Selecting your CRAPPIE JIG SIZE AND COLOR: SIMPLE EXPERT TIPS
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Crappie Jig vs. Crappie Bait: Understanding the Key Differences for Effective Fishing
Choosing the right crappie jig is essential for successful crappie fishing. For shallow waters, a 1/16 oz jig is ideal, while a 1/8 oz jig is better suited for depths of 10 to 15 feet. The 1/8 oz jig descends quickly and stays in the desired spot more effectively, making it perfect for deeper waters. Understanding the appropriate jig size based on water depth can significantly improve your catch rate. For more insights on selecting the best baits and jigs for crappie fishing, check out our comprehensive guide.
And if you wonder what the difference between a crappie jig and a crappie bait is, check our other post addressing the question.
Q: Jeremy, what jig size do you recommend for crappie fishing?
Jeremy Mattingly: The best size jig for crappie, in my opinion, is a 1/16 or 1/8 oz jig, depending on the depth of the water. The more shallow the water, the smaller the jig head, so that’s where you would use the 1/16 oz jig. If you’re fishing in 10 to 15 feet of water, then definitely go with the 1/8 oz jig. That way, it gets down there quicker and holds in your spot better.
Q: Can you explain how water depth influences your choice of jig size?
Jeremy Mattingly: For shallow waters, a 1/16 oz jig is ideal because it doesn’t sink too fast, allowing you to keep it in the strike zone longer. In contrast, a 1/8 oz jig is better for deeper waters, like 10 to 15 feet, as it descends quickly and stays in the desired spot more effectively.
Q: Are there any practical tips for selecting the right jig size?
Jeremy Mattingly: Absolutely. Always consider the water depth and the activity level of the crappie. In shallower waters or when crappie are less active, a lighter jig like 1/16 oz works best. For deeper waters or when fish are more aggressive, go with a heavier jig like 1/8 oz. Additionally, keep a variety of jig sizes in your tackle box to adapt to changing conditions.
Q: Why do you prefer jig fishing for crappie over other methods?
Jeremy Mattingly: I prefer using a jig to fish for crappie over live bait for one simple reason: I control the action of the bait. With live bait, if your minnow swims too erratically, especially in the summertime, it’ll actually spook your crappie off.
Instead of being able to catch them with an artificial bait, I can make that movement as minimal as possible, which will trigger the bite over big movements. Big movements are how fish figure out something’s not right. If that minnow is trying to run but can’t get away because there’s a weight holding it in place, they can pick that out as unnatural. That’s why an artificial bait will outfish live bait.
Q: What type of jigs do you recommend for differentt seasons and why?
Jeremy Mattingly: During the spring, I generally start with a smaller bait, something around 2 inches down to an inch and a half during the spawn. Now, as I move into summer, I will actually downsize to something in the 1-inch range. This is because the fish themselves don’t want to expend a lot of energy to eat the bait. If it’s too big, they’ll just throw their hands up and swim away because it takes too much effort.
Going into the fall, when the shad have started to feed up, that’s when I’ll actually fish with a 3-inch bait or a mag minnow. This is because they’re trying to pack on the pounds for winter. They’ve got that feed sack on, so they’re going to eat the bigger bait. When you get into the dead of winter, it’s time to go back to small baits again. A 1-inch bait is the longest you want to throw at them during the winter, and you’ll have to pair that with a slower presentation.
Q: What is the science behind selecting the right jig/bait color based on the water clarity and weather conditions?
Jeremy Mattingly: Water clarity 100% makes my mind up on what color jig I’m going to use. I tell people to quit wasting their money on every different color under the sun. Certain colors work in clear water, which will be your more natural colors like Ozark smoke with a black back and a silver belly—they look like a shad or Margarita that looks like a young fry fish.
