Please Help!! I can't catch fish

First and foremost, I have no idea what I'm doing. I've read alot about crappie and know a little about how it's done. Went fishing yesterday and found some fish in open water. I setup to cast out to them and reel it back past them. This is where my problem comes in. The fish were 10-15 feet deep. I'm using 4lb. mono and a 1\16oz jig head with a bobby garland plastic. It was a windy day and the wind kept my line blown out and my jig never would sink. I know I could use a heavier jig head, but am I doing something wrong? What's the biggest jig head you would use? Please help!! I'm tired of going and not being able to catch anything.

The heaviest jig I use is 1/16 oz. 4# line is fine, also.

When it's windy, I keep my rod tip low to the water. This minimizes the effect of the wind.

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Originally Posted by Auston22688

First and foremost, I have no idea what I'm doing.

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Read this:

Charlie Brewer's Slider Company - Weedless Crappie Slider "Why&How"

Crappie sliders are great baits, but this method works with any jig, including your Bobby Garland. Technique is what matters most, not the bait.

Have you tried counting down after the jig hits the water to control depth? For instance. If fish are 10-15 feed deep, start at a 5 count , then add a couple counts until you find the number that matches the depth the fish prefer. Then your retrieve is repeatable at the depth the fish prefer. Like db4d pointed out keeping your rod tip low in windy conditions can help. Keep slack out the best you can and retrieve slowly. Good luck.

In windy conditions like you speak of, there's no reason not to go up a notch in jig weight. Even adding a splitshot sinker a foot above that 1/16oz jig is an acceptable alternative.
The other suggestions are also viable alternatives.

You may also try and get somewhat closer to the school, so that your wind bow isn't as severe ... if the conditions will allow it.

There's also the "Vertical Casting" method, if you happen to be able to hold your boat directly over the school. (here's how : Please Wait... | Cloudflare )

The Alabama State forum below is pretty active. It would be another good place to ask this. Possibly someone there is fishing the same waters as you.

Thanks guys. It never occurred to me to use split shot. Guess that’s a learning moment. Is it best to be downwind from the structure and reel with the current or what?

For me that depends. Although rarely does the wind and current play well together. Most of the time they seem to be going opposite. In a boat it is sometimes possible to find spots sheltered out of the wind.

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Originally Posted by Auston22688

Is it best to be downwind from the structure and reel with the current or what?

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Tricky question.

I've always heard that whenever there's any current, fish are going to face into it. That's why they prefer eddy water or underwater obstacles .... so they can get out of the current & just hide & wait for bait to be washed close to them.

I try and think like a fish that's in a restaurant .... I'm going to pick the table closest to the kitchen door, if it's available. :biggrin

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Originally Posted by CrappiePappy

Tricky question.

I've always heard that whenever there's any current, fish are going to face into it. That's why they prefer eddy water or underwater obstacles .... so they can get out of the current & just hide & wait for bait to be washed close to them.

I try and think like a fish that's in a restaurant .... I'm going to pick the table closest to the kitchen door, if it's available. :biggrin

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Timber that provides a break for from the current is definitely a good place for a crappie to ambush prey. That block from the current gets even better with it is also the shady side as well

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Originally Posted by Auston22688

First and foremost, I have no idea what I'm doing. I've read alot about crappie and know a little about how it's done. Went fishing yesterday and found some fish in open water. I setup to cast out to them and reel it back past them. This is where my problem comes in. The fish were 10-15 feet deep. I'm using 4lb. mono and a 1\16oz jig head with a bobby garland plastic. It was a windy day and the wind kept my line blown out and my jig never would sink. I know I could use a heavier jig head, but am I doing something wrong? What's the biggest jig head you would use? Please help!! I'm tired of going and not being able to catch anything.

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I would hire someone to go along in your boat for a day.
Have him critique both you and your setup based upon how you want to fish.

Minnows can make it a lot easier at times

I’ve tried to avoid minnows because I want to say I’ve caught them on jigs. Just a hangup I have. But I guess I need some in the boat just in case. I guess I can always tie on a bobber stop and bobber and fish I jig that way.

I’ve tried to avoid minnows because I want to say I’ve caught them on jigs. Just a hangup I have. But I guess I need some in the boat just in case. I guess I can always tie on a bobber stop and bobber and fish I jig that way.

