Just starting out...what rods and reels

I am looking at getting into crappie fishing more and am looking for some advise.

A little back ground.
I live in Missouri and have fished most all of the big lakes in Missouri. I mainly fish Table Rock lake as i keep a camper stored at the lake.
for many years i have been a pretty avid Bass angler and have a 20' Bass cat Boat. in the last few months I have been getting pretty burnt out on some of the bass stuff and looking to get more into crappie fishing.
Right now i have 1 crappie rod that i got at Bass Pro. if i remember right its a slab master 12' rod and i use a Pfluger President spinning reel on it.
Im looking at making myself a spider rig setup for the boat that i can mount 4 rods on it. Is the rod i have a good stick to spider rig with? I am not sure if there would be better rods or lengths to use for a spider rig.

any tips or advise you all could give would be great.

I use 4 southern crappie rods for spider rigging or my 4 lews wally Marshall signature series rods,,,,most are. 14 fters,,,,,really not worth spending tons of money spider rigging,,,,,it’s just hook and swingem in,,,, new technique is just single poling and using a live scope,,,,this can get costly,,, but think of all the equipment you save on,,,,

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Luke

I am looking at getting into crappie fishing more and am looking for some advise.

A little back ground.
I live in Missouri and have fished most all of the big lakes in Missouri. I mainly fish Table Rock lake as i keep a camper stored at the lake.
for many years i have been a pretty avid Bass angler and have a 20' Bass cat Boat. in the last few months I have been getting pretty burnt out on some of the bass stuff and looking to get more into crappie fishing.
Right now i have 1 crappie rod that i got at Bass Pro. if i remember right its a slab master 12' rod and i use a Pfluger President spinning reel on it.
Im looking at making myself a spider rig setup for the boat that i can mount 4 rods on it. Is the rod i have a good stick to spider rig with? I am not sure if there would be better rods or lengths to use for a spider rig.

any tips or advise you all could give would be great.

---

I agree with Takeum …..I have 12-14 foot BnM trolling rods and 4-16 foot Southern Crappie rods for spider rigging. Used to love to to push double minnow rigs…we called it the lazy way to fish…I still push minnows from time to time but since Livescope
It is so much more fun in my opinion to single pole and feel the Thump.
Sorry,,,, to answer your question…the rod you have would not be very good for spider rigging.
Trolling and or spider rig type rods have very long handle behind the reel seat and only about 8 inches in front of reel with area to pick the rod from the holder. Small eyes from reel seat forward.
14 footers are a perfect length in my opinion.
Feel free to PM me for help with the other equipment. Believe me,,, I’ve tried it all before finding what worked for me. Wasted a bunch of money in the process.
This is the site for any help you may need. Crappie.com members are a great wealth of information and love to help.
Chuck


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

You keep asking for advice like that you gonna need a second job....LOL....We love spending other peoples money....start with a 6ft a 7ft and a 8ft of the graphite crappie rod persuasive. 4 lb diameter hi-vis line and sharp hooks. Avoid the trolling for a bit... probably gonna be boring for a xbass guy. And sloooow down your technique

Sent from my SM-G975U using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

I have 14 foot Jenko Cypress Creek rods and 10 dollar Zebco spinning reels from Wal mart. Works fine. Don't skimp on cheap rod holders. I use Millennium Spyderloks.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by tlefire

I have 14 foot Jenko Cypress Creek rods and 10 dollar Zebco spinning reels from Wal mart. Works fine. Don't skimp on cheap rod holders. I use Millennium Spyderloks.

---

I second on Millennium everything!!!!


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

Spider Rigging to me is :

14-16' rods
1/2 - 3/4oz weights
inexpensive spinning reels
6-8# test mono
#2 hooks or jigs
minnows

If you want to or expect to diversify your techniques by adding the Pushing technique for jigs/cranks :
same length rods
1oz trolling weights for jigs -- 2-4oz trolling weights for cranks
Line Counter Reels
10# test mono (or eqiv. diameter braid) main line -- 6-8lb test mono leaders

Some of your 6-8' med Bass rods can be converted over to jig casting rods by spooling the reels with 6# test line.

Just my :twocents opinion on the matter ... :biggrin

I’m set up with 2 millennium 3 place rod holders and 6 14’ telescopic HT rods (makes for easier storage) inexpensive matching spinning reels spooled with 10lb braid. I prefer to run one jig on each with a trolling weight and a mono leader. That’s only early spring for me. The real fun IMO is casting jigs. For that I use a 6’6” light rod for 1/16 oz jigs a 7’ ultra light for 1/32 and a 7’6” ultra light for 1/48 or 1/64 all spooled with braid.


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com

For me it's not so much length. It's more the action of the rod regardless of length. You want a rod in a medium to medium/fast action. All rods in the medium/fast to fast action will have the flex in the forward third of the rod. Rods that are more linear throughout the rod in bend will sag on you making your rod tip spend more time under water where you can't see it. Actions vary between manufacturers too. For the most part, a medium/fast rod across manufacturers will be fairly close to the same. The medium action rods are the ones that will have the most variation between manufacturers. You want your rod tip as close the the water surface as possible for control. The water surface is a pivot point for your line. If you have a rod that has too much linear flex throughout the length of the rod you'll end up adjusting your rod angle in the holder to compensate. The more exposed line you have the less control you have. Obviously for still, vertical jigging this won't effect you too much. For pushing it will dramatically, especially when you have to add weight to keep your jigs or minnows down.