My First Crappie Explosion!

[Aquaman01]

Hi -
I'm still pretty new to fishing Minnesota waters, and haven't had the pleasure of serial-fishing a school of crappie - until Sunday with Mistermom. Man, that was a blast!

I missed out on the spring pre-spwan and spawn limit-out explosions, and have no idea what they do in the fall, but I had a hunch about this little inlet, and there they were - holding tight under mats of floating vegetation. Their own private little shade flotillas!

I always thought "a jig under a slip-bobber? What the heck for?" and now I know - you can adjust your position in the column easily, cast more accurately and by twitching the rod-tip or just thumping the rod handle - vertical jig from casting-distance away! That rig is the ultimate carpet-bombing tool! Thanks to all ya'll who have posted info that I've absorbed and finally had the opportunity to implement!

Oh, all were released unharmed. Not a gut-hook in the bunch!

------------------
Aquaman
<')}}}}}><{
Peace and Fishes

[CrappieJohn]

Aqua...Just a curiosity, but what were you using. Bait? Plastics? Hair? They are a roit when you can find them on the munch like that. And using the smallest baits and floats can really make things interesting. Thumping the rod handle makes the fish crazy doesn't it? Glad to hear that you got on one of these bites as they are simply a riot to experience!

------------------
Sure life happens- why wait....The Crapster....good fishing guys!
[email protected]

[Aquaman01]

A long, thin slip-float with a 1/16th oz. jighead. Crawler pieces at first, then when we ran low I was lucky that MM had 1" white Power Grubs.

After that got lost in a tree, I went to a slightly larger float and an 1/8 oz. Northland Whistler, same bait dressing.

------------------
Aquaman
<')}}}}}><{
Peace and Fishes

[CrappieJohn]

Aqua, Thanks for the info..some people just don't like letting go of the technical stuff. I use two pound line and fish with as light of tackle as possible, but... if you are going to thump the rod or tweek the line you need a jig of at least a sixteenth of an ounce. The line has to have a "load" or tension on it from the bait to work well. The heavier jig will fill the requirement. Summer craps will readily take a jig up to 1/4 ounce and up to 3" twisters. I have caught them using a #13 Rapala trolling for waldos! Fishing craps as you described is a ball and I hope you experience the action as such many more times.

------------------
Sure life happens- why wait....The Crapster....good fishing guys!
[email protected]