure with a crappie buster/ cane pole? I have several ultra lite spinning outfits with 5.5 ft rods, can I use these with light line? Any way get me started with jigging in the rivers/ creeks? thanks you very much, Robert
Either way, or others ...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
creekman
Hey fellas, I have been snagging a few crappie lately here in eastern, NC while bream fishing. I would really like to target them, but I can't seem to figure out what exactly to do. How do you guys use jigs? they seem too small to cast, do you dip them around structure with a crappie buster/ cane pole? I have several ultra lite spinning outfits with 5.5 ft rods, can I use these with light line? Any way get me started with jigging in the rivers/ creeks? thanks you very much, Robert
Jigs can be used in just about any way/method that live bait can be used ... and in most cases they seem to work, at times anyway.
I'd have 4lb line on those UL outfits, tie a jig on, and cast it around the areas where you've been "accidently" catching Crappie. ;) Hold your rod with the tip pointing at about a 45deg angle away from your body ... WATCH THE LINE ... reel in slowly & steadily .... WATCH THE LINE ... IF and WHEN you see the line make a slight jump -- SET THE HOOK !!!
YES, tying a jig on a long pole .... dipping it around weed bed opening, stumps, standing trees, fallen trees, brush piles, rock piles, dock posts, bridge pylons, and most any other form of cover that you might encounter on a creek/river, is going to get you "tapped" :p (that's "tapped" as in seeing/feeling a tap thru the rod) You may even see the line start to move off to one side or the other ... in EITHER case -- SET THE HOOK !! :D
Crappie have a much bigger mouth than other Sunfish ... and as such, "normally" do not 'peck' or "tap-tap-tap" on the jig. Usually it's just one tap, and it can be very subtle/light or fairly noticable. SET THE HOOK whenever you see the line jump, the line move off to one side or the other, or whenever the line suddenly goes slack (and you're sure the bait hasn't hit bottom) ... as most of the time, these are indications of a Crappie hit. (I figure you'd already know to set the hook if the fish slams it, so I only mentioned the subtle types of hits :p )
.... cp :cool: