4 Reasons Crappie Jigs Outperform Bobber Fishing (Floats)

Alabama crappie guide Lee Pitts explains why he prefers using crappie jigs and plastics over bobber fishing for crappies day in, day out. Simply casting or even vertical fishing a jig offers maximum flexibility in terms of depth control, how you work the bait, plus the ability to pattern the fish.

Here are Pitts’ 4 reasons why he prefers tight-lining crappie jigs and his preferred rod setup for the job.

  1. Cover more water than you can with a float. Jig fishing is all about casting and working a bait at any depth, but for crappies, most often with a slow and steady horizontal retrieve. This allows you to eliminate unproductive water quickly in search of active fish.
  2. Cover more of the water column than with a bobber. Not getting bit at a certain depth? Fish the jig shallower or let it sink deeper until you determine the depth fish are holding, then simply “count down” the jig to the desired depth. Unlike a bobber, there’s no timely re-rigging necessary when tight-lining a jig.
  3. Jigs can be fished horizontally or vertically. Unlike a float, which essentially suspends a bait vertically in front of crappie, jigs excel for slowly swimming a lure through the water column. Still, they can also be fished vertically beneath the boat, giving you the best of both worlds.
  4. Ability to contact cover. No different than hitting cover with a jig or crankbait for bass, contacting cover is also a trigger for crappies. A jig allows you to bump brush or a dock to trigger reaction strikes from tentative fish unwilling to react to stationary or suspended baits.

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