Vertical fishing
Anytime crappies are deep enough that they will tolerate a boat directly overhead, fishing vertically is the most efficient way to go. The minimum depth varies and depends on the water clarity. It could range from as little as 8 to more than 15 feet deep.
The bottom bumping rig is one method of fishing vertically. You also may drop jigs and slip-bobber rigs straight down over the side of the boat to the fish. When you find a school of crappies, toss out a marker buoy so you can stay on top of them.
CASTING
Swimming tiny jigs, spinners, and crank baits close to shallow crappie cover is like a bass fishing in miniature. Accurate casting is crucial because it prevents snagging and prevents the lures running within inches of the cover.
When fishing submerged cover, cast jigs and spinners beyond the potential crappie lair and let them sink to the desired level before beginning a slow, swimming retrieve. A 1/16-once jig sinks about 1 foot per second. If you are fishing a crappie bed in 12 feet of water and the stakes stick up 3 feet above the bottom, count the jig down 9 feet and fan cast the area. The crappie may hold off to the side of the bed, down in the bed or suspend somewhere above it. Vary the count until you begin getting strikes.
Trolling and Drifting
When crappies roam open water and they are hard to find, drift or slow troll jigs with an electric motor. Many dedicated crappie fisherman drift or troll with so many rods sticking out over the sides of their boats that the method has become known as "spider fishing".
It's common for anglers to setout well over a dozen rods when spider fishing. Be sure local regulation allow the use of multiple rods before employing this method. Place rod holders attached to the boats gunnels or a long board secured inside the boat. Limber fiberglass rods respond to strikes with slower, deeper bends than graphite rods and make it easier to see when crappie has engulfed a jig.
Another advantage of spider fishing is that you may set out your jigs in various weights, styles and colors. This helps determine the most productive depths and whatever lure preferences the fish may have. A quality 6-pound test monofilament line is thin enough to let the jigs get down, yet strong enough to back on many snags to cut down on losses.
Up to a point, jigs will run deeper as you pay more line. It's important that you keep track on how much line is out on each rod so you can duplicate the setup after catching a crappie. If you feel you need to get deeper than the jigs sank on their own, place split shot or a rubber core sinker on the line a few feet above the jig. When one rod starts producing fish, rig the others in a similar fashion.
|
