Jigs........or Shiners?

When I first started crappie fishing years (and years) ago I used shiners pretty much all the time. Then I slowly transitioned over to jigs and have fished with jigs only for many years. I was that guy that would say "if they bite a shiner, they will bite a jig".

I was just proven wrong..... Last week, I was fishing and not having any luck at all, when I ran into a fellow fisherman tearing them up on shiners..... I mean catching some big-guns. I was getting hits, but no takers. I just figured it was bream and kept going.

Long story short.... They were not bream...They were slab crappie that wanted shiners, NOT jigs.

I guess it's time for an old dog to re-learn an old trick.... I can't even tell what shiners cost these days.

I can’t remember the last time I used shiners but I have seen times when that was the ticket.

No shiners for me . Livescope will tell you if it makes a difference when you can see the fish and your bait , how they react .

I use jigs 99% of the time, but down here in south Arkansas at White Oak Lake in the hot summer.......they won't hardly hit anything. I have gone to jigs in July & August and have good luck.

I am a jig man, but will fish Gulp alive 2.5" minnows on a jig. They work fine.

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Originally Posted by Lucky 13

When I first started crappie fishing years (and years) ago I used shiners pretty much all the time. Then I slowly transitioned over to jigs and have fished with jigs only for many years. I was that guy that would say "if they bite a shiner, they will bite a jig".

I was just proven wrong..... Last week, I was fishing and not having any luck at all, when I ran into a fellow fisherman tearing them up on shiners..... I mean catching some big-guns. I was getting hits, but no takers. I just figured it was bream and kept going.

Long story short.... They were not bream...They were slab crappie that wanted shiners, NOT jigs.

I guess it's time for an old dog to re-learn an old trick.... I can't even tell what shiners cost these days.

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I used to never use shiners, didn't even own a minnow bucket. I used to say I didn't like them because they make the boat smell like fish.[emoji23] Now I rarely go without them.

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I know there are times they may hit a shiner over a jig but I’ll still stay with jigs 99% of the time.
It’s just more fun.
I do go a few times each winter with a buddy that buys the shiners when the fish are really deep and sluggish.


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[QUOTE=GreenLine;3928964]I know there are times they may hit a shiner over a jig but I’ll still stay with jigs 99% of the time.
It’s just more fun.
I do go a few times each winter with a buddy that buys the shiners when the fish are really deep and sluggish.


Yep.....That was the case in this instance. It had been really cold for this area (South Ark..Ouachita River lakes) and they were deep. Deep is a relative term around here..... if you can find more than 12 ft..... that is deep. I’m still a jig guy, but I might be more open to shiners going forward.
I am going to retire in January, so I will have more time to hone my skills. I plan to spend a lot of time on Lake Greeson..... I love that place!