I spend most of my time on the Hybrid Striper board but......Ill be fishing Granbury a bunch this winter. Do you guys deadstick your crappie jigs like we fish our striper jigs this time of year. I thought I might hit some bridges and deeper brush on Granbury. Granbury is chock full of nice Crappie these days.

Can't help with Granbury Randy,

But on our local lake the water temp is 47 or so.

And we've been catching our fair share of crappie deadsticking jigs.

I usually fish two rods. One with a slab and jig, and the other with two jigs.

Saturday, we boated 20+ fish. All crappie except for one LM.
11 keepers.
The biggest 13.5 hit a blue/chrome bomber just off the bottom.
I was holding it perfectly still (other than some boat movement.)

Good luck!
Now if I could only find some whites...........
Before spring!

Thats how i fish for crappie most of the time.

I use a 3/8 to 1/2 oz drop shot rig year 'round.
Most times 3ft off the bottom, this time of year I go
to 18" off.
If you think your fishing slow, slow down some more and watch for the Ghost Bite.
They will come up to it and just put it in their mouth with no movement.
Just like me and Buttermilk Pie when I'm full, I don't really want it but can't keep it out of my mouth.

I dead stick Crappie jigs spring summer fall and winter, just don't call it that. I call it holding the jig still. Not gonna say I never move them. I sometimes do. I will raise the rod real slow, or pull the line with my hand. Sometimes I will pull off a couple of ft and let it fall. Sometimes I will raise my rod and slowly lower it. Bridge fishing you can move from pole to pole real slow just letting your jig drift along. All of that will trigger a strike at times. But, most times I just hold the rod still. Crappie fisherman just don't call it dead sticking. We just call it fishing. We aint as bright as the rest of the fisherman, we don't come up with many of those fancy terms.

Im just the opposite my jig never stops .Im movin it over under around through every limb thats down there.With the weedless jigs you can do this and trigger bites.

Hold it still, then give it a twitch. Hold it still, then give it a twitch. Move it a little to the right give it a twitch. Move it a little to the left and give it a twitch. Don't know what kinda fishing you would call that but seems to work for me. This gives me an idea of what the fish want. Dead still. On the uptwitch or the falling twitch. Swimming right to left.

I was just getting ready to ask myself what the dead stick meant. Know Ino it is the same as I do just hold it still. I usually fish with a couple rods and put two on holders and one in hand to dead stick it.

I agree that is a very effective method but to much work for this lazy guy lol I guess thats why i don't fish for bass.

Thanks guys. I have been a minner fisherman my whole life but I wan't to fish jigs. You gave me a place to start and Ill figure the rest out from here by using my dephfinder and expermintation.

Bottom line is either presentation will work There are some guys here that catch bunches of fish throughout the year working the brush and keeping the jig moving while others are using very little movement I personaly believe which ever you use to keep the presentation extra slow in the cold water.

Randy there are alot of guys on here that will fish with you and show you the methods.The crappie club mettings are first rate join and attend if you can.Hiring a good guide to show you the ropes is a fast way to learn and not get discouraged.Darrell

As with any fishing, there is no one best way. Try all the methods and let the fish tell you what they like best.
I am just learning to dead stick for hybrids, it is very similar to crappie fishing.
Good luck
Mo

Hey Randy the method you described is deadly,on winter time slabs,deadsticking deeper ledges this time of year with a slight drift = Sac a lait for sure. A dead give away on the deep water bite.

I also fish with minners but fish with jigs as well....take 'em both cause you never know what they want.....
case in point......was out last week fishing with minners and we only had about 10 in the boat after 2 hours.....looked over at the next pylon from us and a guy was bringing them in one after another with jigs so we switched and sure nuff....jigs did the trick...
use whatever ammunition you have!