If you’re ready to step up your fishing, you’ll usually catch more fish with artificial baits rather than live baits. Of course this statement is based on knowing which artificial lures to use. When you are fishing pan fish smaller is better. Look for lures 1/4 oz or less.
List of panfish fishing lures to use:
- curly tail jigs
- marabou insoles
- Weedless spinners, (they have a template attached) smallest you can find
- Willow Leaf Leaves: Gold or Silver Colorado Leaves
The lures listed above can be purchased at any department store, bait shop, or online. Most of these artificial baits can be purchased for very little. When shopping around, be sure to shop around for artificial baits in the 1/4 oz or less range.
Suggested ways to use these crappie type fishing lures:
When fishing a curly tail jig, use Cabella’s uniquely designed screw lock jig head. Take your bait to the bottom where the big ones are. It allows you to thread a plastic tube or split the tail onto the corkscrew and hook through the tail. The innovative flat bottom jig head helps the hook lift at a 60 degree angle. Your hooked bait rises directly from the bottom and can move freely. I recommend you buy and use a Karlins Lunker Curly Tail. This jig is a good option to use when using a slip bobber rig.
When fishing for marabou jigs, use the 1/8 oz or 1/4 oz size. A good way to fish this lure is to use a slider, put a slit in the line so that the jig drops to a certain depth.
When fishing Weedless Spinner baits, use the 1/16 oz size. Use this bait when fishing in murky water or with poor visibility in the water.
When fishing the Willow Leaf Blade jigs, I fish the lure very slow, again I repeat slow. If you use the 1/16 oz jig, the hook will bend before you lose the jig, you can use it over and over again. Larger sizes work fine but break line when snagged. Also, put on a 2″ long Karlins Curly split tail plastic tube.
There are no guarantees that you will catch crappie with the lures shown above, but if you keep buying small crappie fishing lures, you will increase your chances of catching a good batch of crappie.
Well, good luck and good fishing!
