Richard Solomon enjoys pulling jigs to find and catch crappie like this one.
However, when fishing gets tough because they are on bottom, he uses a
super slow technique and says, “You must smack them in the face with a
bait.” (Photo: Tim Huffman)
Crack the Code on Sluggish Crappie
by Tim Huffman
Hot water in August, along with changing weather and water conditions any time of year, can create a sluggish bite. Experts provide solid tips for getting those sluggish crappie into a biting mood.
DOWNSIZE
Charlie Bunting, three-time Classic Champ, says, “Most fishermen have heard to downsize, so that’s not a trick, but it’s what I go to when fish are sluggish. I use a really big jig, usually a 1/4-ounce jighead with a Muddy Water body. If the crappie don’t bite, I’ll start working down in size with a 1/8, 1/16 and then go with a sinker above a 1/32 or 1/64. The smaller profile jigs often trigger strikes when fish don’t want to bite.”
CHANGING BAITS
“Fish are often sluggish when water and weather conditions change,” says Clay Blair, pro staff for B’n’M, War Eagle and others. “I spend a lot of time changing baits. One of the first baits I go to is a small Trout Magnet. If that doesn’t work, I’ll go to something else. I prefer artificial baits, but I’ll use minnows when necessary. If crappie turn away from a minnow, you know it’s a tough day.
“Other things I’ll try is keep changing colors. Other than baits, I’ll sometimes move to the other side of the lake to see if location makes a difference. It doesn’t matter who you are, there are days when you can’t get a bite.”
TRY EVERYTHING
“One of the first things I do when fish are sluggish is to downsize my bait,” says Green River guide David Jones. “The next thing is to make sure I’m using scent. Scent can make the difference in bites and no bites. The last thing I do is downsize everything including line. Smaller line makes a difference. From there, I try everything I can including switching jig colors and using live bait. I move spots often to try and find active fish.”
SLOW DOWN
Richard Solomon, long-time national tournament fisherman, says “When you believe your bait presentation is slow, slow it down some more. Maybe the toughest fish to catch is when conditions have crappie right on bottom. The fish are there to rest and don’t want to be bothered. You must smack them in the face with a bait and leave it there.”
ULTRALIGHT WITH A DIFFERENT LOOK
“There are a lot of ultralight baits,” says Wade Mansfield, Grizzly Jig Company. “One of our baits is the 1/32-ounce Grizzly feather jig and there are times when the fish prefer the look of a feather jig. The fad today is hair jigs, but I believe there are times when it’s best to give the fish something totally different. One choice is a 1/32-ounce RoadRunner with a little tube or curly tail. You get the slow fall with a little flash and wobble. A marabou jig doesn’t get much attention today but the flare on the stop is still good. When fish are sluggish it can be because of a barometric change so they don’t want to eat. But an ultralight offering is more of a snack that they’ll sometimes eat.”
ATTENTION TO DETAILS
Terry Stewart, part-time guide and winner of many tournaments says, “Boat handling is important, especially for bigger fish that are more sensitive. Don’t make noise in the boat. Position your boat for less wind slap against the side of the boat. Even the little splash of a bait on the water can make a difference. We’ve seen it on LiveScope. I believe they can sense stuff so they may just look at a bait and not react to it because they know something isn’t right.”
COLD FRONT OR FISHING PRESSURE- GO SMALL
Lee Pitts, Alabama guide, says, “Most of the time I’m using a small jig, especially when shooting docks. I like a Bobby Garland Baby Shad or the smaller Slab Slayer because they skip on the water when shooting. I use a 1/24-ounce MoGlo jighead for a slow fall. Several factors will make fish shut down or get sluggish. A cold front is rough on the fish, so they are reluctant to bite. Fishing pressure is another problem that makes it difficult to get bites. The fish get careful when they know people are pressuring them.”
TRY A WEIRD TRICK WITH FFS
“My tip for sluggish or no-bite crappie is a little weird,” says Kansas guide Kirby Ham. “Using Livescope, I start by putting the bait right on a fish. He might just look at it instead of taking it. I immediately consider color, jig size and other stuff so I make changes. If that doesn’t work, I try my weird trick.
“I can’t believe I’m telling this because it got me in the money in a tournament on Dale Hollow. Instead of putting the jig in the fish’s face, I’ll pull it up and drop it down to about five feet above him. I’ll let it float down while swimming it back and forth about a foot or two. I know he isn’t moving on it, but I’ll keep lowering it a little while swimming it back and forth keeping it well above him. I want him to know there is a bait swimming above him and get him looking up. On the next drop, I’ll swim it above him and suddenly drop the jig down to him. I’ve had great luck doing this. I compare it to us sitting in a room and suddenly a cheeseburger drops down in front of our face. What is that and where the hell did it come from? It makes no sense. If we see a cheeseburger floating around over our heads, we will know it is there and eventually want one. If one floats down into reach, we will likely eat it whether we are hungry or not. The familiarity with it makes grabbing it an easier choice.
“Another trick for any crappie, including a sluggish one, is to hold the jig still for a while. When you move it away, move it slowly away, giving him an opportunity to eat it. He thinks it’s leaving the area and eats it before it gets away.”
Senior CrappieNOW writer and Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame member, Tim Huffman, has several books, including his newest, Papermouth, Modern Fishing Techniques, available in Kindle or paperback at Amazon, or link from his website, www.monstercrappie.com
