Page 9 - Crappie NOW - May 2019

Crappie Basics

Crappie Basics #186 Minnow Hooks

“I use red Tru-Turn hooks,” says Jay Don Reeve. “I want a strong hook and one
that catches more fish per bite. That’s a Tru-Turn. At Grenada I’m using a 1/0 but at
lakes where most fish are small and I’m not likely to catch anything over 1.25 or 1.5
pounds, I’ll go as small at a #2 but nothing smaller. Quality of fish determines the
size. I like red hooks and are comfortable using them. But look in my boat and I may
have some gold and bronze on, too.

“I hook minnows through the bottom lip and up through the top lip, probably 98
percent of the time. When fish are there and won’t bite, I might try hooking them
through the back. My double-hook rig is from Charlie Bunting who showed me how to
tie rigs a simple, strong way with a jig on bottom. I’ve used it for two years with good
success.”

Jay Don Reeve is a tournament fisherman from Texas. He and wife, Rhonda, who
is a two-time cancer survivor, travel and fish to raise awareness and money for the
fight against ovarian cancer. The team is known for a seven fish stringer weighing
20.54 pounds caught at a Grenada, MS, Crappie Masters tournament.

9 Crappie NOW May 2019