I am new to crappie fishing and enjoy it. I just need some opinion on what type of rods and reels people use shooting dock. I have ordered a wally marsh medium light action with fast action 4ft 6 in rod. What is everybody opinion?
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I am new to crappie fishing and enjoy it. I just need some opinion on what type of rods and reels people use shooting dock. I have ordered a wally marsh medium light action with fast action 4ft 6 in rod. What is everybody opinion?
First of all,are you going to be a little ways away from dock,if so 5 1/2 to 6 1/2 would be better .the short rod if you are getting in the dock,but the longer rods will shot farther,i use a 5 1/2 foot cherrywood for casting and dock shooting and am going to try a 6 1/2 when it gets warmer
Hello Twofish, I've read a lot of threads and articles lately about which rods are best for shooting docks. The possibilities seem to be endless. This can be a deep subject and it appears personal preference plays a big role in it as well. I've been shooting docks a few years now and actually started with the 4'-6" Wally Marshall Signature rod, like you have ordered, when Bass Pro Shop carried it. Since then, I have purchased a couple Wally Marshall Signature Series rod in 5'-6" (made by Lew's) and really like them. I have one in 4'-6" as well and am ordering one in 6'-6" for longer casting applications. As you fish with different length rods, you will zero in on what suits you the best for your particular style of fishing & boat positioning. Some position their boat close to docks and prefer a shorter rod and some position farther away and prefer longer rods for longer shooting distance. I also use the Wally Marshall hi-vis line in 4# test as it really helps with strike detection. Don't be scared of this line as my son and I have caught 15# blue cats and several 3#-5# largemouth while crappie fishing. My reels are probably overkill, but I really enjoy the Shimano 1000FE spinning reels as they are very smooth for casting & retrieving which is my primary fishing style over shooting docks. Shimano Sedonas or Pfleuger Presidents are great reels as well. It just depends on what you want to spend. Overall I think you will enjoy your purchase and may want to graduate in lengths until you find the length that suits your style. Additionally, reels with larger spools don't cause as much line twist/memory as smaller spools. I started out with 500 series reels and learned the hard way. I made it through the spring/summer/fall with them, but it got tough in the winter. I now use 1000 series reels and some people even go with the 2000+ series.
Browning ultra lite 4'9 and 5'2 is all i use.
Genec, I actually got my hands on some Cherrywoods in Academy Sports this weekend for the first time. They are nice feeling rods for the money.
Twofish, don't count them out. While I really enjoy the Wally Marshall Signature rods, I may give one of them a try as well.
Good advice, so far, as to it being a "personal preference" deal on rod length.
My dock shooting "mentor" used a 6'6" med action rod, but I was into "ultralights" at the time, so I started out with what I had. I experimented off & on with rods from 5' to 8' ... and while I could make all of them work, I eventually settled on a 5'6" ESP UL rod as my primary dock shooting equipment. I also started out with 4lb test hi-vis mono, but recently changed to 6lb test.
Like has been mentioned ... a wide spool or longcast spool reel & quality line will make your dock shooting adventures more pleasurable. So will putting the line on correctly, and the proper amount !! And should you notice the line starting to show signs of twisting ... and it will happen, eventually ... simply remove the bait from the line & let out about 1/4 - 1/3 of the line and drag it behind the boat (at idle speed) for a couple of minutes ... then reel it back in under tension, and retie your bait & get back to fishing. The time spent untwisting your line will pay you back in better performance !!
I even go so far as to "unkinking" my line, on reels that haven't been used for awhile, before I even take them to the lake. I simply tie off the end of the line to something ... walk off about twice the distance of a normal "long cast" ... then pull on the line to stretch it out ... untie the line & reel it back on the spool under tension (between finger/thumb). That seems to undo the coil sets that mono gets when stored on your reel for a length of time.
You might also want to give this a try, while you're dockshooting or before you leave a dock, as it may put a few more fish in your boat ... like it has for me : http://www.crappie.com/articles/crappiepappy.htm
... luck2ya !!!
... cp :kewl
My favorite dock shooting rod is the 4'6" Bass Pro Microlite. I use a good quality open face spinning reel with 4 lb. test line. I've tried the closed face spincast reels, but found they just don't hold up; after a while the retrieve gets really rough.
