Overall, with catching crappie, do the guys catching the most tend to use live bait or jigs mostly?

When making a decision between live bait or other jigs can be a matter of how much work you are willing to put into it. I have been on farm ponds where jigs just didn%u2019t work but a worm on a hook and bobber hauled them in quicker than I really cared for but a jig never got a hit. Then I%u2019ve been on other bodies of water where the worm failed but jigs worked like a dream. Of course I can outline the same scenario with minnows as well and of course there is the ever faithful jig with a meal worm attached. Many tournaments only allow jigs or jigs tipped with live baits so be sure to think about that. But if you are going after the big haul think about the crappie and the food it is looking for. In the spring near the spawning season the crappie are hungry and will eat just about anything so running a jig in the right spot will get you a fish with every cast. However in the summer months a minnow or worm on a bobber that hovers right above or outside of shelter like a crappie bed made of old Christmas trees will work really well just show some restraint and practice some catch and release. Crappie like their shelter and will hunker down whenever they can so be sure to work your bait, jig or live, right near their nest or bed. The trick to the big haul isn%u2019t in live versus fake but rather presentation and timing.