After switching over to jigs from minnows a year ago I can honestly say that I wish I had started with jigs. I catch way more fish and enjoy the Thump more!

My luck with minnows was hit and miss and it seemed like they had to swim around for a few minutes before the crappie would strike.

I'd rather fool'em than feed'em any day.

Yes sir! I agree! If you want to take it to the next level,go into jig makers section and ask Pepop for advice on a starter setup to get into painting and tying your own jigs.Tying your own jigs is the icing on the cake,or the corn meal on the fillet.

Don't do it

Make a few rods as well.. That's the tarter sauce.

OOOOPs, sounds like your in trouble now!

I think I would RATHER get you to make a ROD for me...Much Easier on my Stress Level Index...LOL

A wise old man told me long ago, if you want to learn to catch fish with jigs, stop buying minnows. He also has shown me it is not the jig as I have seen him catch many with some of the craziest methods of jigs....

Thank you Ernest Paty....

Don't get me wrong. Minnows have there time and place.

I agree David. This is the only time of year I like to fish minnows and a cork. Love to watch that cork go under, or lay up on its side.


Gman

A couple dozen buys me about 3.5 hours of fishing time!! A fish or two in the livewell gets me another hour or two!! By then I'm ready to go home and little mans scattering baits all over the place.

A couple bucks worth of minnows is a CHEAP babysitter in my case!!!

This right here is maybe the best advice I've heard on this subject. I used to rely on the minnows when I couldn't get thumped. Once I stopped giving up so quickly on the jigs, I was forced to get confident with them and they became my crutch instead of the other way around. I'm no expert, but if someone told me I have to either fish jigs or minnows, I'm grabbing the jigs.

Jigs under a cork work just as well...

You can't blame that minnow for trying to be hard to catch. When fishing bridges with minnows, I only give the bait about 10 seconds before reeling it up one crank. I figure the crappie has already seen the minnow if he's there and is checking it out and once I pull him up a little that hook through his back slows him down just enough for the crappie to grab him. I tend to get a lot of thumps right after I move the minnow.

I used to put a second pole out with a slip bobber fishing the same depth as I fished a tight line with minnows. I quit doing it after realizing I got 20-1 bites on the pole I actively fished.

I occasionally fish with minnows. It really depends on if I have someone going with me or if the bite has been very slow the previous several trips. However with that being said, I really prefer to feel the thump while using jigs! That thump is the addiction!