Saturday we were fishing on Fork using minnows. We caught a few. A fisherman not far from us was tearing them up with jigs. I thing he was just throwing out and letting it fall to the bottom. Is the method most jig fisherman use in deep water. What works best?

id use the same techniques as in shallower waters but add one or two split shots about 15 inches higher than jig to have better feel and to get down quicker . w/r/j ps a larger jig will help too

I use both vertical jigging and casting. I try both methods to test and see which is working best. Sometimes I alternate the methods.

TRY AN 1/8TH AT THE BOTTOM WITH A 1/16TH ABOUT 12 INCHES ABOVE.......



JIGUM JIGS WORK GREAT FOR THIS.....
MATTHEW

If it's deep water, you can use large headed jigs. I personally would use a 1/4 oz. Gives you more contact with your jig and gets it down to the fish faster.
Use the hiviz line to detect strikes that your don't feel. Watch line close. Be well aware of how deep it is and how long it takes to get to the depth you want it. If the line stops before it gets there set the hook. If the line jumps, set the hook, if you feel the slightest peck set the hook. Sometimes use 2 jigs, a 1/4 on the bottom and something a little lighter as much as 18 inches above it.
Hope that helps. Good luck and rip some lips

Thanks for the help. I tried casting jigs and letting them fall but did not get a bite, I think the fish might not have been ad deep as I was fishing. I need more practice. Guess I will keep trying til I learn.

The other guy might have been sitting on top of a creek channel or brushpile too..Hard to catch em if they aren't there.. ..I'll bet your technique is OK just need to get on top of them..

BS, how deep are you talking here?

Casting works well up to 20' or so, just cast out and slowly retreive along the bottom. Any deeper and I would use the "Cannon Ball" technique. Vertically fish two heavy Jigs (1/4 or 3/8 oz). Be sure to bump the bottom each time you raise and lower the jigs. A 9' rod works best for this type of fishing. I have caught a lot of Fork crappie this way in the winter fishing 35'-45' depths.

~i do this a lot on Benbrook and it works great. ~Kinda reminds me of "stationary trolling".
For example: the water depth is 20'- you throw out about 20' of line straight out and then just lock your spool and let the line fall under the boat, on a tight line to the bottom.
~its falling at an angle to the bottom and covers more of the water column.
~I use the lightest possible weight I can, to keep contact with the jig on a straight line(no wind bowing the line).
~Experiment with weight and sizes. SOmetimes they want it falling fast, sometimes slow.

We were fishing in 45 ft. The depth finder in my brother's boat was not working and the wind was blowing about 15 mph. We were near the creek channel at SRA point with ter rest of the boats.

Perfect for "Cannon Balling". I have Kerry Stafford's Video if anyone wants to watch it.

Ernest, what kind of line do you use for cannon balling?

Ernest,

"Casting works well up to 20' or so, just cast out and slowly retreive along the bottom. Any deeper and I would use the "Cannon Ball" technique. Vertically fish two heavy Jigs (1/4 or 3/8 oz). Be sure to bump the bottom each time you raise and lower the jigs. A 9' rod works best for this type of fishing. I have caught a lot of Fork crappie this way in the winter fishing 35'-45' depths."

I assume this second technique is for fish laying near or suspended at most 10 ft from the bottom. What technique will work if the fish are suspended higher in the water column? Say between 20 ft and 30 ft in 45ft of water?


Regards
Jughead

Earnest, Thanks for the info on "cannon Balling".
I would like to see Kerry Stafford's video. let me know where to get it.

BS