Dead Sticking

A lot of fishermen make the mistake of thinking that jigs only catch crappie in summer and early fall. Most of these same fishermen came to this conclusion because they failed to catch crappies in numbers by using jigs in the winter. Well I can tell you that I've caught crappie in the dead of winter using jigs.  I've been the only guy on a lake that had chunks of ice big enough to punch a hole in my boat, and I've caught crappie in large numbers using nothing but jigs.

The main reason most fishermen don’t catch crappie on jigs in the winter is because they overwork the jigs.  The metabolism of crappie slows way down in the winter.  As a result, they move slower and won’t expend a lot of energy trying to catch a fast moving jig.

My favorite technique is called “dead sticking”.  In sort, “dead sticking” is simply suspending a jig and letting it set. I repeat, let it sit.  Sometime I use a slip bobber and other times I just put my rod in a rod holder. The movement of the boat or bobber is all the action the jig needs to attract crappie. The crappie hit light but they are easy to detect. 

When I find the crappie with my depth finder, I lower my jigs to that level.  I typically put out 4 or 5 rods at a time.  I prefer to use tube jigs since I seem to catch more with them VS. grub jigs. Also, since I’m not holding my rods, my hand are usually in my pocket and warm.

Give “dead sticking” a try and you will see that you can and will catch crappie on jigs in large numbers. Good luck fishing!

I have found that Basspro.com has the best selection as well as prices on Jigs, Depth finders, and slip bobbers as well as all other tackle. I ususally order online but I do enjoy browsing the store in person.

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