I use one of the original Wally M rods that BPS used to sell. It's 5' with a light action. One thing I do use, that I think gets me way more cast's per day is a shimano trigger reel. I like the Spirex model the best. This way when I reel up I can grab the lure with my left hand, put tight to rotate the reel back to the trigger position and then grab trigger and cast. This eliminates me having to fill the bail with my left hand before grabbing the lure.
6' berkley cherry wood, quantum optix 10 reel, 4lb berkley xl orange line. it works for me
I like a longer lite action rod for shooting. Seems like I can get quite a bit farther more consistantly. I always use 6lb hi-vis mono, but may switch to braid. Last week of the year, I was teaching my son to shoot docks with me, and I only had one other reel set up and it was loaded with braid. Once he got the hang of it, he was out catching me 6:1! They were biting extremely light and he was able to feel it with the braid better than me with mono.
This year will be my first year attempting to learn and go after some crappie myself, and I was also looking at a few rods to add to my "collection" :). One rod I was wondering about was a B'n'M called the "Sharpshooter" which describes itself as specifically designed for shooting docks. I have never tried any of their rods, does anyone have an opinion on this Sharpshooter of theirs, or their rods I general. Most of my rods are St. Croix, but the B'n'M seem to specialize in crappie rods so I thought they might be a good choice to try.
BnM makes some great rods, and they have excellent customer service. But, that aside, I held a "Sharpshooter" rod & found it to be a bit whippy & "too" UL for my taste.Quote:
Originally Posted by Slow Retrieve
Currently I'm using a Norsemen Outdoors ESP rod ... 5' 6" UL (E56ULS) http://esp.norsemenoutdoors.com/shop/56-ultra-lite
I've fieldtested rods for ESP, and this rod was my first ESP rod. I replaced the 5' Quantum UL rod, that I'd been using for years, with the ESP ... simply because the ESP has a fast action tip, better backbone, and is lighter in weight. :twocents
... cp :kewl
Thank for the feedback. Most of my current rods are St. Croix, have you ever tried one of their "PANFISH" series of rods? My original instinct was to stick with them, but they can be a little pricey as well and a few more of their rods can really add up fast.Quote:
Originally Posted by CrappiePappy
No, I have not ever held/tried a St Croix rod. But, if you have one between 5 & 6ft long, balanced with a good spinning reel & some 4-6lb test line ... then it would probably serve you well as a dock shooter. Well, as long as it was a lite to med/lite power rod, that is :Rofl And you wouldn't have to purchase another rod !!Quote:
Originally Posted by Slow Retrieve
I see you're a homeboy ... so, where exactly are you planning on doing your "dock shooting" ??
If you haven't already read these, you might want to give them a look through ... might pick up some tips :
http://www.crappie.com/articles/crappiepappy.htm
http://www.crappie.com/crappie/showt...Tecnique/page2
... cp :kewl
Thanks, I'll check those out.Quote:
Originally Posted by CrappiePappy
As far as where, I have a few options. I am closest to Barren and little further from Nolin, but since I have read that Barkley is so much better I likely will try to also occasionally drive the extra distance and go there as well. It will be a learning experience and I guess where I end up mostly will depend on the success (or lack of it :) ) I end up having. I am just going to have to experiment and hope I hit on something that works.
I have a bnm sharpshooter, with a abu garcia cardinal 101, with vicious 6lb hi-vis yellow ,and absolutely love it. It is the best dock shooting rod and reel on the market, in my opinion. I also love fliping southern pro hot grubs and stinger shad. They are extremely productive, also very affordable .
BnM medium ultra lite 4'10
Just got home and checked, the rods I have are 5'6" light action, not 5'Quote:
Originally Posted by MDCrappie
When you get a dock shooting rod, or designate one you have for that purpose ... practice, practice, practice !!! Since most lakes in our state have floating docks, your entry point target area is likely to be fairly small. And, don't ever pass up a chance to shoot a jig under a pontoon boat, whether in a slip or moored outside of the dock. Just be careful & mindful that these boats & docks are private property ... so try not to do any damage to them, and definitely stay off of them !!Quote:
Originally Posted by Slow Retrieve
... cp :kewl
Norseman 6' 6" esp powerlite, no reason to go shorter. Longer rods shoot further and you can move and control fish better.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MDCrappie
I use this rod and a Shimano 1000 sidestab spinning reel and it works great for dock shooting. The rod is the perfect length for me.
