Page 9 - Crappie NOW - March 2018

FIRST BITE

species of fathead with a distinctive orange
color, and ice-out crappies seem to prefer Jim McClave enjoys success on
them over regular dull-colored fatheads. Pymatuning Lake for ice-out crappies
During late spring, summer or fall, holding in a shallow spatterdock pad bed
a #4 or a #2 bait hook performs well for using minnows below a float.
crappies. But for the smaller minnows
most often used at ice out, I recommend If you cannot readily obtain the proper
a #6 Tru-Turn Blood Red Aberdeen if you minnows, the second best presentation is
plan to use a straight bait hook. a very small jig/plastic body combination
Recently, however, I’ve started using tipped with a couple maggots. Yes, I know
a small jighead below the float to present the mention of live maggots (fly larva) as
the minnow. I go with either a 1/48-ounce bait sounds creepy to some – I’ve had this
Bobby Garland Overbite Sickle Jighead discussion before with southern anglers.
which carries a #6 hook or a 1/32-ounce But for northern anglers, maggots are the
Original Road Runner Head if I want number one live bait for bluegills and they
something with more flash. readily available at all bait shops in the
For a bobber to suspend the minnow spring. During the ice-out period, maggots
at the proper depth, I typically choose are particularly effective in drawing hits
the smallest Thill Slip Crappie Cork (for from crappies. Likely it’s their potent
1/16-ounce weight), and add just enough smell which attracts crappies. One or two
split shot to the line to make the float stand maggots on the jig can be the difference
upright. between fish or no fish.

9 Crappie NOW March 2018