Most important is to match the rod and reel to the lures you cast and the fish you usually expect to catch.
Crappie and panfish in general don't require anything but a light action rod and reel with a 3.5:1 or greater ratio and smooth drag.
Got my Shakespeare rod for under $20 from Walmart, Shimano reels cheap online as well as the cheapest braid. I've caught over 100 fish in a day's time and much of the time over 45 - including some giant catfish. I too have more stuff than I'll ever use in my lifetime - especially bass tackle which I rarely use.
Even my Ranger bass boat is a 1995 and still runs (though only on non-ethanol gas) and my other two small car top boats are at least 15 years old.
Make most of my own lures (posted many on crappie.com) and do very well with them.