When fishing a slip bobber, guide Matt England emphasizes that bites can be very subtle. He says, “They might just close their mouth around the jig, not pulling or running. So, it’s imperative to watch the cork like a hawk. Irregular activity, like tipping to one side, can indicate there’s a taker.” (Photos courtesy Matt England)
Crappie Basics: Guide Matt England Shares His Secrets
by Noel Vick, Traditions Media
Crappie purist and veteran guide Matt England is a fulltime central Illinois guide.
To find fish, England relies on forward-facing sonar (FFS) to identify remnants of the past season’s baitfish population and hopefully their arch nemesis crappies. He searches for the warmest water and takes an outside-in approach, first testing wintering grounds and then moving shallower if fish are starting to make their move.
Almost invariably, he says, transitional crappies will be suspended, making them prime for FFS discovery. Once fish are outed, he creeps as close as possible without blowing up the school, which requires long and accurate casts.
But if they aren’t buying the free-range jig, England slows things down with a slip-float.
“Fish have more time to find and hit the jig under a cork,” said England. He operates with Thill Crappie Corks, liking that individual sizes are marked to match exact jig weights.
He ties the same hair jig with a loop knot beneath the float. The specialty knot lets the jig seductively “lullaby swing,” as he describes it. England activates the cork and jig with small twitches, which prompts the jig’s hair to pulse ever-so-slightly.
Bites can be subtle, too. “They might just close their mouth around the jig, not pulling or running,” said England. Consequently, it’s imperative to watch the cork like a hawk. Irregular activity, like tipping to one side, can indicate there’s a taker.
If the fish are especially persnickety, England covers the tip of the hook with a single waxworm.
Shelbyville Reservoir is one of England’s favorite lakes. At 11,000-acres, the waterway is laden with submerged timber – and England goes straight to the wood, seeking remnant trees and brush midst creek channels and associated drop-offs. The denser the lumber the better.
Learn more about England’s crappie-catching secrets here.
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