Now, when you go to darker, more muddy water where it’s just rained and all the freshwater is coming in, you need something that’s going to show up and throw a shadow. That’s where colors like purple and the Joker glow in the uppercut come in; it has a glow tail and a dark body, providing a shadow for these fish to see. For muddy water, use dark colors; for clear water, use light colors. That’s going to put them on the hook.
Q: How does time of the day affect your jigging strategy for crappie?
Jeremy Mattingly:
The time of day is very crucial for jigging for crappie. Early in the morning, you can catch the crappie off the structure because they’ve been up feeding all night in the shallower water and they’ll be hanging off the structure instead of buried down in it. Often, one side of the structure will be better than the other because the side away from the sun has the shadow, and that’s where these crappie like to hide.
Crappie are ambush predators, and understanding this is key to catching more fish. They hide in the shadows and strike when the opportunity presents itself. Recognizing their predatory nature and where they prefer to hide can greatly increase your catch rate.
Q: What are some of the most common mistakes anglers make when choosing or using jigs for crappie fishing?
Jeremy Mattingly:
The most common mistake I see most anglers make is choosing a jig head that is entirely too big. A quarter-ounce jig head in 5 feet of water is way overkill. In 5 feet of water, you should be using a 1/16-ounce jig head. You wouldn’t use a quarter-ounce until you got into 20+ feet of water trying to catch crappie. That’s the number one thing that I see anglers do wrong.
The second mistake is when they’re jigging, they’re making big violent movements. If your jig is bouncing up and down more than 2 inches, you’re scaring off the fish and that’s why they’re not biting. You might get lucky and catch one or two really aggressive fish, but then the whole rest of the school is gonna shut off because those big giant movements are unnatural and the fish are able to figure you out.
Q: How do you determine the best depth to fish for crappie in unfamiliar waters?
Jeremy Mattingly:
The depth of water I target fish in before I ever come to a lake is always determined by the clarity. Fish will be in more shallow water if it is muddy. Most engineered lakes stay muddier, and most of your tournaments are won in less than 6 feet of water, even in the extreme heat of the summer. So, the muddier the water, the more shallow the bigger fish are gonna be. The clearer the water, the deeper they’re gonna be. When you get into clear water lakes, you actually end up getting more black crappie.
Understanding the difference between black crappie and white crappie before you get there is crucial. Black crappie feed differently than white crappie. Black crappie like smaller baits all the time because they usually feed off microorganisms, bugs, and insects. White crappie, on the other hand, are called bucket mouths for a reason—if it’ll fit in their mouth, they will eat it. They have a Jack Russell-style mentality; they don’t care how big it is, they’re gonna try to eat it. So, larger baits for white crappie and smaller baits for black crappie—that’s gonna be your ticket to success.
Q: Can you share any specific experiences or success stories where using the right jig size made a significant difference?
Jeremy Mattingly:
Pairing the right size jig head to your jig is absolutely crucial. Back in March 2020, I actually brought to scale seven fish over 3 pounds. I ended up with 22.08 pounds on my best seven fish in a tournament. The key to that was going to a smaller jig head and using a 1¾-inch long jig. I was using the Joker Uppercut in muddy water and was in an area with a lot of other anglers. I ended up with 22 pounds while many of them ended up with 14 to 15 pounds. This was because their bait was either too big or too small, or their jig head was way too big.
If you’re ever in doubt, downsize. Anytime you’re in doubt, always downsize, and that’ll be your ticket to success.
Q: What would you tell a brand new angler trying to get ready to go crappie fishing for the first time?
Jeremy Mattingly:
The number one thing I would tell a brand new angler wanting to get into crappie fishing is to go with a guide first. Find a reputable guide on a good lake and go with them to pick their brain. See what it is they’re using and understand the money you have to spend in certain situations to be able to catch these crappie. That will let you know whether you actually want to get into this or not. You can catch crappie year-round with the proper equipment. If you don’t have the proper equipment, you can catch crappie for about three months out of the year. So definitely pick out a great guide and go check it out.