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  1. #1
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    Jun 2011
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    Clarksville TN
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    Winter crappie fishing?

    Going to try some winter crappie fishing next week on Lake Barkley or maybe kentucky lake. I've watched several videos and read some articles on how to rig jigs and minnows. Do you prefer to put the weight below or above the jig? Or just fish weighted jigs with no spit shot or drop shot rig?
    Thanks!

  2. Member
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    Oct 2017
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    St. Peter, Minnesota
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    #2
    Depending on how the fish are setup should decide. To me if they’re related to the bottom I like a jig, adding split shots up the line if you need the weight to get to the depth or deal with the wind. If they’re suspended I like a drop shot with just a hook and minnow. If it’s a mix or 10’ or less, I love a hair jig with or without a float!!
    Good luck, pretty jealous, only way I’m getting Crappie right now is vertical jigging through the ice.
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  3. Member
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    Jan 2010
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    Indiana
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    #3
    Haven't bought minnows in over 20 years. With the cold water with plastics your best bet is sliders or 2" curltails on warmer sunny days. . With cold water they dont like too much vibration thus the sliders or strike king works better. Use your electronics to locate them and its pretty easy after their located. Some days we might have to drop shot for them using 3" plastic worms and a crappie nibble.. Year round (minus the ice) we just use ball or football jigs. August thru oct we love our 1/4oz footballs and 4" curltails.

  4. Member
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    Apr 2019
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    Arkansas
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    70
    #4
    I prefer to use 1/2 oz weight above a swivel on mainline then drop a leader off of it with 2, 1/8 oz jigs below. If this set up is dropped too fast you can get some jig tangling but allows too hold very still in vertical.
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  5. Member
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    Jun 2014
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    #5
    Depending on wind and or current, we just use 1/16th, 1/8th, or 1/4 oz jigs heads with anywhere from 1 to 4 inch plastic baits. Most popular for us is probably a 1/8th oz head and a 2 to 3 inch body. No one i know buys minnows except when chasing walleye in the early days after ice out. Some of the structure we fish, a double rig would last about 30 seconds before having to retie a new set on.

  6. Panfish Forum Moderator SOONER*REDNECK's Avatar
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    Dec 2009
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    Pryor, Oklahoma
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    12,549
    #6
    1/32, 1/16 or 1/8th is all I use. I usually run a tandem set up for vertical jigging.
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  7. Proud American Union local16's Avatar
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    Mar 2008
    Location
    Decatur Illinois
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    43,442
    #7
    We vertical jig 3/32 oz jigs and tubes 10-14 foot deep over brush. I haven’t used a minnow in over 30 years. The bite is good til the lake freezes which it hasn’t yet.

    Dale Sinclair original