The info in this thread is why this is the first website I look at when i cut the puter on. Thanks fellas.
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The info in this thread is why this is the first website I look at when i cut the puter on. Thanks fellas.
I was fishing about 3 weeks ago on Wateree with minnows and the bite was slow. I put a jig at the end of the line andd a minnow about a foot up on one rod. I started catching fish on that rod 4 to one over the rods with only minnows, but I did not catch a fish on the jig. It seems the jig got their attention and they bit the minnow. Conclusion, on this slow day, the jig spurred the bite even though they bit the minnow...Go figure.
Guys I'm going to make this thread a sticky. Some very good information about jigging and I know many would want to read this thread and/or add to it.
I have been at this for a little over a year now and I still struggle with some of the methods, but it is clear to me that knowing how deep your jig/minnow is plays a key role in catching fish. I got some 10 and 12 foot rods a few months ago and one thing I did to help with the depth is I put a piece of tape 24 inches from the reel. I can use the rod length to determine the start point, say 12 ft, and I can drop it in 2 foot increments til I get it where I want it.
Years ago I got indoctrinated into the madness of jig fishing for crappie when a friend was catching 4 to my 1. He was casting a 1/32 oz jig, counting down to about 6 ft and the reeling so slow I could barely tell he was turning the reel handle. I copied what he was doing and still did not improve. I finally asked him why I was not getting any bites and he smiled and said "you had 3 strikes on your last cast, why did you not set the hook?" I looked at him like he was crazy and said I never felt a thing. He said "you won't feel anything, you have to watch your line very close and when it goes slack, set the hook." I tired it, feeling kind of stupind setting the hook when I never felt a strike.
But surprise, surprise, when the line bowed slightly I set the hook and had a crappie on. It is a devilish way to fish, but if you want to catch crappie, you have to be able to detect strikes. I am sure I am missing fish tightlining because I am expecting the rod to take a bend and that may not happen every strike.
So much to learn, so little time.
SeaRay
I fish jigs year round. Went Friday and we caught 63, we had to almost hold jigs still, moving only once in a while, bite was light so I use a extra limber tip that I mare for a broke rod to see it move a little. I mainly use a 5&1/2 ft rod. They were 16ft deep in water 30 ft deep. I never use minnows,jigs are a patience slow bait but use right will out produce minnows most of the time especially if just one rod.you can see some of the fish on Va board under fishing at Bugg by genesgenes
Jigging is the only style of crappie fishing I have not learned to do, yet. I am wanting to learn more about single pole jigging and the few times I tried it I didn't give myself enough time to catch the fish. My main problem is the starting depth and how long to hold the bait there. I think I move the jig to fast and need to slow down. Time on the lake with only one rod in the boat may be what it takes for me to stick with it for a day..:dono
That is probably what it will take, when doing something new that is what you have to do, if not you won't give it an honest shot (like my past experiences with longlining until this weekend). When they get to biting with the jig pole if we can work it out, would be happy to take you one day.
I pulled up next to cutbait one October night on Wylie. I was using minnows with 2 rods, he was using one rod with jig. I would catch 1 - 2 every half hour or so and he would reel one up every 15 minutes. He knows his stuff. I hope to have the privilege to fish with him again this year.
I noticed some of you said that you fish jigs at night. Can you explain how you are fishing the jigs at night? I have never fished with jigs at night and would be interested in the method you use jigging at night.