Page 10 - Crappie NOW | January 2015
P. 10
Crappie for Christmas
Pulling from the side and back is a favorite technique for catching New Year crappie. Eberly
and Parker deploy three Wally Marshall Rods out each side in the front and two out each
side in the back, covering a swath about 42 feet wide.
hold. the poles out the side. This allows them to
Parker and Eberly recommend working determine if the minnow rigs are catching
back and forth from deeper water towards the more fish than the other baits. In the end they
bank to eliminate areas where the fish are will defer to the method that is catching the
smaller. “Sooner or later you will find where most fish. “If we see a definite pattern,” says
the big ones are staging, declares Eberly. Eberly, we go all out with that technique.
While they cover water they are also testing
jig size, color and boat speed. “When we first Weather Conditions
start out we will be pulling jigheads ranging The great January fishing in Florida is
from 1/8 ounce to 1/48 ounce, says Parker. subject to some variable weather in the form
We also pin various colors of plastic tails until of cold fronts. The arrival and passing of these
we find out what they are hitting that day.” fronts can mean changing conditions from
You can cover a range from 15 feet sunny bright skies to overcast and dreary
deep to surface presentations by changing skies, all in the same day.
your speed and jighead sizes, says Parker. “January fishing can be tough in Florida
Speed will widen the depth range that you depending on the number of cold fronts that
are fishing. Depending on which rig you catch come through, says Eberly. Cold fronts are
the fish on, you change accordingly and get very possible in January and they usually put
every pole rigged with the combination that the fish down,” chimes in Parker. “In fact, we
is catching fish. The more baits you have in have caught fish that will have mud on their
the strike zone, the more fish you are going to fins because they have been buried so deep
catch. in the mud for warmth.
Although they seldom tip with minnows In addition to moving them deeper, cold
they will try them at times when the bite is slow. fronts tend to give crappie a case of lockjaw.
When they do use minnows they will isolate Even when you get a bite it may be slow.
their use to either the poles out the back or “The fish may not be as aggressive with the
10 Crappie NOW January 2015
10 Crappie NOW January 2015
Pulling from the side and back is a favorite technique for catching New Year crappie. Eberly
and Parker deploy three Wally Marshall Rods out each side in the front and two out each
side in the back, covering a swath about 42 feet wide.
hold. the poles out the side. This allows them to
Parker and Eberly recommend working determine if the minnow rigs are catching
back and forth from deeper water towards the more fish than the other baits. In the end they
bank to eliminate areas where the fish are will defer to the method that is catching the
smaller. “Sooner or later you will find where most fish. “If we see a definite pattern,” says
the big ones are staging, declares Eberly. Eberly, we go all out with that technique.
While they cover water they are also testing
jig size, color and boat speed. “When we first Weather Conditions
start out we will be pulling jigheads ranging The great January fishing in Florida is
from 1/8 ounce to 1/48 ounce, says Parker. subject to some variable weather in the form
We also pin various colors of plastic tails until of cold fronts. The arrival and passing of these
we find out what they are hitting that day.” fronts can mean changing conditions from
You can cover a range from 15 feet sunny bright skies to overcast and dreary
deep to surface presentations by changing skies, all in the same day.
your speed and jighead sizes, says Parker. “January fishing can be tough in Florida
Speed will widen the depth range that you depending on the number of cold fronts that
are fishing. Depending on which rig you catch come through, says Eberly. Cold fronts are
the fish on, you change accordingly and get very possible in January and they usually put
every pole rigged with the combination that the fish down,” chimes in Parker. “In fact, we
is catching fish. The more baits you have in have caught fish that will have mud on their
the strike zone, the more fish you are going to fins because they have been buried so deep
catch. in the mud for warmth.
Although they seldom tip with minnows In addition to moving them deeper, cold
they will try them at times when the bite is slow. fronts tend to give crappie a case of lockjaw.
When they do use minnows they will isolate Even when you get a bite it may be slow.
their use to either the poles out the back or “The fish may not be as aggressive with the
10 Crappie NOW January 2015
10 Crappie NOW January 2015
