If you’re fishing from the bank and can’t vertically drop into a school, what would be a good technique for fishing for crappie from the bank using jigs?

One of the best solutions is to rig one or two jigs under a bobber. This is a tried-and-true method for catching crappie. To make this type of rig, tie on a 1/8 ounce crappie jig to the end of your line. Then, make a dropper loop about 18″ above that, and tie on another jig, usually of a different color. Place a bobber at the desired depth, cast the rig out and work it in with short intermittent ‘pops’. If crappie are deeper than you can comfortably cast the rig, then use a slip bobber. Work these rigs in slowly, around cover, along ledges, drop-offs, and other likely spots. This rig can even be used for night fishing, by adding a lighted bobber. These are neat little gadgets that are powered by a lithium watch battery, and are visible for quit a distance at night. It is not uncommon to double-up, and catch tow crappie at a time with this rig. You can also use this rig with live minnows. Another option is to use a long (12′-14 ‘) jig pole. There are both three and four-piece poles, as well as telescoping models. They have an added advantage of allowing you to ‘reach’ over obstacles, stumps, logs, moss patches, and such, and also to ‘lift’ hooked crappie straight up, and out of heavy cover. A jig pole will let you drop a jig or minnow directly down to a waiting crappie in heavy cover, close to the bank. Happy fishing.