Useful Tackle tips: How and When to Use Weedless Crappie Jigs

"Whitesparkle"

To be a great crappie angler you need to experiment with all the different types of crappie fishing baits available. Most likely you have already had great success with live baits.

The crappies are very fond of minnows but won't pass up the chance to snag a few insects or any one of the other foods they feed on naturally. Live bait is often used when fishing for crappies but it's not the only thing that you can have a lots of success using. There are a number of artificial baits that will work just as well and even better in some instances.

For example, have you ever tired to use live bait around weedy areas, Lilly pads or areas with structures? If so, you probably had a problem keeping the bait on the hook. They tend to get hung up or dragged off constantly causing you to spend more time getting them loose and rebating the hook than you do getting bites. Luckily, there is a solution to this problem and it's called the weedless crappie jig.

Slider weedless crappie jigs is one of the most popular baits used because it works so well in this type of environment. It may get caught around the debris found in these areas occasionally but they still work very well.

Just make sure you secure the hook in this jig or you'll end up losing it instead of catching a crappie. There are other weedless jigs available for you to choose from as well so take a little time to check out your options and see what's on the market today.

When to Use Weedless Crappie Jigs

The weedless crappie jig is designed in a special way to prevent it from getting hung up when fishing for crappies. This species tend to hang out around structures, rocks, ledges and weeds where they can be difficult to get to. When fishing around these areas it's very common for the bait to get snagged and even stuck on the debris.

Many times, you'll reel in your line to discover you need a new jig because you lost the one you had on some type of obstacle in the water. Other times, you may even have to cut the line because it's impossible to get it loose.

This can be very frustrating and certainly cuts back on your fishing time. The design of the weedless crappie jig eliminates or at the very least, reduces this problem. Anytime you're fishing for crappies in weedy areas or around Lilly pads it would be to your advantage to use a weedless jig.

Basically, they can be used anywhere there is heavy cover and structures with a great amount of success. It's a good idea to keep a variety of these available with you at all times.

Dan Eggertsen is a fishing researcher and enthusiast who is committed to providing the best crappie fishing information possible. Go to http://www.askcrapp iefishing. com/editorials/ 5_how-and- when-to-use- weedless- crappi-jigs. html for more information on crappie fishing jigs.

Where to Catch Crappie

There are two types of crappies known as the white and the black crappie. They are very much alike with a few distinctive features. The white crappie has six spines, dark bars that run vertically along their sides and a short dossal fin.

The hump on their back is bigger than the ones found on the black crappie and they are the larger of the two. The black crappie has seven or eight spines, dark spots located all over theirs sides in no apparent order and they have a longer dorsal fin.

The white crappies prefer the dark murky waters while the black crappies tend to favor the clear waters in lakes and streams and areas that are weedy.

Nevertheless, both species can usually be found in all types of lakes, rivers and ponds. Both the white and the black crappies eat worms, crayfish, aquatic insects and their favorite food is the minnow. They are both members of the well-known sunfish family and will spawn in the spring like most species depending on the temperature of the water. The water temperature will affect the aggressiveness of the crappies as well.

Where to Find Crappies

The crappie is one of the easiest species of fish to catch. That is, once you find them. They hang out in schools so when you've found one, you've usually have found a good fishing spot. They can be found anywhere there are natural or man-made structures. Any submerged trees or brush piles found throughout the body of water is an excellent place to look for crappies.

One of the great things about crappie fishing is the fact that you can normally catch them all year long so, you can go fishing anytime. They are more abundant during the spring spawning season where they can be found close inland. This is when they're the most aggressive and the easiest to catch. In the summer they search for structures and shady spots so you can find them around anything that provides protection from the sun. However, their aggressiveness will slow down during the heat of the summer.

The crappies will move back in closer to the shoreline during the fall months and during this time of year they will slowly become more aggressive again. This is a trend that will continue throughout the winter which is why they are fished all year long. Unlike many species of fish, the daytime is a great time to seek out the crappies because they're not as active during the night. Still, the best time is just after the sun rises and just before it sets in the evening.

Dan Eggertsen is a fishing researcher and enthusiast who is committed to providing the best crappie fishing information possible. Go to http://www.askcrapp iefishing. com/editorials/ 5_where-to- catch-crappie. html for more information on crappie fishing.