I watched Wally on T V today shooting docks and he used a 7 ft. He said you wil be more accurate because of the extra guides and can shoot it farther. he was using 16th oz jigs with I think 6 lb line.
yes he was........good show also!!
It really depends on how tight is the spot your trying to shoot your jig. On the show the water was real low and he had 5ft of headroom to shoot his jigs. The lake he was fishing was Cedar Creek and it is extremely low right now. If the lake rises to normal pool you may have 2 foot of headroom. I have shot docks in which you have about 9 inches to work with. Just something to thing about.
watched the same show. he suggested 7ft UL with 6lb test. he was catching some fatties.
:Rofl ... Like I've said before, if you get the timing down of the release of line & bait, and you aim correctly, you can use some pretty long rods to shoot docks. I've used 8' FnF rods to shoot docks, but I don't prefer using them. I'm more likely to use a 5'6" or 6'6" rod.
Now, I don't compare myself to Wally ... by any stretch of the imagination ... but if faced with a dock as "open" as the ones he was shooting, I dare say that I could have shot a 1/16oz jig with 6lb test line on a 5'6" ESP rod, to just about any place under those docks that I wanted.
But, the most important "info" given on that show ... was his reference to "shade" being a "structure" (though I think it's more correctly defined as a "cover" or "condition"). It is one of the most important "factors", for sure !! His reference to "practicing" BEFORE you go to the lake is spot on ... and he did explain the shooting method, though he failed to mention one important point about holding the jig. He did say hold it by the head, rather than by the hook ... but forgot to mention that you should always hold the jig by the head with the hook point facing AWAY from your hand !!
All in all it was a good show, and I enjoyed watching it. And I'll probably set the DVR to catch the series, if its primary quarry is going to be Crappie.
... cp :kewl
9" to 2' - man I wish that was the norm here. Mine is all tidal water, so constantly moving. When the tide is up I can be looking at 3-6" clearance some times. This is why I use a shorter, more accurate for me, 5'6" rod.Quote:
Originally Posted by Grainraiser
Many of our docks are low to water,i have one that i caught a 3 lb on and many fish and it is only 1 to 1and1/2 inchoff water weather water is up or down ,a home made floating dock,now i don't get it under there every time but if water is calm can shoot it far under it about 3/4 the time using a 5 and 1/2 rod,can not skip it but have to go under it before it hits water or it will bounce into dook and not go far,bait have to leave rod at the water,if windy i cannot do it.also have a dook when water is up than it leaves no distant between water and dock ,so i wait for a boat to pass and as it sucks water from under it i shoot under it,then water comes back up but that dock is worth the wait.
GeneC I know that dock you are talking about!! I think that's where I met you back in 2012!!! Old Rope dock is what we call it!! 6.0 UL shimano clarus with a 2500 sahara reel is what I use and love it!!Quote:
Originally Posted by MDCrappie
Lews tuxedo black Mr Crappie,7ft really get some distance with it.
ive used the b and m dockshooters and a few other rods but my favorite is a kids bass rod., its a mike iaconelli combo that i got at academy for my kids a few years back. they are white and say, like mike or something ..they work better then anything that ive actually bought for dock shooting
Interesting thread,I will be attempting dock shooting,but the lakes I fish have few and some have no docks.I can see a bigger benefit in shooting under Low overhanging,hard to reach honey spots.Many times I've had to abandon a fishy spot because I was to dense to visualize I could dock shoot the small openings.
CrappiePappy,your artical on vertical casting is how I fish crappie much of the time,often I do it with extension poles.Absent a reel,I just lower the bait,then very very slowly lift,most times I feel the bight,and just continue lifting the crappie up and into the yak in one smooth motion,fish on!
Great thread.. But i really think it depends on the docks you are trying to shoot when it comes to rod length. Get ur accurancy down and the distance will come.
There is no way i would go to the lake i dock shoot with just a 7' rod. Sometimes i can get under a dock and if i didnt have my 4'9" i would struggle landing fish. But that being said, i do use longer poles when applicable. I always have at least 3 poles of different length ready to "fling"