Page 9 - Crappie NOW - February 2018

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

The continuing improvements in sonar
technology have changed the game for Local anglers Toni and Don Collins are
crappie fisherman. For tournament anglers well aware to the great single pole jigging
like Richard and Rayner it has become a available on the St. Johns
necessity to be competitive. For recreational
anglers it has improved their ability to put
dinner in the boat consistently. with one of our favorite methods,” offered
After completing their homework of Richard. “Longline trolling. This is a method
graphing and observing potential spots, and of pulling jigs from multiple poles behind the
making notes, Richard and Rayner turn their boat at speeds from .8 to 1.4 mph. Different
attention to experimenting with different weighted jig heads and speed put your bait at
fishing methods. The St. Johns lends itself different levels in the water column. Colors,
to most fishing methods, so the challenge speed, and size of jig heads are changed
is to find out which one works best on any frequently until you dial in to the precise
given day. combination that works that day.”
“Even though we used longlining to “Within the first hour we had two large
catch the majority of our specs, we also black crappies,” reported Richard. “Both
caught an abundance of crappie single pole tipped the scales at more than 2.5 pounds.
jigging and spider rigging,” said Richard. We felt good about that area so we moved
on to spider rigging.”
Experimentation Spider rigging, or pushing, is a method
“We started our St. Johns River fishing that uses multiple poles deployed out the

9 Crappie NOW February 2018