Rookie needs help!!!

[Dean Nelson]

I will generally jig down low for 20 seconds and then go up a couple feet for a couple seconds then back down again. The high lift is sort of like raising a billboard saying come over here that fish can see from further away. On these lifts is also where most fish will appear on the flasher.

[backwoodsboy-]

Just keep trying diffrent stuff if i cant get them to bite i go to live bait like a fat head or rosie red minnow on my jig

[GourdneckGills]

Keep it small. Small tungsten. Light line. Live bait, wax worm or spikes. Cant go wrong that way. Fast short little jigging and when the fish comes up let it sit still and see what happens. Same stuff youve been heating but sometimes they just dont wanna bite, thats how it is

[Swift]

OK guy I was told by a coworker today who is the biggest fisherman that I know that jigging isn't so much about the up and down motion as it is about getting the attention of the fish with any movement. He recommended acting like you are flicking a cigarette but just on the side of the rod. What do you guys think of this as a strategy?

X2 Often need to go more subtle than that. Use a Surgeons Loop on a small Tungsten jig and lightly tap/tickle the line. Basically the the offering jiggles/wobbles in place without going up or down, much like many real things do down there in winter. If they're looking at it they'll take it, seems to PO them if not in an overly aggressive mood

[slipperybob]

A lot of times when you get chasers and lookers, is because the lure ends up spinning.  When panfish aren't aggressive, they end up turned off by a spinning lure. 

[Crayfish2]

I think you should be fine with 3-4# flouro/mono.  I've never had to go smaller than this.  For panfish, I've had the most bites when the jig is perfectly still.  I will very lightly jig it to get their attention and hold still for 5-10secs.  If they don't bite, jig it again and pause again.  A lot of  times the "jigging" is nothing more than moving the rod tip 1" or less in rapid succession.  Tapping on the rod can work just fine for this.  If the fish are more aggressive, you can use more aggressive tactics, but when they aren't biting you need to slow things way down.  Also, make sure to tip your jigs with spikes or some other small live bait.  Sometimes we'll use small pcs of night crawler when using bigger jigs and spikes for the tiny stuff.

Good luck!

[prospector]

A lot of times when you get chasers and lookers, is because the lure ends up spinning.  When panfish aren't aggressive, they end up turned off by a spinning lure.

Bingo! See in on the camera all the time. Good point Bob!

[Ice Surveyor]

I made a video of some hot bluegill action a few years ago.  Check it out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0I7BOwCINk

One thing to note.  If you find fish in a location one year, don't expect it to be the same the next year.  We went back to this area the following year, and it was a ghost town.  Same as this year, nothing.  Sucks, but that's fishing! 

[TipUpDave!]

great advice!

[Big Dude]

OK fellas I have logged as much info as I can into what little of a brain I do have and have purchased a bunch of new tungsten. Jigs and plastics and whatever anyone said might give me a chance of catching something and I am leaving to go fishing in about 20 minutes and will try these tactics this weekend. I shall report back and let you guys know what I came up with. Thanks again for all the great advice and I hope some other rookie can use these pointers as well.

[rkymtnfisher]

Big Dude..... hope you got into fish with all the good advice on here. As you can see there are lots of guys wanting to help. How great is that!??? One thing I would add. If you are fishing shallow water ( less the 6 feet)  BE QUIET.... get set up and then don't move around; especially your feet. If you have cleats on this is even more important. If you can keep the environment natural the fish will do the natural thing and come in and whack your bait. Sounds like you have covered the bases on lure and line size so please try this part of the equation. One other thing..... all 4 lb test is not the same. there are subtle differences in lines that the fish see that you and I cannot. Try a different line even if they both look the  same color and same diameter to you. I have seen this change results that I would not have believed if I had not witnessed it. Good Luck.

[P-Wo]

I also appreciate the advice. I have not had much success with the rod so I usually just stick to my tip-ups.

[river rat78]

Since you are fishing for 2 of the lightest biters out there I would get some sort of strike indicator. The bigger bluegills will just inhale your bait to where you won't even feel it. Crappies tend to feed by coming up for the bait and will put slack in your line. Anytime your line goes slack set the hook.

[Royalwapiti]

Adjust the sensitivity on your fish marker.  I was in the same boat as you, marking lots of fish but no bites.   My Humminbird was picking up my jig and IDing it as a fish.   The more I jigged the more "fish" it picked up, but yet none were biting.   They ain't fish.   

Then follow everybody's advice about line, rod sensitivity, small jigs, etc.

[Big Dude]

Well boys I got into a bunch of little perch. The tungsten jigs really help in getting to the fish and keeping the line tight so you can feel the bite. I pulled a bunch through the hole but only kept two. I had an awesome time just having some action and putting to good use the strategies that you guys suggested. I also talked to a few groups that were out fishing and they also were having limited success so at least I am not the only one. Trust me I am far from done asking you fine folks on here for any and all advice that you are willing to share. Thanks again for your contribution in raising my confidence level and helping me have an enjoyable weekend.

[river rat78]

Congrats on catching some fish. Once you start to get the hang of it your success rate should start to go up.

[prospector]

Good to hear!