When crappie go deep — which happens sometime this through November — shiners are the mainstay of most Toledo Bend crappie guides in the summer, and Jackson is no exception.
But it’s important to choose the correct size of baitfish.
“I like to fish medium-sized shiners, and I would rather them be little than big,” Maurice Jackson said.
Jackson changes up his tackle a bit, using longer and more-sensitive rods such as the 10-foot Shakespeare Crappie Hunters equipped with B’n’M reels.
Jackson locates a sunken tops with his Lowrance, and once he is confident crappie will be there drops a marker buoys near so his anglers know where to cast.
Jackson baits a shiner on a No. 2 gold Aberdeen hook, sticking the baitfish from bottom lip to the top lip, and crimps a BB weight below a 3/8-ounce slip sinker so 6 to 8 inches of line extends to the hook.
He also beefs up his line, turning to 12-pound Berkley Big Game monofilament.
Perhaps his most-important tackle component is a Frabill Min-O-Life Personal Baitstation.
Within this insulated shiner box, Jackson keeps about 85 minnows alive and comfortable.
“It is absolutely the best shiner box out there right now,” Jackson said. “If you use (two) CopperTop batteries, I only have to change them out every three to four trips.”