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Pretty new to crappie and only know two ways to fish for them. First and most productive for me has been a jig with a plastic bait of some kind under a slip bobber. Other way is casting out and draggind in the jig with no bobber. First crappie I got was years ago fishing for bass and got it on a 1/4oz jig with a plastic augertail on it. have never tried that heavy a jig again!
Nothing wrong with either of those casting styles, and they are probably the most widely used methods.
Over the years, I've probably used about every method there is, at one time or another. The least used method, for me, has been the jig/float. My mainstay jig size is the 1/16oz jighead for most all the methods I use.
1/4 oz is heavy for panfish. Similar to CrappiePappey's jig weight preference, my heaviest jig weight is 1/16 oz. But in general I use a variety of jigs: 1/64, 1/32 and 1/24 oz. Lure choice + presentation decide which weight + hook size (i.e. #8, #6. #4, #1/0. #2/0). The list of lures that catch most freshwater species is infinite. But, lure body-shape, type action-tail (if present) and lure weight, are crucial as to what to cast and how to retrieve it any lure.
Granted, simple is as simple does. If I knew nothing getting started and was given a 1/24 oz ballhead jig tied to 8# test braid, on a 5 1/2' - 6' light-action spinning rod + soft plastic lure, I would probably catch just as many fish without ever changing a thing. Heck, you can cut the curl tail off a curl tail grub, rig it on a light jig and I guarantee just as many strikes when fish are located. But for me, variety is more fun, especially regarding various lure shapes and actions.
I do believe fish senses have evolved over many centuries. They transmit to a fish's simple brain exactly what a moving object in the immediate area is doing as well as its size and shape. Do those senses differentiate between live bait and lures? Maybe, but only so long as the bait is alive and moving when stationary. A dead worm or minnow is no different than a lure and must be moved by the angler to generate interest and the strike trigger shared by all good lures.
The type of retrieve of various lure action-profiles can make all the difference in the number of fish caught. Do a search on my user name for my posted examples regarding that.
1/16 & 1/8 mostly but also 1/4 for deep fish that i want to get down to in a hurry.
I use 1/32 oz jigs more than anything else, and will occasionally go up to a 1/16 oz. Have been known to go down in size more than up, and do have jigs down to 1/80th oz with trout magnets. But then the heaviest rod I have is a light action rod. Great read everyone.
I started with a 1/16 oz. #2 sickle hook. jig and a blue ice BG. Use a 1/32 mostly now. I have tried several colors and caught some on almost all. Blue Ice is still my fav and most consistent producer. I single pole cast and retrieve, sometimes when I can sit over top of them I straight down jig. I have caught on crank bait casting into a swarm of bait fish. Don't be afraid to try the things the experienced folk here suggest. Seems to me having a varied arsenal and learning when to use what and how to present the bait is what makes chasing crappie my favorite fish to chase. Now remember, I is just a beginner myself. Good luck :fish
When considering what jig weight to use, lure weight and shape should be considered to be able to maintain the depth wanted at the slowest speed needed. 1/4 oz or even 1/8 oz. couldn't cut it for the lures I use regardless if the lure is worked horizontal to the bottom or jigged mid-depth.
This wacky-rigged grub would not have the same action rigged on anything heavier than a 1/16 oz jig.
I want nothing such as a large jig head to distract a fish's attention from the finesse action/profile.
https://i.imgur.com/xGxLP5L.jpg