Page 7 - Crappie NOW - May 2017

FISHING FROM THE SHORE

(Sales Manager at Hard & Soft Fishing) weeds coming 2 feet off the bottom. So
offers his favorite bobber technique. I set the bobber so the jig rides at 3 feet
“Most natural lakes in Wisconsin just above the weeds.
and Minnesota have weedy bays off the “Simply cast out your rig and lightly
main lake. Look for deeper bays with shake it back to you. The only time you
sharp drops but shallow flats close by,” turn your reel is to pick up your slack
explains Bichanich. “Crappies take up line. You are allowing the bait to stay
positions hovering above the shallow in the strike zone longer and giving
submersed grass. the crappies a chance to react to it.
“I rig a 1.75-inch Kalin Crappie Scrub This works well when the water is still
on a 1/16-ounce Kalin Triple Threat cold as well as with water temperature
Jighead, and position a fixed float (a warming towards the spawn. As water
stick style bobber) on the line above temperature increases you can shake
the jig at the desired depth. Whether your rod faster and move your bait
fishing emerging new weeds or remnant faster depending on the mood of the
weedbeds from the previous year, you fish,” concludes Bichanich.
must position the stick bobber to keep While a fixed float works well in
your jig above the weeds. many circumstances, a slip float has
“Here’s what I mean. Let’s say the advantage for both accuracy and
you think the water depth is 5 feet with distance. With a slip float rig, the bobber

7 Crappie NOW May 2017