Originally posted by: panfish101 on 10/27/2005 8:51:58 AM

I have contended for some time that I can catch more crappie with artificial than with minnows. A friend of mine who fishes only minnows took offense to this position, insisting that he could outfish me anyday with him using minnows and me using flies and/or jigs. Now I don't mean to downplay minnows- they are a very productive method for catching crappies- it's just that I think flies and/or jigs are better. I seldom fish or hunt with this friend because he's one of those people who always need to be catching trophies or else he's not ejoying the trip. Well in the past 2-3 years on the times I have agreed to fish with him I have outfished him every time out. Now the other day he comes up with the notion that I only outfish him because we aren't catching trophy crappie. So this morning we agreed to out after only the bigger crappie. ( this is something I rarely do, I just enjoy fishing and when the trophy hits that fine but I'm still going to enjoy the trip with or without trophies.) This morning we went to a local private pond that I know has a lot of real nice crappie and that I have ongoing permission to fish. We agreed that only crappie over 15 inches would be kept and/or counted. With his minnows he caught several smaller crappie but only 2 over 15in. one just 15 and the other 16 1/2. I caught 12 over 15 inches including 4 over 20 inches. The largest 22 1/2 inches. Plus although we didn't count them I caught a lot more smaller ones than he did. I was using a size 10 black wooly worm and a size 8 white wooly bugger. Caught most on the bugger.
My friend hardly even spoke all morning and on the way home came up with one excuse after another.

So what do all of you prefer for crappie flies/jigs or minnows?