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Originally Posted by Auston22688

I’ve tried to avoid minnows because I want to say I’ve caught them on jigs. Just a hangup I have. But I guess I need some in the boat just in case. I guess I can always tie on a bobber stop and bobber and fish I jig that way.

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Float-N-Fly = a jig under a float. I a very good way to catch fish. I use it any time I want to be able to keep the jig just above the fish. A stop and go retrieve or a slow roll retrieve usually works on them they can't resist. There are days when minnows will put fish in the boat when nothing else will. You call also throw a nice spread of minnows out( as many as your state will allow) and increase your odds of bringing home a fish dinner

Does anyone ever use flourocarbon for crappie? I was just thinking that being as flouro sinks, it may be a little better to help lighter jigs sink a little better?

I have fished fluorocarbon line very little. A less buoyant line would have to make a jig sink faster to a degree. If it is enough to make a noticeable degree I do not know. The braid I fish tends to float pretty well. I do not notice it slowing the jigs fall any noticeable amount. But it will cause the jig to ride up when reeled back in

I use 2 1/16 oz jigs. Doubles your chance and sinks rate if it’s windy. If they are deep enough you can get over them and vertical jig them. I will add it takes longer to become a good crappie fisher than a bass fisher.


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Originally Posted by Auston22688

First and foremost, I have no idea what I'm doing. I've read alot about crappie and know a little about how it's done. Went fishing yesterday and found some fish in open water. I setup to cast out to them and reel it back past them. This is where my problem comes in. The fish were 10-15 feet deep. I'm using 4lb. mono and a 1\16oz jig head with a bobby garland plastic. It was a windy day and the wind kept my line blown out and my jig never would sink. I know I could use a heavier jig head, but am I doing something wrong? What's the biggest jig head you would use? Please help!! I'm tired of going and not being able to catch anything.

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I used to have the same problem when I first started. The most important tool in your tackle box is your confidence! Believe in what you are doing and the expected outcome desired. You say your jig offering would never sink. I suggest using a weighted slip float. It will get your offering away from your boat and keep and present your offering at the depth your target fish is.

My second bit of advice would be to fish slower. Cast the jig out, give it time to pendulum back beneath the float, reel up a little to move the lure a bit and let it settle again. The attached drawing is what I personally use. Hope it helps you, but the most important tool is confidence and patience.

Mike

Attachment 419300

Don’t forget using slab sauce or scent, maybe even nibbles to entice hungry crappie that use their smell….I love my crappie nibbles myself and spray it with slab sauce,,,,I don’t know you, but does nothing for me to see a steak, but if I smell it, all **** breaks loose…lol…

Thanks guys for all the help. I’m not getting to go near as much as I’d like. Between twin 2 year olds and recovering from a liver transplant still, I’m wore out all the time. But I’m going to get out there.

OP, post the general area you fish .
If your in any of the southern states, NOW. Is the time to hit the water, the fish are much more active.
Good luck


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I mainly fish Lake Eufaula down in south Alabama. I’ve never tried Lake Seminole but I know there’s good fishing. They’re both about an hour from me. I’ve just heard Seminole has a lot of stumps and it’s got me gunshy to go out there

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Originally Posted by Auston22688

First and foremost, I have no idea what I'm doing. I've read alot about crappie and know a little about how it's done. Went fishing yesterday and found some fish in open water. I setup to cast out to them and reel it back past them. This is where my problem comes in. The fish were 10-15 feet deep. I'm using 4lb. mono and a 1\16oz jig head with a bobby garland plastic. It was a windy day and the wind kept my line blown out and my jig never would sink. I know I could use a heavier jig head, but am I doing something wrong? What's the biggest jig head you would use? Please help!! I'm tired of going and not being able to catch anything.

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Don’t be afraid to size up to 1/8 ounce jigs, ive put plenty of fish in the boat on windy days using 1/8 ounce jigs. I fish mainly Bobby garlands and have got several fish on 1/8 ounce jigs, I prefer 1/16 and sometimes even going as far as 1/64, but mainly 1/16. Wind plays a part in my decision on jig size and weather patterns…example being this morning. We have had a few days of bad weather, so I didn’t anticipate the fish to be very active, and they weren’t. It took about two hours of different colors and using minnows, changing spots, etc., until I finally downsized to 1/32 jig and an itty bitty slab slayer for a more finesse presentation oh and using black and pink for a more finesse(smaller slow sinking bait) presentation. Ended up catching about 25 in the remaining two hours I had to fish and kept 12. Best of luck.


