01-13-2019, 04:13 AM
Look down the list here, and there are already a couple of recent posts about crappies.
I posted a pic on a recent thread of most of the different jigs I have caught them on over the years, but some only worked well that one night they weren't biting the regular.
I have caught PV crappies tipped with wax worms, regular red worms, sparkly crappie nibbles, 1" Gulp minnows, perch eyes, little perch meat bits, Gulp maggots with the little tail on them, and spikes. Also, a few during the day with various micro-plastics. The most consistent for me is wax worms, then perch eyes or strips.
I always bring several things, though, like about five possible baits. A couple trips, I had really weak luck with waxies for a few hours, tried the perch eyes, then the gulp minnows. Finally, some guys pulling off the lake with limits would compassionately stop on the way out and offer me a little handful or red (or gold) sparkly Crappie Nibbles (or Nuggets?) , and all of a sudden I can't keep em off my hook. I try them the next time, thinking I got the secret sauce, and they are back on perch eyes, or whatever.
When I filet perch or white bass, I save the tough little ovals of belly meat for later. I definitely think that they like long triangular strips, maybe 1/8"- 3/16" wide and 1-1/4" long, cut from perch bellies so I can rig them like little quivering tails. As an aside, I can almost not cut them right with anything other than a very large, but fine-bladed Chinese chef''s knife I have.
I do think that, while it would be very hard to actually "fish out" panfish, a lot of bites from ALL fish are inquisitive, especially through the ice. And, they get WAY less inquisitive when pressured, even just from all the activity on the ice, let alone missed hooksets. So, getting away from crowds, and offering them novel jigs and baits after a hard pounding from fisher-folk might help, if the regular stuff isn't paying off.
On the other hand, I don't like to crowd other guys, but I also don't have any electonics. If I see or hear anybody catching much, I will at least try to imitate them. If they are on the flat, or a point, I head for the flat or another point. If they are at a certain depth, I'll try to read the slope of the hill and get about that deep. Etc.
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I posted a pic on a recent thread of most of the different jigs I have caught them on over the years, but some only worked well that one night they weren't biting the regular.
I have caught PV crappies tipped with wax worms, regular red worms, sparkly crappie nibbles, 1" Gulp minnows, perch eyes, little perch meat bits, Gulp maggots with the little tail on them, and spikes. Also, a few during the day with various micro-plastics. The most consistent for me is wax worms, then perch eyes or strips.
I always bring several things, though, like about five possible baits. A couple trips, I had really weak luck with waxies for a few hours, tried the perch eyes, then the gulp minnows. Finally, some guys pulling off the lake with limits would compassionately stop on the way out and offer me a little handful or red (or gold) sparkly Crappie Nibbles (or Nuggets?) , and all of a sudden I can't keep em off my hook. I try them the next time, thinking I got the secret sauce, and they are back on perch eyes, or whatever.
When I filet perch or white bass, I save the tough little ovals of belly meat for later. I definitely think that they like long triangular strips, maybe 1/8"- 3/16" wide and 1-1/4" long, cut from perch bellies so I can rig them like little quivering tails. As an aside, I can almost not cut them right with anything other than a very large, but fine-bladed Chinese chef''s knife I have.
I do think that, while it would be very hard to actually "fish out" panfish, a lot of bites from ALL fish are inquisitive, especially through the ice. And, they get WAY less inquisitive when pressured, even just from all the activity on the ice, let alone missed hooksets. So, getting away from crowds, and offering them novel jigs and baits after a hard pounding from fisher-folk might help, if the regular stuff isn't paying off.
On the other hand, I don't like to crowd other guys, but I also don't have any electonics. If I see or hear anybody catching much, I will at least try to imitate them. If they are on the flat, or a point, I head for the flat or another point. If they are at a certain depth, I'll try to read the slope of the hill and get about that deep. Etc.
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