Here are a few parting notes to complement your crappie jigging game:
• Color coordinated — Some prefer the simplicity of plain, unpainted leadheads, while others try to match head color to plastic bodies — or at least attain a general coordination or contrast.
Much of this matters more to fishermen than fish. But there are a couple of exceptions worth noting.
First, with lethargic, spooky or otherwise persnickety crappie, those unpainted heads might help by toning down the look.
Conversely, in low-light conditions — overcast skies, morning/evening and deeper water — you might benefit from a higher-visibility presentation like white, yellow, chartreuse or Bobby Garland Mo’ Glo glow-in-the-dark jigs.
• Line up — Toledo Bend guide Jerry Thompson likes fluorocarbon for its abrasion resistance and stealth, but he takes no chances when targeting big fish like those known to roam Toledo’s depths.
“I go no less than 8-pound line because you usually get hung up a lot (with various jigging presentations), and we have some big old sac-a-lait on this pond,” he said.
• Site selection — Wally “Mr. Crappie” Marshall advised keeping several weighted buoys handy for marking those sweet spots — and that might be the ones you’re looking for, as well as the unexpected stake bed or brush pile some sneaky soul planted way out in the middle of nowhere.
Along that line of logic, Marshall also stressed the importance of astute observation coupled with an optimistic imagination.
“You might come across what looks like a single stick breaking the surface, but if you look closer, there’s probably an entire tree lying beneath the surface,” he said. “That one little stick might lead you to a pile of crappie holding on that structure.”
• Finger safety — Dock shooting has become one of the most-entertaining and productive ways of presenting jigs to crappie. However, the combination of a flexed rod, a tight line and a sharp hook very close to your fingers brings tragedy way too close for comfort.
Now, with proper form, your fingers remain clear of the jig’s trajectory on the release. But fingers slip and a rocking boat means accidents loom ever possible.
We can never be too safe, especially when teaching young anglers, so the folks at Bobby Garland introduced the Dock Shooter Pull Tab — a biodegradable tab dressed with a glitter finish that slips over the point of the jig hook for a safe grip that always keeps fingers behind the danger zone.
