This fall was probably one of the best crappie falls I’ve ever had, crappie were thick on the brush piles in anywhere from 10’-25’ of water. The method I use is tight lining a jig. Set up the jig with 4lb fluorocarbon and a 7’ light action spinning rod and use a 1/16 oz jig and Tennessee shad colored 1/2in grub. Cast to the brush pile and count down to the depth desired. Begin a slow, steady retrieve carefully feeling the line all the way back. Strikes will be usually very soft so pay close attention. These light strikes really help to keep my feel over the off season.

As for bass, jigging and crankbait are really trying to work well now as well as one of my favorites, jigging a spoon. Vertical jigging a ½ oz chrome spoon is awesome in fall and winter. With bass following shad into the creeks, they begin to school on channel bends and other cover to ambush schools of bait, after you spot the fish with your electronics, vertically bounce a spoon among the school and get ready for fast action.

Along with this fun fishing, I’m also getting ready for the coming tournament season by checking tackle, making reservations, equipping the boat and researching the lakes and maps, all this just fires me up more for the tournament start dates.

Good Luck and good fishing!
Mike