Calling all dock shooters.

[CrappiePappy]

I do both. A stiffer rod is better for shooting, a softer rod is better for casting and skipping. I can shoot accurately with a stiff rod but not skip, I can skip very accurately with a soft tipped rod but it has to be a Xtra fast action or it doesn't shoot well for me. I could do both with my old rod thus this thread. I'm mainly looking for a rod.

The ESP PowerLite rods have good backbone & very fast action tips. The 6' version and the 6'6" version are basically the same rod, except for the 6" of extended handle on the 6'6" rod. The handle on the 6' rod doesn't have the extension. ESP rods have graphite handles (Tenn style) with high impact plastic rings to hold the reel, and the Tenn style handle allows you some wiggle room in placing the reel on the handle so that the outfit balances. Inside the hollow graphite handle there are metallic rings around the blank that transmit vibrations from the blank to the handle. The rod has a large gathering guide, then decreasing sized micro guides & tip (to keep the line as straight as possible during the cast, for better accuracy & distance).

I originally taped my reel to the handle (over the rings) because I wasn't confident the rings would hold ... currently there is no tape on the rod and I've not had any problems. The micro guides/tip are not real conducive to using most forms of "bobber stops", but I will admit I haven't tried the string ties. I have other rods more suited for slip float usage, so I don't even bother using the ESP rod for anything but for casting purposes.

(Disclaimer ... I was a Field Tester for the VP of Marketing & original designer of ESP rods, and received my ESP rods for free & feedback to him. I am not in the employ of ESP or Norsemen Outdoors, nor am I beholding to them to advertise/recommend their products. I do so because I love the rods and enjoy using them.)

[VaCrappieMan]

I have a 6 ft esp power lite and it is a really good rod for crappie... I am a land bound and have never fished a dock but imagine the esp would fit the bill... I cut the rings off mine and taped the reel on it... great rod

[skeetbum]

I load and shoot myself mostly, but will skip one sidearm if the need arises. This is what I speak of when I say that one must have the right rod. I can fish with any rod, but certain rods have things they are better at than others. The one rod that fits the bill for most all of the way you fish is the one we all seek, and it changes from person to person. Good backbone, fair middle and tip soft enough to load and launch a light jig without dominating the rest of the rod. I have a couple and they are sweet, and none are expensive. Most surprise fish get a lesson in little rods as these handle them nicely. A 5’6” , 2 piece Lightning Rod with a President 6920 and 2 lb line goes all the way down to a 1/64 jig nicely, and has no trouble controlling a 1/32 with a 2” Bobby garland baby Shad. All of my other rods are long since out of production. My all time favorite is a 6’6” lightning rod that states medium action but has a soft enough tip to fit the bill. The newer ones are too stiff everywhere to be valuable to me. It took me quite a while to perfect the technique and understand what I needed and longer to find it, but man, it’s sooooo much fun I would do it again. Hope I have helped some.