Well, fishing jigs down at the slips at Grapevine have really rough on me the last month or so with all of the rains, cold fronts and muddy water that I am about to go back to minners this weekend. I was killing them on jigs pretty good before but nada lately.

I have been exclusively using jigs because I am trying to learn to be a good jig fisherman, but I am sick of not bringing a mess home. Question to you exclusive "jig" fisherman out there...Do you guys ever give in like this in tough times to minners?

Nope...The only time I use minnows is trolling...Period...I figure if they aren't biting a jig chances are pretty good that they won't bite a minnow either...

One way to find out tho...

The idea is to catch fish. Whatever it takes in my opinion. That being said, I don't go to the lake and take minners along. So when they aren't biting on jigs, I go catch sandbass.

Generally, I use minnows for trolling only unless I have clients aboard and then only kiddos.

Everybody else can use jigs...or look funny holding a pole. Just kidding.

Go with what works. Those slabs taste the same no matter what you use.

I fish jigs 90% of the time, and most definitely when it is just me...except for the winter time, when I use a lot of live bait.

When Wes and I are fishing tournaments, I am using jigs...he's using live bait...and whichever is catching more fish is what we go with. Sometimes it has been jigs, and sometimes it has been minnows.

There are days when jigs will outfish minnows, and days when minnows will outfish jigs...and there are days when neither of them work very well.

If there is a day when the jig bite just does not seem to be happening, and I really feel like there are fish in the areas I am on, then I have no problem putting live bait down there...whatever puts fish in the boat, given the situation you are in

Thanks guys, that's some good advice. I just don't want to ruin my confidence with jigs but if I'm not catching them anyway, I guess it can't hurt.

Jeff, I am with you on that one that's why I always bring some TNT limit gitters with me...lol...

I use Minnows or Shad most of the time. I think they out produce jigs.

If the Crappie are hitting really, really good, go with the jig, it's faster and less hassel.

But for the customers and to catch the most we can (day in and day out), I use minnows and/or shad.

Had a trip the other day with 5 customers catching Sand Bass and Hybrids and then went crappie fishing. Only had about 1/2 pound of minnows (so with 5 I knew we would run out quickly). I used minnows to start (caught several) and switch myself to jigs (to conserve on the minnows). I kept catching some but not as often with the jigs while the customers continued with minnows. One of the customer wanted to switch to a jig cause I was still catching more than the customers on minnows. But in actuality I would have caught more sticking with the minnows (or shad if we would have had shad that day). I hook minnows and/or shad under their jaw and then righ up between their eyes (not their lips, they pull off to easy). Makes a good presentation as you move them.

Funny thing is even if you're using minnows or shad, when you about done with that spot where you have been catching them and they slow, before you leave, drop a jig down there and you will normally catch a few more that never hit the minnows/shad. They just wanted something different.

Mark,
Great tip on dropping a jig on bp after fishing it out with minnows!

Another great tip! Thanks all you guys!

I use jigs because I'm too cheap and lazy to spend the extra 15-30 minutes buying them. I would rather be on the water. That being said, If I take my wife, kid, or an inexperinced fisherman, I'll use minnows. I've also stocked up on a bunch of tied jigs from the month my bad back took me off my feet and want to try all of them out before going back to replacing my bait after every fish.

We use jigs and minnows....I find the bigger fish are caught with the jigs.....

This morning, the wife caught a ton of small crappie on minnows, I kept chunking my jig and brought home the big boys..

Where were you fishing Tree? What color was working for you?

We were on Belton this morning...black/firetail is the jig that tore em up....beat the minnows hands down

I mostly use jigs as I hate messing with minnows and all that comes with them. However I will at times, especially at night in the summer and early morning Summer as I don't fight that heat. If I use minnows I also use a jig and the jig will get about 75-85% of the bigger fish. I take a 1/4 oz. jig and tie it on the bottom for weight and bait. About 12"-18" above that I use a Gamakatsu Drop Shot Hook size #1 or #2 and that is for the minnow. You can slow troll with this or tight line over brush.

Skip

I USE JIGS ONLY %100 of the time. I use them even spider rigging but I use Berkley Crappie Nibbles also. I haven't bought minnows in over 10yrs. Once you get used to using jigs you will not go back to minnows. If I'm in a erea and not catching them I move and to find them. You will find fish somewhere that will hit a jig. There are very few times that I don't catch fish the transition period is about the only time when the fish are hard to find.
GoodLuck
CrappieMaster