Jigs vs. Minnows

The age-old debate continues as to which is best for catching crappie out of Santee Cooper, the jig or the minnow.

Guides Buster Rush and Kevin Davis typically tight-line minnows when taking groups on crappie-fishing trips during October. Both said fishing live minnows on a tight line is an excellent method, but it’s not the only productive method.

Rush said one crucial aspect is the skill level of the person holding the rod.

“If I’ve got an experienced fisherman, casting jigs to brush or underwater debris where crappie are concentrated can be extremely effective,” Rush said. “However, if I have several people on a trip, you don’t want casting by several people at one time, so it’s more effective to tight-line minnows. An inexperienced angler will likely get snagged in the brush if casting, and they often will not feel the subtle bite of the crappie.

“The truth is, both are very good when used properly, and during October, both will produce limits of crappie,” Rush said. “The key is to use what’s best for the situation. Jigs can be more fun in that you’re casting and working with the feel of the lure as it ticks the brush. I often use jigs if fishing by myself, ensuring I stay on fish. It’s partly the challenge to not snag and also to feel the typically light bite of the crappie. But jigs are easily snagged if not in the hands of an experienced angler.”

Davis has another method that actually employs both a jig and minnow in one presentation.

“It’s one of my secret weapons when the bite is a bit tough,” Davis said. “I use a 1/16th-ounce jig tipped with a small minnow. I will use a No. 3 split shot 18 inches above the hook for added weight and then will basically tight-line this rig as I would a regular live minnow. But the addition of the jig in various colors, with chartreuse and blue being good colors, will sometimes turn sluggish slabs into very cooperative crappie.

“October is my favorite time to use this double jig and minnow rig,” Davis said. “I’ll tight-line this rig so I can control the depth, and I think the bigger crappie will jump on the jig and minnow better than either one singularly, especially at this time of the year. During October, the minnow and jig combination will sometimes produce much more and larger crappie than either one will singularly on Lake Moultrie, based on my experience, and that’s why I keep this in my bag of tricks. I don’t always use it, but I am quick to try it if I am not happy with the size or numbers, especially if I look at the graph and believe there are fish where I’m fishing. I’ve seen it change from slow to go like a switch being flipped.”