The heavy black ice has finally left the upper Midwest lakes, and it sure is good to see the sun sparkling off the open water again.

This has been a long and cold winter and, although the crappie fishing was good through most of it, the heavy snow and resulting slush made the going difficult.

Each day the sun gets higher in the sky and the daylight hours get longer. This change of seasons and the warming of water trigger the annual crappie spawning migration from their open water winter haunts to the warmer and shallower water where their metabolism increases along with egg growth.
These changes increase the crappies appetite and that’s where we come in.

Fishing crappies at this time of year is a lot easier and more productive. A small jig with a slip bobber works great for the two and eight foot waters you’ll find fish in.

A couple of years ago a new type of jig was invented and patented by the Freshwater Tackle Manufacturing Company.

It’s called the Angle Jig™. Unlike other jigs on the market this beauty is designed to present a minnow or other live bait in a lifelike manner that fish recognize.

When using most other jigs on the market, the hook is placed through the side of the minnow. This either paralyzes the minnow or puts too much weight in an area that stops it from moving.

Not so with the Angle Jig™. With this jig, the minnow is hooked through the lips. The other aspect of the Angle Jig is that it is designed to present any live bait in a way that drives the fish wild.

Freshwater Tackle Mfg. Co. has shaped the jig like an upside down teaspoon, rounded on the top and slanting toward its nose and hollow (concave) on the bottom. The hook is molded in and sits horizontally.
A couple of things happen with this type of arrangement. First, the hollow underside of the jig slows its drop in the water (the slower the drop, the more bites).

Second, the weight of the jig is located under the eyelet with the hook sticking out horizontally. A crappie catches food by taking in water and food at the same time and exhaling the water out its gills. This is called a slurp strike.

When this happens to an Angle Jig the jig pivots on the line and the fish gets the jig hook first in the mouth. On about half the fish I catch with this jig I find the hook firmly embedded in the roof of its mouth and not in the paper thin sides or barely lip hooked. Needless to say I don’t lose fish like I used to.
I fish spring crappies in two ways, either casting with this jig or fishing it under a slip bobber. For this reason I put a bobber stop and a bead on the line before I tie on my jig.

This way I can put on or take off my bobber with out cutting off the jig and retying it. Freshwater Tackle Co. also makes the Easy-On Bobber that I use. It has a slit on one side that allows you to put it on the line without removing your jig and minnow. This system is easy to use and you can end up with some tasty results.

When using the jig and slip bobber method, cast your jig and bobber out and allow the bobber to stop to feed to the bobber. You’ll notice that this takes a little more time with the Angler Jig, but that’s what we’re after (slow drop).

Let the bobber site for a short while and then pick your rod tip slowly up pulling the bobber stop away from the top of the bobber. Now let the line go slack and let the bobber stop go back to the bobber.
You are presenting your Angle Jig and bait in the manner it was designed to be used in, a slow life-like motion that will increase your catch and put a smile on your face.

Notes to remember: Angle Jigs come in five sizes. Angle Jigs come in 13 colors including glow in the dark. (Hot! Hot!) Always lip hook your minnow and hook grubs, worms and leeches by the end not the middle.

You should be able to find Angle Jigs and Easy-On Bobbers at your local tackle dealer. If not, write to Freshwater Tackle Manufacturing Co., Box 518, Deerwood, MN 56444 or call (218) 534-3837.

Fishing in this manner has increased my catch and made for some wonderful experiences on the water. Remember to practice catch and release, take a kid fishing and be kind to your fellow fisherman.

Reprinted from Midwest Outdoors, May 1996