When cooler temperatures have those crappie biting lightly, strike detection becomes paramount. That can be challenging on a good day, but in windy conditions it’s critical that you don’t let the blow rob you of opportunities.
Strike King crappie pro Mark Williams and his fishing partner Doug Cherry minimize the amount of line above the water as a way of working around the problem.
“When we’re trying to hold our baits right in front of those fish, we hold our rod tips close to the water and try to keep them as still as possible,” Cherry said.
But with the wind blowing rod tips around, it’s still easy to miss a light bite.
To resolve this issue, Williams and Cherry employ a line-monitoring technique that also allows them to impart subtle action to their jigs without moving those rod tips.
By simply holding their line about a foot above the reel, the tournament veterans can feel even the most-delicate take.
Also, by contracting their fingers, Williams and Cherry can make their jigs rise and fall without ever moving their rod tips.
Cherry grips his line from the top, palm down, while Williams prefers to hold his from the bottom up. It’s a personal preference, but either style will help you detect those whisper bites.
