What kind of rods and line do you use?

I used to fish a lot of bass tournaments and I have acquired a mini Bass Pro Shop in my garage. I do have some light spinning equipment and recently bought a 6' Ugly Stik medium action with a Pflueger Trion Micro spinning reel. I have been using it for white perch jerkin' here on lake Murray spooled with Power Pro 10# test, it has been a deadly and fun combo so far. I was wondering what you use for tight lining, shooting docks and general casting?

I also had a question as to what type of line is preferred, braid or mono, # test and manufacturer. I must say that the 10# Power Pro has performed really well so far in that there is no twist or memory like mono but I have to wonder how well it will do in clear shallow water.

I have been looking at the Cabela's Whoopin' Sticks (yet to try) and Ugly Stiks because of their durability but I would like any input that I may glean from this forum as to what type, length and manufacturer for rods and line in each situation.

Thanks

I use three techniques most of the time, and my equipment is specific to each. For slow trolling, (tightlining) I use 14 foot Wally Marshal tight line specials, some think there too heavy, but they are strong, limited bounce, and durable. For long lining I use an assortment of sized tackle plus rods from 8 to 14 feet. For one pole vertical jigging, I prefer an 11 foot crappie commander made by grizzly jig co. Long lining I use #6 trilene XL, for tight lining trilene XT in #10. For vertical fishing, #10 p-line. Reels are an assortment of quality spinning reels.

I use visious hi-viz 6# for long lining on 8' BGJP's. I use 4# visious hi vis for dock shooting on a 4.5-5' shakespear AXT UL I think is the model with a crappie max mini reel. The more expensive reels with more ball bearings peel off too much line imo.

I use 6lb test Vicious hi-vis for most of my jig casting, tightlining & dock shooting. I do have one outfit that I use with PowerPro 10/2 ... but normally it's used for deep jigging or casting Roadrunners & Whirly Bees.

I used to use 4lb test Mr Crappie Super hi-vis or Stren Gold ... and they did me well. I just got tired of the easier breakoffs with the 4lb test, so I went to 6lb test. Can't really tell any difference in casting/shooting distance vs using 4lb test.

If using braid in shallow clear water, and you think it may be spooking fish ... simply tie on a 1-2ft mono or fluorocarbon leader. You'll still have the visibility of the braid, but the lesser visibility of the clear line down by the hook. Base your hookset strength on the pound test of the mono/fluoro to avoid line breakage on hookset.

My main outfits, for the three methods you describe, are :

Dock shooting - 5'6" ESP UL rod - Shakespeare Alpha XT 1000 reel - Vicious 6lb test hi-vis line
General casting - 6'6" ESP PowerLite rod - Shimano Aero 1000 reel - Vicious 6lb test hi-vis line
Tightline - a dozen different rod/reel combos & line test :Rofl ... of which I generally only use 3 of, in my Hi-Tec rod holders, as that's about as many as I can handle at one time. :)

... cp :kewl

Vicious seems to be a common denominator so far, I'm anxious to see more.

Looks to me like you already have a pretty decent rig for casting,pitching or dock shooting. If it works for perch no reason it won't for crappie. Then you need to figure out if your going to spider rig and long line.

I have a mixed bag of rods and reels, just to many to list but all have 6lb vicious line. This line is strong and never seen it spook a crappie. My crank rods I use 10lb braid but that's a different story from the dock shooting, tightlining, longlining, jigging and casting set ups. I also use a fly rod for crappie/bream/trout and use anywhere from 2lb - 7lb lines and or tippets.

I use a Pflueger President 6920 on a St. Croix Avid Ultra Light Rod and 6# test Berkley Trilene Sensation (Blaze Orange).

I use a variety of rods and reels for my fishing.
9ft BnM float n fly with a U.S. STX spinning reel with 10lb Wally World braid for hi lo rigs from Colonel's Creek bridge or boat. Need the muscle to handle the odd likely striper and catfish.
8ft BnM Difference and Shimano Saros 1000 filled with 1/2 lb diameter and 2lb strength PP for finesse fishing. 1/64 oz slab tail jigs or live lining minners.
2 8ft BnM pro staff trollers for trolling capps and Coleman rigs with any reel that works.

Alright, so far I have a 3000 yard spool of hi-vis yellow vicious 6lb test on the way. Now to decide on more rods! Thanks for the insights.

what ever I find at fle market that feels good to me =find some good stuff there at times. mostly use 6# clear line. Rango had a man long time ago gave him good deals on fishing equpt. =got him to get me a 3,500 yard spool of off brand line. been using it . still seems to be good i cant remember a fish breaking it and no problem with it twisting. cant see trying to fix something that aint broke. I use braid line and ugly sticks for striper and cat fish.

I mainly use three methods to catch crappie: Single-pole Vertical Jigging, Casting/Shooting, and Tightlinging.

Single-pole Vertical Jigging
10' Sam Heaton Super Sensitive and a Diawa Sweepfire Reel
11' Ozark Rod with rear reel seat and a Cabelas UL reel
12' B'n'M Bucks Best UL with rear reel seat and a Shakespeare UL reel

All my jig poles are spooled with 10# Spiderwire braid and I always use a 6# Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon Leader

Casting/Shooting
4.5' - 5' UL graphite rod and a good quality UL reel

I spool my casting rods with 4# Mr. Crappie Hi-Vis line.

Tightlining
12' Graphite Pinnacle Vertex Rods with various UL open face reels
10' Fiberglass HT Panfish Specials with various UL open face reels

I spool my tightling rods with 6# Mr. Crappie Hi-Vis line and add I always use a 6# Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon Leader. This spring I'll use these same rods to attempt trolling and I won't use the Fluorocarbon leader.

If you are looking for some good long poles that won't break the bank I would suggest starting your search at Grizzly Jig. I recommend the HT Panfish Specials or the Pinnacle Limit Rods. For tightlinging I really like a rod ATLEAST 10' long and around the trolling motor I like my 12'ers. Especially, when fishing shallow. I know a lot of folks that like 14' rods, but I haven't made that move yet. The 12's have caught their fair share of fish and they are easier to handle for me.

For reels, I don't suggest spending a lot of money unless you are going to be using it to cast and retrieve. Most of the times the reel is nothing more than a line holder and it just needs to have a good working drag!

Hope this helps!

I have the Pinnacle Limit rods also. They are 4 for $60 from Grizzly Jig and are an inexpensive way to start out if you are not wanting to spend a fortune on stuff and find out you don't like the method. I have been very pleased with the rods. I also found sone Pinnacle Tiny 20 Classic reels and they have been very good for the money. I use 6# High Vis green Suffix, mainly because I found a 3400 yd spool on sale from Outlet Bait and Tackle. It has been good too, does not seem to kink or take a set.

:highfiveThanks for your input, I now have several HT panfish specials, Grizzly elite reels, a B n M Sharpsooter,
a Wally Marshall dock shooter and Mr.Crappie and Vicious hi vis line on the way. Along with some other goodies. The guy at Grizzly Jig was really nice and helpful, I advised him that he came recommended from this website.