Teaching friends to feel the bite

I enjoy taking friends fishing.
That said I have had a hard time teaching them how to feel the bite when crappie fishing.
How do you crappie guides get past this?
I normally catch them in brush piles, jigging either straight down or letting it swing across.

I would guess on the last 6or 8 fellows I have taken, I have caught 90% of the fish.
Last trip I caught 25 big ones and threw back 20 smaller ones. My buddy caught 1 small crappie and 2 bass, using the same jig standing right beside me.

You can put braid on their poles and use a heavier jig. This will allow them to feel bites and brush better.

The other way is to use a slip float with a minnow and put the depth to the depth you are catching fish at. This will allow them to see the bite instead of having to feel it.

This is where I would start.

Have them hold the rod and then take your index finger and tap on the rod tip. That will simulate the thump. If you have any texture on your boat, you can have them lightly drag the rod tip across that and they will feel the subtle changes of the texture. I use the latter method when testing out a new rod in the store.

If you're fishing brush, they're likely going to get hung up a few times as they learn the difference between a bite and the brush.

Finally, watch their rod tip or line as they fish and tell them when they missed a bite. If you can do that quick enough, sometimes, the fish will still be on the line and they'll get the catch too. But at any rate, they should start figuring it out.

Ol Jeff is back! Good to see your post old friend. I always enjoyed reading your posts 10-15 years ago when you were guiding.

I do what Jeff mentions above except instead of tapping the rod tip I'll thump the line and explain that they have about 2 seconds to react. It's fun showing bass fishermen the thump because they think they have time to real down and set the hook.

Ha. First one I saw do that pulled up a set of crappie lips.

Have them hold the rod as they would while fishing. Strip 3 or 4' of line, and let it hang vertical. grasp the line with one hand with light pressure to keep line taught, and flick the line with a finger from your other hand lightly. You can watch the rod tip to judge how hard to flick it.

First off I am not a guide by any means. I have taken friends that have never fished for crappie and taught them how to catch them.

It is easier to teach them to watch the line for the bite instead of feeling for the thump. It's not really the bite or thump your watching for its the difference in the way the line moves or lack there of depending on how aggressive the crappie are.
Example, for pendulum fishing over a brushpile as your line is coming twards you and it just stops even though the line isn't directly below your rod tip its usually a bite. If jigging and you drop your rod tip down and the line has slack instead of being tight because of the jig it usually a bite. Either one of those scenarios would not have a hard thump.
The more time you put in fishing and watching your line the easier it is to notice any difference in what your line is "supposed" to be doing

I as well am not a guide but the way I was taught was to first get an idea of what the jig feels like when "jigging the pole" so that you have an idea of what that feels like. Then, if you "jig" your jig and you don't feel that normal weight of the jig then set the hook. Also, if you see your line go slack, set the hook, and if at any time you feel anything "different", set the hook. You may not have anything but most of the time it is a fish on.

Biggest thing you can teach someone is to keep their finger on the line. Either teach them to hold a bait caster properly or use one of those under spin reels, but it’s super important to have finger contact with the line. I see so many people hold the rod with both hands or will just hold the rod by the grip.

My biggest problem is teaching them how to feel their way through the brush. Most are so excited about fishing they want to set the hook anytime they feel resistance. I always have them put a split shot above their jig to help pull them off when they get hung. It’s also something they can feel the brush with before they hit it with the jig. Like Paul and Jerry’s video says, Easy up-easy down.

Having the right rod, light weight and sensitive, is number one on the list. Makes touching the line only extra work.
My preference in order.
G-Rod 7 or 8 ft MLS
Bonehead rod
ACC Crappie Stik
Pro Angler

"It's fun showing bass fishermen the thump because they think they have time to real down and set the hook."

I had a neighbor that was hardcore bass fisherman. It took me forever to teach him how to crappie fish. He would reel down to the fish and then try can cross their eyes. He also fished way to fast. He did everything in the boat at double time. It took a few trips to break him from these habits.

That is a very good question. I try to get customers to hold line in one hand and be a line watcher. I fish with first time jig fisherman about 50% of the time so there is definitely a tough learning curve on these finicky summer time fish. I notice 90% of new jig fisherman “jig” the jig by yo-yoing. Try to get them to not move the tip much and raise and drop line by hand.. less is more most of the time. Trying to figure out the difference between a fish and brush is the tougest thing I see.
I hear, “oh I had a bite”. Well now you missed it if your talking about it. Its tough sometimes to “teach” someone. Some catch on quick and do alright, some refuse to listen and never catch on.
First thing I ask is do not reel a fish up to the tip. 75% do it every time. Had a rod broke Saturday because a guy reeled a 1.50# fish to the tip and raised the rod straight up. Bye bye tip.
I just watch each person and try to give them specific advice on things I see them doing that I think I can help them on. The ones who apply it will start catching on pretty quick.

Now i know whats wrong .

Summer time is the hardest. Bites are fast and lite. I tell them to be ready at all time. Watch the line and rod tip at all times. I always watch them when I can to help them and tell them to set the hook. The key this time of year is to be fast. If you tell yourself I think that was a bite, it is way to late. A big thing I see is people want to reel first, that’s a big no no. So I have them hold the rod with one hand only and other hand by there side. So when they get a bite they have to set the hook then reel.