Buster and Russell Rush prefer live minnows when fishing for crappie at Lake Wateree during the summer, but they do employ a unique double-hook technique for the baitfish.
“Essentially, double-hooking the minnow makes the rig more weedless when fishing the brushpiles,” Russell Rush said. “But it does not seem to have any negative impact on getting crappie to bite. In fact, it works extremely well.
“We run the hook into the minnow through the eye then back through the middle of the baitfish. While this will ensure the minnow does not stay alive long, that isn’t a problem. It does not make the bait completely weedless, but it does help, and our hookup rate is just as good as with a minnow hook just through the lips or through the eyes.
“When we do have to drop the bait deeper into the brush, if the crappies are holding in the midst of the heavy cover, then this will certainly improve our odds of hooking up with a crappie instead of the brush.”
Editor’s note: This article is part of the Hot Crappie Haven feature in the August issue of South Carolina Sportsman. Digital editions can be downloaded right to your computer or smartphone.
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