Slabmaster II
Why do you like the rod you use to crappie fish?
Why do you like the rod you use to crappie fish?
I’m asking mostly to understand why someone chooses an ultralight while another chooses a light or medium light. I want to finally get into crappie fishing seriously this year, after harboring a hidden interest in it for the past 6 years, ever since seeing a friend catch two nice crappie back to back while we were bass fishing. He was unimpressed because it wasn’t a bass, but I was mesmerized by those fish and how beautiful they were. Ever since then I’ve wanted to get into targeting them specifically instead of just accidentally catching one every now and again. I’d have started crappie fishing sooner, but bass fishing just kept getting in the way, LOL!
As it turns out, I ended up buying a 6’6” medium light rod with a fast action for throwing light crankbaits for bass. It currently has 8 pound mono on it, and from what I’ve read on here so far that seems to be on the heavier end of the crappie rig spectrum, but could still work, and I could go as light as 4 pound on that rod. But I’m also thinking of just getting a dedicated crappie rod, a light powered one that I could even use with 2 pound line. What kind of rods do I need to become proficient at crappie fishing? I tend to think of using certain rods with certain baits. My understanding of crappie baits is that there are jigs of varying sizes, crappie crankbaits, inline spinners, actual wire frame spinnerbaits, and beyond that I don’t know. Do you use plastic rigs for crappie? Drop shot? Weightless flukes? Tubes?
By the way, here’s a pic of the SMALLER of the two crappie my buddy caught. This one was 13” long. He tossed a second one that I know would have been 14” if he’d have let me see it. He was completely put off by the fact that that fish had taken his bait. If it were me I would have loved it! If I remember right, I think he was using a Bandit 200 crankbait, probably the black color. That’s his cranking rod in his hand and that bait is about all he uses.
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Slabmaster II
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I pitch 1/8 or 1/4 oz jigs 20 feet to brush or stumps in 10 to 20 foot of water. I like a long medium light rod. Fast tip. Stiff, not a noodle. That rod for me is St Croix Avid Walleye 8'. With a Shimano Stella 1000 and 1/4 oz jig less than 12 ounces. I feel everything thru the handle without feeling anything in my hands. I can fish this rod all day long.
Crappie.com 1K Star General
I like using a 7ft medium light rod for most situations. For me the length of the rod is more important than the action. I like a 6ft for dock shooting because I have more control. I like a 10 or 12 footer during the spawn because it allows me to probe thick buck brush. A 7 or 8 footer works best for pitching slip corks. A rod is nothing more than a tool and the job is much easier if you have the right tool.
Slabmaster II
With that long 10-12 foot rod are you making a cast or are you reaching out with it to place a bait over the fish? Why does it need to be so long?Originally Posted by Grainraiser
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I don't just use one rod. I have different ones for the way I'm fishing. I have longer rods for livescope, heavier rods for fishing structure. I have good casting rods for when I do that, etc. For me I'm not sure a one size fits all solution exist.
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I like a long rod, 10 to 16 ft. I mostly fish from a kayak or the rocks in the spillway. It helps keep the bait away a bit.
Crappie Wall Hanger II
I’m do most of my fishing with long jig poles 12 and 14 ft. Set up with ultra light spool reel.
No line twist, 99% trouble free. I have one pole with a spinning reel for deep water winter fishing.
Occasionally I will use a 6’6 rod casting.
I use long poles, no float the most for a few reasons . I like to feel the thump, I get a much higher hook set percentage, I can pitch to trees or brush piles from a distance or dip down in the middle of the brush or even swim a jig behind a tree 14 ft away.
One more big one , If I get hung up (14ft or shallower) I can run the rod tip down and un hook my jig.
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For me over the years all rods have gotten longer. I use to bass fish a lot and back then a 5' 10" pistol grip rod was considered long. I had several 5' 6" bass rods. My standard crappie rod was about 4' 6". Now I don't think I could even throw a rod that short. Started pitching and flipping for bass and now I don't own a bass rod under 6" 10" and have several 7' 4". Same with crappie started with 10' to pitch and now up to 13'. I can flip, pitch and cast with them all and I do.
I guess it's what you get use to but those short rods do not feel right to me anymore.
Slabmaster II
I assume these super long rods are two piece, or multi piece rods. I also can’t even imagine using one from a kayak that’s shorter than the rod is.
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Slabmaster II
So I guess I just need to decide what’s right for me and just use it. I’m comfortable with 6’6” rods so I’ll start there. Already have a medium light. I think I want a light rod for just casting jigs and spinners. I’ll use those two until they don’t cover my needs anymore, and then go from there. Sounds like that’s what you did, just kept progressively moving to longer rods.
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HaHa: 
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