Thread: Rods and reels for crappie/panfish?

Originally Posted by Schmoopie

Okay, I give up. What is a JDM rod/reel/whatever?

There are 3 stickies in the Panfish forum about JDM gear....one of the most comprehensive forums on the internet about JDM UL gear.

Regards

https://www.crappie.com/crappie/panf...nfish-124.html

For about $60 consider the Diawa Presso rod (might get one cheaper with a sale). I have the Celilo and like it but the Presso is quite superior.

I have two if the Sienna 500s. I've had one for at least a year, maybe longer. Pulled in a 8.2 pound bass with it. Dunked it once. Took it apart, cleaned and lubed it. It's smoother now than when it was new. I would think these would last a long time with proper care. I've moved on to 1000 sized reels for ultralight, so the Siennas will be getting a rest.

Originally Posted by Schmoopie

From shimano, the Sedona FI has 3+1 bearings as does the Sienna FG. In size 500, the Sedona has a 7 pound drag and the Sienna only 4 pound drag, but I'm using a 500 series with 4 pound line, so that doesn't really matter to me. They also both weigh the same in the 500 series, same line retrieved per turn, same gear ratio.

Please don't misunderstand my intention here. I'm not like a kid with fingers in both ears saying "I can't hear you". Trust me, I've had cheap baitcasters and won't waste my time with them. I had a mitchell ultralight combo and the rod was bad and the reel was gritty. I'm not lost on the idea that the Siennas may feel great out of the box, but don't age well. Then again, if I grew up in an area that only had Chevettes (yes, I'm old), then I wouldn't know that Corvettes existed.

As far as rods go, what would you consider a good improvement over the Celilo? I'm not ready to drop St. Croix money on rods for panfish . I typically am a cast/retrieve guy with lures, if that matters. I mean, no one goes trolling with $500 rods and $300 reels for crappie, right?

Originally Posted by Alphahawk

I don't troll.....but I do cast and retrieve for bluegill and crappie with JDM rods and reels....my setups run from 500 dollars to 800 dollars. I highly suggest you take a look at the Trout Magnet Trout Slayer rods and or the Leland's B'n'M TCB rod. You will not find a more sensitive rod for the money. The rods are virtually identical.....the B'n'M has a higher price point. I have fished them both and reviewed both. If sensitivity matters to you...and if you are looking at budget rods.....these are outstanding at the price point.

YouTube
YouTube

Regards

Thanks so much. You mentioned on the Leland rod that you could throw a 1/64 ounce 45 feet. Any idea how the Trout Slayer compares in distance with 1/64 ounce? Also, what is the handle on the trout slayer made of? Is it EVA? I've been wanting to try the microwave guides, so this may get me. I do prefer cork over EVA though.

Originally Posted by Schmoopie

Thanks so much. You mentioned on the Leland rod that you could throw a 1/64 ounce 45 feet. Any idea how the Trout Slayer compares in distance with 1/64 ounce? Also, what is the handle on the trout slayer made of? Is it EVA? I've been wanting to try the microwave guides, so this may get me. I do prefer cork over EVA though.

No EVA on either rod...it is cork with a TVS reel seat. Both rods cast 45 feet. Both rods cast great but you do not get any line slap with the MicroWave guides.

Regards

Good stuff here.

Welcome another “bass snob” here. Hang around and you will have more fun with crappie fishing and buying even more gears.
I’ve been there done that they way you think about crappie. I have spent quite a bit of money on bass gears, not super high end more like Daiwa Steez, Alphas SV, Bantam MGL, Stephano 100XG (JDM for aldebaran). I have more than 10 setups for bass but didn’t want to spend money on just stupid panfish.
Look at me now, I have 7 setups for just those stupid panfish and thinking of getting another spinning reel for xtra UL rods I have laying around. Lately I spend less and less time for bass but a lot more time on crappie. I even sold some of my bass gear for even more crappie gears.

Well based on all the good reviews I decided to give the TM Trout Slayer rod a try. For that price how can you go wrong. Interested to see how it stacks up to some of my high dollar rods.

I have one that I have as a back up... trout slayer rod that is... hard to pick up a US rod after fishing with the JDM rods... that triple cross would really impress you for the money...