“My favorite rod is a 6 1/2-foot Shimano Compre in medium-light action with a fast tip. It has IM-8 construction, which makes it super sensitive, especially so when coupled with one of the super lines,” Abshire said. “I really like the Quantum Catalyst CT10 size reel. It’s light and smooth, plus the magnetic bail opens and closes easily, something you do a lot of when using this tactic.”

Unless the water is extremely clear, Abshire prefers 8- to 10-pound-test braid as his main line. These lines are unparalleled for detecting light-biting crappie, and the angler doesn’t break off and have to re-tie as often. Abshire’s deep-water jig-rig consists of a 1/8-ounce Acme Kastmaster or generic spoon with the treble hook removed. He ties a length of 10-pound-test mono or fluorocarbon to the thin end of the spoon that, when presented, actually has the spoon inverted. At the end of the leader coming off the spoon, he ties a jig.

Reversing the hookless spoons so the heavy end goes first allows the heavy end of the spoon to naturally sink first. Tying the leader as mentioned will cause the jig to play follow-the-leader with the spoon, imparting more action and also resulting in less fouling of the dropper with the main line.

A 1/32- to 1/16-ounce barbed jighead is tied on the dropper. Keep the dropper around 2 to 2 1/2 inches between the spoon and the jig. He said that if the line is any longer, fouling becomes a constant problem.

On the jighead, simply thread on your favorite tube.

Abshire noted that, “The dropper line should always be a lighter pound-test. If a snag becomes irrecoverable, the dropper line will hopefully break and you lose only the jig, not the spoon. I usually tie up several rigs, enough for a day’s fishing, and use a small snap between my main line and spoon so I can change them out quickly.”

It’s no secret that crappie like trees and brush -- and hang-ups with the Abshire rig are frequent. If you have not set the hook too hard, usually a little up-and-down jiggling with the rod tip will cause the rig to free itself. The weight of the spoon will pull the hook out.

This little rig is a great search lure and has a beautiful back-and-forth cadence if cast toward a brushpile and allowed to sink on a tight line.

“It looks like the palm fronds on a Hula dancer’s skirt,” chuckled Abshire. “Well, maybe not that good.”

Considering the sink rate of the rig, this technique isn’t the best for neutral or non-aggressive fish. When fish aren’t aggressive, the veteran angler will go back to a single jig on a 1/16-ounce jighead and try a more finesse approach to the crappie that are holding tight to cover.

Neutral or inactive fish may hold closer to the bottom, especially after a front. Lightly tapping a 1/16-ounce jig dressed in marabou or a plastic tube jig on bottom cover is likely to encourage reaction bites. However, when the crappie readily chase bait or for times when they find deep, vertical jigging attractive, Abshire claims his spoon rig and the fluttering technique are hard to beat.