The News Outside

Curious how ya guys and girls fish for your slabs..Fishing with minnows,Do ya hook thru dorsal or the eyes?And whats some good plastic too use for jigging?Do i use bigger minnows or the small one?Thanks for your help….

  When using minnows I go through the lips 90% of the time. Jigs whatever they hit….lol I end up throwing a 1” white curly tail as often as anything but do resort to a small or 1” tube jig, again experiment with colors untiul I find what they want… The jig head is most often not painted but have found occasions where a painted head does work better. The size depends on the conditions typically 1/32 up to an 1/8oz most often. There are exceptions where current or wind might dictate a heavier jig…

I try different things each year but always end up using a beetle spin.  Black and yellow has been the color of choice for the last 2 decades.

jcurri - 08 March 2012 12:48 PM

I try different things each year but always end up using a beetle spin.  Black and yellow has been the color of choice for the last 2 decades.

We fishing for walleye/sauger or crappie?...That is my choice for river walleye!!!!

Crappie!  I will have to give it a try on walleye.

All the above, at one time or another. Never had much luck with spinners unless fishing a pond. Fishing lakes use mostly minnows, either through the eye or back, sometimes it matters, soemtimes it don’t, don’t use jigs alot but always have them on board. painted, unpainted and plenty of different colors, same with the tubes. Better to have and not need than need and not have.

trial and error not every place is the same

When i fish with minnows i buy the crappie minnows at the bait shop. they are the little ones. i have hooked beneath the eye sockets for years as i was told once they live longer and are more active that way…could be myth but ive caught plenty of slabs that way. i also have a good amount of luck on a white road runner with a white curly tail on it. they pretty much come right out of the package that way. As far as jigs go i have had the best luck with the small chartruse skirted tube jigs. any combination of white and chart red and chart or blue and chart. If u ever go to kentucky lake in the spring all you will ever see being used for crappie are small skirted chart jigs. White or chart + color of your choice, 1/32 oz jig head most the time, minnows with jig head, or white road runner (the occasional white and chart road runner works too) are pretty much cant miss items if you are in spot that is holding crappie. I always use 6lb test low vis green mono in the spring for crappie. Most the time i have a slip cork or on a windy day i will use a weighted cork which actually provides a good natural movement to your jig becuase the bobber will be waving back and forth from wind and waves on top making your jig dance a little on bottom. I have heard the myth that crappie wont swim down to feed (bite your hook) and again i have no idea if thats true but i am a superstious person who sometimes buys in to fishing lore and i always try to fish just above the depth i think the crappie are at. When i verticle jig for crappie i let out the amount of line needed to be at the desired depth and make 6-12 inch flicks with my rod tip every 10 seconds or so depending on bite. that can be a really fun way to catch them. I am headed to rend and kinkaid the 20th and 21st of next month. i will be sure to post pics and methods used if i have any success!