getting out there

was out bank fishing recently, i have a few 7 1/2 ft rods in different actions, the crappie are just out of my reach with my equipment, i need to get out at least another 15 ft. there was a guy there yesterday he was making the mark, i did not get to ask him what rod he was using, from what i saw he had 2 rods and both looked longer than 7 1/2 footers, so i am after something in the 8 or 8 1/2 ft range to make the distance, any suggestions on what rod might do the job, i do know the rods he was using were not noodle or whippy type rods. i am using 4 lb Berkley braid ect 2500 and 3000 size reels

chet

medium action FAST 8 footer maybe , not sure who makes a good one ? maybe ABU ? might want to look at light action bass rods , some of them might fit the bill ?
got a 7 foot older vigilante that is medium action and real trooper with a medium sized open faced on it and some 6 lb mono ....it will gun sling for sure ....

A weighted float certainly helps gets the distance when they are shallow enough