Bobber types...balsa, foam, cigar, teardrop???

[Seth]

The last time I fished for crappie with a float was when they were spawning in weed pockets on a local lake near where I live. I'd just drop a 1/32oz jig with a 2" BG slab slayer and float in the openings and if it didn't go down within 10 seconds, I'd move it a little and just let it sit. I couldn't tell you the last time I fished minnows under a float for crappie. I'm either shooting docks and swimming a jig back or vertical jigging with the long rod these days depending on the body of water I am fishing.

 

[top_dollar]

2 hours ago, Devan S. said:

Are you guys using minnows with the float or artificial like a bobby garland? I've never had luck with the artificial and a float but have with minnows. I used the clip on weights like Seth...primarily because using slip bobber is a lot of setup on something I break off all to often. 

I use small paddle tail type swimbaits, 2-3 inches.  I generally just pull the float towards me a few feet, then drop the rod tip to let the bait fall.  I reel up my slack and do it again.  If there is no wind, I may jiggle the bait a bit to jig it.

[Devan S.]

So your basically using the float to control your depth within a few feet.....never looked at it that away....I've always resorted to a float when I couldn't swim the bobby garlands through the trees without losing a bunch. Then I would just put on a float/minnow and cast out near the tree instead of in it and let the minnow work for me.

[MOPanfisher]

There are rimes when a float and light jig are the deadliest crappie bait ever.  Depth control for finicky spawning crappie for examole, other times they want it moving.  I live for the tap or line twitch but if it requires a float or is too windy to control a light jig, out comes the float.

[Terrierman]

2 hours ago, MOPanfisher said:

There are rimes when a float and light jig are the deadliest crappie bait ever.  Depth control for finicky spawning crappie for examole, other times they want it moving.  I live for the tap or line twitch but if it requires a float or is too windy to control a light jig, out comes the float.

There are those times.

 

[MrGiggles]

2 hours ago, Devan S. said:

So your basically using the float to control your depth within a few feet.....never looked at it that away....I've always resorted to a float when I couldn't swim the bobby garlands through the trees without losing a bunch. Then I would just put on a float/minnow and cast out near the tree instead of in it and let the minnow work for me.

Weedless jigs are the best thing ever if you're fishing in the sticks. 

[MOsmallies]

I love popping a cork for crappie! Strictly use jigs. I prefer a 2" tube jig over any other bait but will use a BG Baby Shad as well. For this particular technique I prefer a pear shaped clip on cork. Plastic or Foam, but to me the key is no weight on the bobber. I want it laying on its side. On a lift bite or a subtle bite this type of cork will just flip over on the surface. The other reason for using a clip on float vs slip float is (1) you're usually fishing the jig 1-4 feet below the cork so it is still plenty castable and (2) I twitch the cork quite a bit so I want that jig to pop up and move towards me when I twitch. With a slip bobber, you are only pulling the line and jig up but the cork doesn't really move. So then you are just yo-yoing the jig up in down in the same spot.

This is killer on LOZ in February-April... And it can be good in December and January too. You will be surprised how shallow those crappie get in that cold water! This technique caught my PB crappie (17") out of a subdivison pond about 15 years ago.

I will use a slip bobber if I'm fishing minnows around docks, laydowns, or deeper than 5 feet.

[liphunter]

Is it a traditionally better to use a smaller jig in the winter? Any favorite color? 

[Seth]

36 minutes ago, liphunter said:

Is it a traditionally better to use a smaller jig in the winter? Any favorite color? 

For float fishing, I would down size. If you're just straight lining or vertical jigging, I always start out with a 3" BG Slab Slayer and then down size if needed.  A 3" bait is nothing to a 10"+ crappie.

[top_dollar]

1 hour ago, liphunter said:

Is it a traditionally better to use a smaller jig in the winter? Any favorite color? 

Best to experiment in my experience.  Monday they wanted a 2.5 inch bait under a float almost dead still, Tuesday they liked the 3 inch bait swimming at 1 crank per 3 seconds. Tuesday they also preferred my bait doctored with a pink marker and Monday they bit the bluegill flash with no color.  Sometimes they get keyed in on little bugs too and a little bug shaped plastic works best.