So I alluded to using hair jigs in my fishing trip recap the other week and never really explained how I have grown up fishing with them. The jig itself is probably one of the most effective fishing lures ever used and can catch anything that swims; it is all about matching your color to the conditions and how you fish it. Today the focus is just on using tiny hair jigs for crappie fishing, so sit back and take a minute to learn one way of putting "slabs" in the frying pan.
When it comes to using hair jigs for crappie fishing, the technique I employ is flipping (and pitching) the jig in and around cover using a fly rod/spincast reel combo and 8 lb test line; note that I've also used ultralight spinning gear to swim them back to me with moderate success. They can be utilized while trolling, but seeing as how I have never done that before, I'll stick to what I know and not try to b.s. my way into giving you wrong information. This technique is honestly one of the simplest things to do: Let out enough line that your jig is even with the end of the rod then with a flick of your wrist, pitch it towards the end of a submerged tree or other type of brush. The main thing is just get it near the cover and let the jig do the work, falling back towards the boat, and jerk the fish into the boat whenever you feel a bite (with this type of fishing, you never try to reel as it increases your chances of losing the fish). Like I said, it is not hard to master and honestly not as important as the next thing to be discussed: Color selection.
Ever had one of those days where it just seemed the fish just wanted one lure and only one lure? It's as if they don't even see the other things you throw at them. Well this same concept applies to crappie fishing when it comes to the color of jig. I don't know how many times I've been fishing with my grandfather and dad when, after I had just pitched to the same exact spot with my blue and white jig, one of them catches a perfect eating-size crappie using a pink and white one. Same spot, same technique, same color line, different result. Obviously if you fish by yourself it is a little harder to know if they are biting one color better than the other, so it may take time experimenting to figure it out. To help narrow this down a little better, below I've listed the colors I start with depending on water clarity (the first color refers to the body hair of jig and the second colors refers to the thread used to tie the hair on and/or jig head color).
Keep in mind this is just a starting point, sometimes they'll bite any color in any water condition, but past experience has showed me that the colors above work most in the conditions they are listed under. Also, the fall of the jig is important and can be affected by the size of the jig head. Most of the time I use a 1/32 oz head though I will step up to a 1/16 oz head if it is a windy day (the fall of the jig isn't greatly impacted but just that little step up in size makes it easier to control your pitch in the wind). The only other time a heavier jig (think 1/8 oz) is used by myself is when fishing sunken brush, or "hid holes", in water deeper than 10 feet and I want to get the jig down as fast as possible.
I hope by sharing the above that you'll want to give pitching crappie jigs a try the next time you go after some "papermouths". When the crappie fishing is hot and you dial in the right color of your jig, you'll be left at the end of the day with a cooler full of good eats and a sore arm from jerking in all those fish.
-C.B.
Ever had one of those days where it just seemed the fish just wanted one lure and only one lure? It's as if they don't even see the other things you throw at them. Well this same concept applies to crappie fishing when it comes to the color of jig. I don't know how many times I've been fishing with my grandfather and dad when, after I had just pitched to the same exact spot with my blue and white jig, one of them catches a perfect eating-size crappie using a pink and white one. Same spot, same technique, same color line, different result. Obviously if you fish by yourself it is a little harder to know if they are biting one color better than the other, so it may take time experimenting to figure it out. To help narrow this down a little better, below I've listed the colors I start with depending on water clarity (the first color refers to the body hair of jig and the second colors refers to the thread used to tie the hair on and/or jig head color).
- Muddy/Stained Water (very low to low visibility) - Yellow and white or black, orange and white, purple and white, all black
- Slightly Stained/Clear Water (good to great visibility) - Pink and white, blue and white, purple and white, all black, all white
Keep in mind this is just a starting point, sometimes they'll bite any color in any water condition, but past experience has showed me that the colors above work most in the conditions they are listed under. Also, the fall of the jig is important and can be affected by the size of the jig head. Most of the time I use a 1/32 oz head though I will step up to a 1/16 oz head if it is a windy day (the fall of the jig isn't greatly impacted but just that little step up in size makes it easier to control your pitch in the wind). The only other time a heavier jig (think 1/8 oz) is used by myself is when fishing sunken brush, or "hid holes", in water deeper than 10 feet and I want to get the jig down as fast as possible.
I hope by sharing the above that you'll want to give pitching crappie jigs a try the next time you go after some "papermouths". When the crappie fishing is hot and you dial in the right color of your jig, you'll be left at the end of the day with a cooler full of good eats and a sore arm from jerking in all those fish.
-C.B.
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