There is a time and place for short rods when fishing for crappie. For shooting docks, a short rod is best. However, if you need to reach out to catch big slab crappie a long rod is best.
Just how lengthy is a long rod for crappie fishing? Think 10- to 14-foot. "Long rods allow a crappie angler to fish spots without spooking the crappie by keeping a long distance between the angler and crappie," said B'n'M President Jack Wells.
B'n'M Pole Company (www.bnmpoles.com) have been around a long time. They are renowned for designing and building the best crappie rods available. In fact, B'n'M Pole Company just released a new Duck Commander series of fishing rods.
"Long rods are designed to emulate the action of how a bamboo rod would bend. Of course everyone loved the action of bamboo rods for catching crappie before the shift to the rods we have now." Wells continued, "To emulate the action you have to make the rod longer and that's how we ended up with these longer rods for crappie fishing."
Of course, rods measuring over eight feet are hard to store or carry around. "Most long rods are two or three piece rods with a parabolic action emulating bamboo that are surprisingly sensitive and extremely lightweight," said Wells. One other reason Wells mentioned for making them two pieces was the cost of shipping is greatly reduced with the shorter rod.
Mitch Glenn, marketing manager at Arkie Lures (www.arkiejigs.com), is a big fan of B'n'M fishing rods. In fact, Glenn just purchased two of B'n'M Buck's Best Ultra Lite bottom reel seat model BBULBS10 to crappie fish.
Glenn admitted there was more advantages to disadvantages to crappie fishing when using a long rod. "It really depends on the situation and technique you are using," said Glenn. He believes that crappie anglers can have a more quiet approach and make pinpoint presentations better with a longer rod. Along with having better control of a crappie when it is hooked.
"You can just get into places with a long rod where you can't cast a short rod," said Glenn.
As for disadvantages, Glenn noted it's impossible to shoot docks with a long rod or make long, accurate casts in open water. "For most techniques, however, a long rod is what you need to go crappie fishing with and catch them," said Glenn.
"You can fish a bobber with an Arkie Jig or just straight line the jig with a long rod. A bobber of course makes it easier to see a strike along with keeping the jig in the strike zone longer. On the other hand, when you straight line with just a jig it lets you control how far you allow the jig to drop," said Glenn.
Landing a crappie when fishing with a long rod isn't as hard as you would think it would be. "I like to just pull the rod in one hand over the other and just have the other angler in the boat net it. Of course having a long handled net is great when you are fishing with a long rod," said Glenn.
While there is a situation and technique for short rods, Wells and Glenn agree there are too many advantages to fishing with a long rod and everyone should have one in their boat. Long rods not only let you sneak up on crappie, but let you make an accurate presentation.
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