Live Bait Cost Effectiveness

[sunshine]

Well, we buy a 6000 dollar boat, put a 1000 dollar trolling motor on it, outifit it with 2000 worth of electronics and then worry about spending 10 dollars for bait? I just look at cost of bait as part of the hobby. I spend 30 dollars on gas for the trip up and back, 10 bucks for snacks, 2 dollars for sun screen and loose a handfull of jigs most days.


Bob

This.

The most expensive part of most of my fishing trips is the beer I drink or the gas to get there.

[deathb4disco]

Never had anyone really show or explain jigging because there is definitely good and bad techniques.

How are you fishing them? Trolling, casting, vertical jigging ... something else?

[SlabSeeker0485]

How are you fishing them? Trolling, casting, vertical jigging ... something else?

I dabble in all of those methods. Depending on what time of year. Summer I trolled minnows. Would love to vertical jig em this fall. Cast or troll this winter. Just all depends.

[deathb4disco]

I dabble in all of those methods. Depending on what time of year. Summer I trolled minnows. Would love to vertical jig em this fall. Cast or troll this winter. Just all depends.

All I do is cast, and I've been using this method since I was twelve. It works, whether you use sliders or not.

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

[Frank Cecil]

I’m a minnow guy mainly because I’m not good with jigs. Never had anyone really show or explain jigging because there is definitely good and bad techniques. I have the bad ones mastered apparently lol. I minnow fish bc I catch more. I would love to be able to boat the same amount if fish on jigs bc I pour out minnows all the time.

Good afternoon. I mainly fish with jigs tipped with crappie nibbles. Mainly use pink nibblets. I can catch as many fish on them as I do on minnows. I use a 1/16 jig head main colors are chartreuse or blue and silver. Just use the cast and retrieve method or long line method. Give it another try. Think you will like the results. You might have to try different colors in your area. Good luck and happy fishing

[Dan petrie]

I’m a minnow guy mainly because I’m not good with jigs. Never had anyone really show or explain jigging because there is definitely good and bad techniques. I have the bad ones mastered apparently lol. I minnow fish bc I catch more. I would love to be able to boat the same amount if fish on jigs bc I pour out minnows all the time.

I keep my minnows alive in a DARK color bucket for 3 weeks using aquarium air pump and a little fish food , ready for the next trip.


Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-J727A using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

[T_om]

My fishing buddy Don and I quit using minnows for crappie YEARS ago. We push jigs. And have never had a problem catching fish.

It all depends on your style of fishing I guess.

I used minnows most of my life... before we started pushing jigs. Dipping bait around fallen trees, stumps, etc. minnows might outfish jigs. But we have found a technique that works for us, where we fish in Florida shallow water lakes, and save the money we were wasting on minnows. My freezer is always stocked with crappie year round too.

Tom

[SlabSeeker0485]

My fishing buddy Don and I quit using minnows for crappie YEARS ago. We push jigs. And have never had a problem catching fish.

It all depends on your style of fishing I guess.

I used minnows most of my life... before we started pushing jigs. Dipping bait around fallen trees, stumps, etc. minnows might outfish jigs. But we have found a technique that works for us, where we fish in Florida shallow water lakes, and save the money we were wasting on minnows. My freezer is always stocked with crappie year round too.

Tom

When pushing jigs, is there a certain style or design you prefer? I’m a big crappie magnet guy when I do use jigs but not sure they would have a lot of appeal pushing vs dipping them.

[T_om]

When pushing jigs, is there a certain style or design you prefer? I’m a big crappie magnet guy when I do use jigs but not sure they would have a lot of appeal pushing vs dipping them.

We push 1/32 to 1/16 ounce jigs behind 3/4 ounce sinkers. Using a variety of tube lures and Horsehead spinner jigs (like Roadrunners).

Tom

[yobuck]

We push 1/32 to 1/16 ounce jigs behind 3/4 ounce sinkers. Using a variety of tube lures and Horsehead spinner jigs (like Roadrunners).

Tom

Im a little confused (mainly an age issue) with the differences between pushing, and spider rigging.
Im familiar with the fact both use multible poles, but is the main difference in the rig itself ?
In the past year or so ive started making up rigs with 8# line in various legnths starting with 5' and as long as 10'.
I put a loop on the bottom end for securing the weight, and about 16" above another loop for attaching either a jig or a hook.
Reason for making the rigs, (which I store on sections of foam pool noodles) is that I use 12' telescopic rods and just snap the rig onto the tip. Now my question is am I pushing or spider rigging?
I have noticed that the store bought rigs for spider rigging all seem to have the weight above the hooks. But in watching videos of spider rigging, they don't appear to me to be doing anything different than I am other than of coarse using different type rods, which frankly I don't seem to need.