Page 7 - Crappie NOW - June 2017

DROP-SHOT RIVER CRAPPIE

bites.” important. The bait gets in the strike
Brown says the rig is primarily zone it’s best to leave it there a while
to use in places where hangups are a to give the fish time to bite. He uses a
problem. He has used two hooks but minnow with the good hook but adding
says that defeats the purpose of the rig. color is okay on some days. He prefers
A fish will immediately run when he is a small-bodied plastic bait when tipping
hooked so another hook means you’ll with a minnow.
get hung and lose the fish. “I learned this technique from an
“The technique is basically a older gentleman I know. It has worked
secondary way to fish and works well well for me. I’m sure other fishermen
with our spider rigging. We spider rig can find situations when the drop-shot
and then use the drop-shot to penetrate will help them reach more crappie.”
the cover. We’ve learned it really helps
getting to spooky fish that stay buried Bait Options
in the brush.” Without doubt the drop-shot is
“I usually drop it until it hits bottom geared toward fishing a minnow. That’s
or something else. Then work it up as the primary function. However, there are
needed. Here on the Alabama River we times when a jig tipped with a minnow
are likely to pull out a 2 or 2.5-pounder.” will work. Brown says he likes different
Brown says patience is very jigs but a Bobby Garland Minnow Mind”R

7 Crappie NOW June 2017