Crappie Lures To Catch Crappie Slabs

Now we are ready to go after those slabs. The first thing I am going to cover is the bait that you need to try.

If you are jig fishing, the top line of the picture is a few of the many different colors of soft plastic bodies that can be used.

You will need to apply them on a jig head which is the lead head and hook shown at the bottom of the picture. They also come in different sizes and colors with weight ranging from 1/16 ounce and up to 1/4 ounce.

There are many companies that make jigs in round head, weedless, Darter heads, Slipin head, Squirt head, and Tender head designs.

Some are painted and others are not painted. You can paint them yourself or just use them plain.

There are also crappie jig kits available to create your own look for a jig by changing skirts and colors.

I really feel that the bodies are what catch the fish.

Make Crappie Jigs Using Available Molds or Design Your Own Original Mold

A lot of your hard core crappie fishing folks make their own and it is not that hard if you are going to become a Crappie guy.

There are two options to consider when selecting the metal to use for making custom jig heads.

Some European countries, Canada and several states in the United States have banned the use of lead in making fishing tackle such as jigs and weights. Other U.S. states are presently considering banning the use of lead as well. The movement to push forward with the "Lets Get The Lead Out" initiative is growing around the world to protect the water fowl, the food chain supply and ultimately human beings especially children from lead poisoning.

That said, here are the two options to build your own jig heads: 

1. Use Lead - You can obtain the lead from a tire store with their permission.

• The old tire weights usually thrown out by the tire shops can be good free source of lead.
• Next, get a melting pot for the lead 
• Obtain molds for the jig heads can be bought at your local bait shop or Bass Pro. You can also create your own mold design by using a wood or clay prototype of the jig design, a blank mold, and the help of a local metal machinist to make the mold.
• The hooks should be a number 4# or 6#. Those are the ones I see most often.

2. Use tungsten, bismuth, brass, nickel, copper or tin

• The availability and increased cost to use the these types of metals may make it harder to build the jig heads however, you won't have to be worrying about whether it is legal to use these types of metals when fishing your custom made jig heads.
• In some U.S. states while it may not be illegal to use lead based jig heads and weights, some federally managed lakes within these states have banned lead based jig heads and weights.
• In the long run, it may be cheaper to go ahead and invest in the equipment to make jig heads from these metals instead of investing in modes and melting pots for lead. The initiative to ban lead from fishing lures is in its' infancy but it is inevitable the day will come for lead to be permanently banned.

How Do You Fish With Jigs?

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