be different. There are lots of generally accepted rules for crappie fishermen and not all of them are totally true.

Rods:
Rule, use ultra light rods for sensitivity. I have found that stiffer rods are actually more sensitive and will move fish out of cover better, I'm currently using Medium action rods and having great results.

Line:
Rule, use the lightest line possible. Nonsense, Crappie are not very line shy unless in very clear water. I use 12-14# braid with a 12# leader and rarely get out fished.

Jigs:
Rule.Use lightest jig possible, usually with a #4 or #6 hook. I totally disagree again. If you use too light of a jig you will lose a lot of feel especially if it's windy, in deeper water and current. You will also get hung more. I use 1/8 and 1/4 oz jigs most of the time. The fish simply don't care and I rarely use larger than a #6 hook and a lot of the time I use a #8. Now a 1/4 oz ball head jig with a #8 hook looks ridiculous. The hook is so small that it hardly sticks out of the plastic body. Don't be fooled, it comes thru brush like a piece of rope and rarely gets hung and when it does you can usually straighten the hook and pull free. Believe me it will hook and hold fish with no problem. (Check with Ron, 214-616-8295 He can make all you want.)

Knots:
Rule, use a loop knot for better action. A loop knot is a weak knot and will allow the jig to wobble and it will hang up more. And contrary to popular opinion, the best action usually is no action at all. I like an improved clinch Knot, you can position the knot so the jig sits level and is stable enough to go thru brush without many hang ups.

I take a lot of different fishermen out on my Teaching trips and the first thing I usually have to tell them is to slow down their presentation. The next thing is to quit wasting so much time changing jigs so often. It's rarely what is on the wet end of the line, it's who's on the dry end that matters. I usually fish with a jig until I lose it, sometimes several days.

This is just a few idea's that might help some of you.

Great tips Ernest. I was thinking about using braid and I have a lot of floro around for leader material...

Ernest in late fall when the crappie start to move out of the thick brush and kind of hang out scattered near the piles, what is your favorite technique. I havent figured out a particular way to hammer them when they are in that semi scattered mode. It just seems to be slowly hover around with the trolling motor and the jig feels a little heavy, and you pull and they are on it. Kind of like they are sucking it off the bottom, and just sitting there on the bottom with it.
Do you slow drag the jig thru the concentrations of fish, hop the jig along, tandem or triple threat jigs , downsize, upsize, ect.
I have also noticed when they get into this scattering in medium sized groups, they will move frequrently,. the whole posse. I guess they are scouting the piles and around them to look for remaining baitfish.

Very enlightening Ernest, Thank you for the tips.

Thanks so much for the tips sir!! look forward to meeting you some day. I really appreciate all the tips and techniques shared on this forum buy all the great folks here.

Lots of good Info TY

Mr Ernest has a wealth of information to share and any trip with him will be worth every penny (and a lot of fun to boot!)

+1 Earnest.... I fish quite different than most and with the above gear mentioned. Many are converting and even fishing bigger profile baits when it calls for it. I think the anglers in Texas get this but it's difficult getting anglers from other states to break the chains to try new things.

Great read.

What are the personal preferences (Brand) of braided fishing line and where do you purchase them?

PowerPro Super Slick 8/20lb yellow for me get it at most Big box stores Walmart, Academy,BP etc.

Crappie Bait: check your PM. I'll send ya some.

Awesome post.

Help me out here.

What I have never understood, if crappie are not line shy.

Why do you have to use a mono or floro leader with braid?

Seems like you would be better off just getting rid of the braid and fish with a rod that you can feel the bite without having to use braid.

Just seems crazy to me.

My $.02. You don't catch fish when your jig is out of the water. Fish what you're confident with.

Great thread Ernest.

Not crazy at all if you know the reason. It's a lot faster and easier to change jigs or retie on mono. Just snap the old jig off and retie. Old eyes can hit the jig eye easier with stiff mono. Also don't need to find the scissors to cut the braid. And Maybe I'm wrong about a few fish being line shy and I want to catch them too. While it may not help most of the time it NEVER hurts.