I have used that exact same pole in 13', and have a 12' expandable also, and they are fine for what they are, but not as versatile as a regular dipping pole with guides and a reel. That said, I have caught a ton of crappie using them and for single poling/dipping, they are very sensitive.

I still use the 12' with a tiny reel built in that runs the line through the center of the pole. Super sensitive, but if you get hung on a limb, its not as easy to get out of compared to a regular jigging pole.

I once saw a guy with a 16' Black Widow wading around in the shallows, and it looked like a handful. He had almost as much rod behind him as he did in front of him.