Page 6 - Crappie NOW - May 2018

GET THE DROP ON CRAPPIE

close to the trunk of the tree.
“It is a tactic you can use for standing Barry Morrow vertical jigs a drop shot rig
timber, whether it is hardwoods or hedge when crappie are holding tight to the trunk
trees,” Morrow says. “The more limbs the of standing timber.
better this technique is because you are able
to control the bait better.” 1/4 ounce.
Sunken brush piles are also ideal cover The Missouri angler chooses either a
for Morrow to employ his drop shot. “There Red Neck Rubber Company Beaver Bottoms
is always a sweet spot in a brush pile,” he Baits or Bobby Garland Crappie Baby Shad
says. “If you work the outside edges first and to attach three different ways to his drop shot
then work your way into that thick part, you hook. He either (1) nose hooks the bait on the
have no fear in doing that (with the drop shot) octopus hook; (2) runs the Aberdeen hook
because you have total control of what’s through the lure’s body and sticks the hook
going down.” point out the top of the lure; or (3) makes the
Morrow starts his rig by tying a number lure weedless by sticking the Tru-Turn hook
2 octopus, Aberdeen or Tru-Turn Aberdeen through the lure’s body and twists the hook
hook to his 12-pound copolymer or 15-pound to run the point back into the body. When
braid line with a Palomar knot and leaves a Morrow fishes the drop shot with a minnow,
tag line of about 8 to 12 inches. He then slips he runs the hook through the minnow’s lips
the tag line back down through the hook eye. from bottom to top.
“That keeps the hook lying straight from the The Truman Lake guide mainly relies
line with the barb pointing up,” Morrow says. on two presentations for drop-shotting wood
He completes his rig by tying on either a bell cover. “If I am fishing standing timber I flip it
sinker or Bakudan weight to the tag line or probably 3 or 4 feet past the tree and then I
crimps a split shot at the end of the tag line. swim it,” he says. “I will swim it on both sides
The minimum size weight he usually uses is of the tree or all three or four sides of the tree

6 Crappie NOW May 2018