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You can up size jig weight but in wind drop rod tip down to keep wind from blowing line slowing the fall

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Originally Posted by Auston22688

Does anyone ever use fluorocarbon for crappie? I was just thinking that being as flouro sinks, it may be a little better to help lighter jigs sink a little better?

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Always and the rare exception I use coated fluorocarbon .

I learned to fish for them about three years ago. used mostly a slip bobber and 1/16oz jig. After slaughtering them like that, the guy I was with removed the bobber's and we sent the jigs down farther. Advice you got about the rod tip down is maybe your answer. Myself when I can't find them I go looking and usually find them down around 15'. They I simply drop the jig down to them and works pretty darn good. I don't know that casting and reeling in is that great. Done it that way and definatelly have caught them that way but much better luck sticking closer to shore and weed beds and rocks and slip bobber and ever just casting out a bit and reeling it. Using a slip bobber sometimes I cast out and just nudge the bobber back in. Just a nudge or you pull the jig up. But you know what, even if that haappens and you catch a fish anyway then it worked huh?

If you have below 50 water temps , try sitting on top of them and dropping it to them and hold it still in front of their crappie faces

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Originally Posted by CrappiePappy

Tricky question.

I've always heard that whenever there's any current, fish are going to face into it. That's why they prefer eddy water or underwater obstacles .... so they can get out of the current & just hide & wait for bait to be washed close to them.

I try and think like a fish that's in a restaurant .... I'm going to pick the table closest to the kitchen door, if it's available. :biggrin

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I Agree, fish will face into the current, usually, but not always behind an obstacle. like rocks, stumps, etc. This is for a couple reasons. one is the current break as mentioned, and another is as an ambush point on food coming down stream. in lakes and ponds that has a current, I.E. water being let out, they will move a bit more any direction...from my observance anyway...

Lake fishing vs river?
Anchored or not?

No current I'm aware of in a lake - surface or deeper.

Even anchored, the boat must have been bobbing up and down or rocking due to waves and wind combined. If not anchored, constantly working the trolling motor to stay in position while checking the fish finder must of been distracting especially in wind over 15 mph. Definitely not ideal fishing conditions especially in deeper open water.

Suggestions if you absolutely must go on a day like that:
1. braid soaks up water a bit and stays low down deeper with less bow regardless of wind due to its weight. 8# test would allow good lure action yet still be strike-sensitive in wind or calm weather. (BTW 8#=6# in diameter)
2. Cast with the wind, not across it or against it. Line bow kills light strike detection and lure control.
3. 1/16 oz would be my choice along with using plastics with heavier bodies for weight and strike provocation. Even a 1/32 oz jig would work with the following:
Attachment 447556Attachment 447557Attachment 447558
Not too keen using curl tails under those conditions that are used more horizontally than vertically. The lure should exhibit a subtle action even with rod held still that rile fish to strike. Fish don't take kindly to the tease of a straight tail flutter or the bobble of a tailless grub for very before deciding enough is enough!
BTW: the Softie Worm on the left can be shortened to 3" and then added to a 1/16 oz. ballhead. The action is incredible!
Crappie Magnets are another option where a pair of thin straight-tails quiver beautifully with no imparted actionl

4. Floats IMO are not worth the effort to keep lures in place at one depth when bobbing up and down like your boat is.
5. Floating markers make sense once fish are found but only as long as the fish stay where you found them. I also use them to mark bottom structure.

And also remember that just because youve found fish doesnt always mean they will bite. Dont be scared of leaving a school of fish to find another if they wont bite.

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Originally Posted by gabowman

And also remember that just because youve found fish doesnt always mean they will bite. Dont be scared of leaving a school of fish to find another if they wont bite.

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I'm really starting to figure that out lately. I use to hang tight way to long & still do at times but most times now i try it a few minutes & no takers than i'm gone to the next spot. Eventually something will bite somewhere usually.

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Originally Posted by yobuck

I would hire someone to go along in your boat for a day.
Have him critique both you and your setup based upon how you want to fish.

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I've been considering doing that very thing for my area, which is Central NC, around Charlotte. I fish from the bank, though. No boat... yet.

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