When getting a bite is tough or when they quit on a spot I go to what I call a "sneak attack". Worked today on some big crappie. I start on a spot, pile or tree, with a medium sized (2") jig. When that stops producing I switch to a snelled #2 crappie hook with a minnow. I put a large (1/8 oz) split shot on the snell about 5" above the minnow so it can swim free.
When that bite slows down is when the "sneak attack" starts. I use another rod with a #6 snelled hook (very small) with split shot above it. Bait it with a piece of a minnow,(1/3) a head, middle or tail.

Today the "sneak attack" produced about 1/3 of my limit of big crappie plus 3 blue gills, 3 catfish and a drum.

When you quit fishing for the day freeze any leftover minnows. They work sometimes as well as live ones and can be cut up for "sneak attack" Bait. I freeze them 12 in a bag in snack bags and only thaw one bag at a time.

Have you tried using Berkley crappie nibbles?

They seem to help the bite for me, cheaper (if you buy minnas) and cleaner than cutting minnas....IMO

Just asking.....

Nice catchn but the way.....

I do something similar.
I drop a 3/8 oz jig first to catch the aggressive fish then when those quit I can usually pick off a couple more with a little 1/8 oz before I move on.

SK I tried those on my jig after watching you use them, I really only used them on one fish trip. I tired with them and without them, using livescope, I can�t say they caught any better with the nibble. But I need to give it more scientific study.

Saturday when I was fishing, a little piece of the crappy�s mouth got stuck on my jig hook, I could not get it off. So I said what the heck, I�ll leave it on there. I started catching more crappie with it on there, I think the scent helped, like a nibble or piece of minnow on jig does. I�m thinking this helps when you let jig sit still like I see you do a lot, and fish are just looking at your bait, that scent may nudge them into biting more.

Can anyone tell me what part of the crappy mouth got stuck on my hook? It was white and very durable, I caught a lot of fish before it came off. I would like to try and start using that on my jigs.

It is unlawful to : Use any game fish or part of a game fish as bait.

Oh ok, thanks for the info, I can see why they would have that reg on the books.

Take your jig, rub it along side the crappie before you toss it into the cooler. Get some slime on the jig. Natural, stays on longer than a nibble.

The Berkeley Power baits, be they nibbles or any other form, were originally designed to make fish hold on to an artificial bait a bit longer so that you can react and set the hook.

I don�t fish without them on my jig. It does seem to enhance the bite for me. So likely the scent is also attracting fish to the jig as well.

That�s a good idea, or is that against the law.

I haven't been able to tell if nibbles help or not. I can usually catch crappie with out them and don't see any increase with them.

Walleye fishermen sometimes dress a jig with a throat. The little triangle in a fishes throat. Never tried it but might work.
I guess that would be technically illegal but gets thrown away when you fillet the fish. Technically putting a brushpile in the lake is also illegal.

Will you all send me some crappie when I'm in jail?

Again?