Jigging for Crappies

I started ice fishing about 3 years ago. So,I am fairly new at this. I have a certain amount of success but am trying to improve my technique on a daily basis. The question is how fast, how far does it move, and with what tempo do you jig. I know this will depend on what I have on my line, I am either using a small slender spoon tipped with some form of gulp alive (waxies) or a small jig with gulp alive (1" smelt or some bug look alike). Saturday I pulled these out of the lake.

Weeds are down in most lakes in SE Wi.Try setting a deadstick or two just a couple of feet under the ice.They'll be pushing minnows toards the surface.

I fished suspended crappies & gills this morning, so fun with the vexilar! I always tease them from the top, jig the bait above them, fun to watch them move up to the bait and take it!

I always put a small split shot above my swivel/leader which absorbs the flutter the wind and body movement creates on the line. Any vibrations caused by them will go down the line and stop it before it vibrates the jig. Also, think like an animal: Jig your tip about an inch slowly, while raising it slowly. This represents "attracting , and "getting away". Then when you get a nibble, STOP! Make it think it killed whatever it was chasing. Let it tap a few more times. Don't get jumpy. BOOM. Check is in the mail...

I had a great day fishing this past weekend for them. BUT, the only way they woudl hit, and I mean only, was when I would drop it just below the ice and let it fall very, very slowly. Keep switching it up until you see what works.

This is a little different on presentation,I like to widen the gaps on the jigs I use for crappie.Seems to help with hook ups and not as many lost fish at the hole.

Finicky crappies like small stuff slowly falling or very slowly teased away, as though it is getting away. The next few weeks are the best time to hammer them, just before ice-out.

I usually jig about 5ft off the bottom with a quick one inch twitching motion of the jig then fine tune it to a quiver as the fish race up to hit it. But I have caught the biggest crappies of my life this ice season on a dead stick rigged with either crappie minnows or chartreuse crappie nibbles.