Opinions on equipment needed

Hi Guys,
I need opinions on crappie poles/rods with reels. I can not afford latest greatest nor "custom". I am talking "best bang for buck" type deals. 10, 12, and 14 ft.
Reels...well anything dependable. I think i remember somebody posting counter reels that could be bought for $40-$50. also..the best places to obtain this equip.

I am also looking for a fish finder/gps si/di. am thinking the helix 7 fits my budget best but am willing to hear you guys opinions. Would also consider used units if someone is ready to upgrade.
Thanks in advance
Donnie

The pinnacle limit rods are decent starter rods at Grizzly Jig they are $66 for 4.

I wouldn't do line counter reels. Cheap spinning reels are fine.

I would buy the Humminbird 999 from BBG Marine for $899 while it's on sell. It has dual full size card slots and is networkable the Helix is close in price but lacks these features.

Ree's Guide has a nice 899 in the classifieds he just posted. Grizzly also has some Wally Marshal rods four for 80.00 in 9-10-12 ft I would consider. Unless you are going to do a lot of crank pulling then I would stay away from the counters. Get some decent spinning reels or cheap thumbar bait casters.

I just got an email from Lowrance(I have a HDS7 touch Gen 2). According to the letter, they will be discounting the Gen 2 HDS unit by as much as $400. I would check with Brian at BBG Marine(one of our site sponsirs) to see if he has gotten pricing info yet.

And on the rods, the Pinnacle Limits at 4 for $60 or hard to beat. I have 6 of them and they have served me well. They are not as light and sensitive as my B&M BGJP rods, but they are great for tight lining and long lining.

Good place to start your build up would be at Bridgemasters on Hwy 60,
Lakewales, (across from Walmart)
Its called the "fisherman's candy store"
Excellant prices on rods - reels - line - all kinds crappie tackle..........
Grizzly Jig Co, excellant place for mail order - and they ship same day ordered.
Bass Pro - Orlando has reasonable prices on Crappie Prods.

Depending on size of your post - Spider rigging - good start size is 12' rods,
any spinning reel that will hold line and crank. (5 - $9.00 range)
Mono line - 6lb test. Barrel swevils 1/2 oz size - Jigs (i would start with
Skipper's or Ron's mylar jigs - (hot pink - orange - yellow - blue/black -
black. most come in range of 16th oz. average $1.19 - $1.45 ea.) Moon jigs
for spider rigging will also work -(pink-orange-purple- blue) minnow tip them.
Depth finders - here again depends on what you wanting to do - range from $100
to $1500.00. same with trolling motors -
Belive you over in Lakeland area. send me a pm along with cell number, name
I will try and help you.

Southern Crappie Rods are decent rods

Southerncrappierods.com Store

I don't know if you will beat the pinnacle rod deal, but if you live near a Academy for a convenience factor, I recently purchased (2) 10ft. tournament edition rods they sale for $20 & teamed them with Michell avocat reels on sale, they have a good backbone & have already past the testing of a large gar on the other end.

If you need rod holders Hills rod holders are best value.

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Originally Posted by Bass7858

Hi Guys,
I need opinions on crappie poles/rods with reels. I can not afford latest greatest nor "custom". I am talking "best bang for buck" type deals. 10, 12, and 14 ft.
Reels...well anything dependable. I think i remember somebody posting counter reels that could be bought for $40-$50. also..the best places to obtain this equip.

I am also looking for a fish finder/gps si/di. am thinking the helix 7 fits my budget best but am willing to hear you guys opinions. Would also consider used units if someone is ready to upgrade.
Thanks in advance
Donnie

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Hey Donnie,

These are just my opinions, just something to think about. I was just too old to Invest a lot of money, so I went the cheaper way out, to rig up for Crappie fishing.

I have seen these Ipilot in actions and if you are going to be a serious Crappie fisherman this would be the first thing I would buy, of course after a boat! :biggrin I mainly fish alone and have a hand controlled variable speed motor, on the bow, I am doing OK, the other day I was fishing 5 rods, keeps me busy. I bought an extension handle with a universal joint in it, works really great.

I also bought a Basic fish finder from Harold, for the console and a found $35.00 Depth finder for the bow, on Craigslist. I'm too old to learn how to run the newest sonar units, so this works for me. I also try to find any available maps of a Lake I'm going to fish. They are not that easy on the smaller Lakes that I fish. Google Earth is a tremendous help!! I also ask lot of questions, the people here on CDC are the BEST!

As far as rods reels and terminal tackle, I buy most of my stuff online, I have left a dollar or two at the Fisherman's Candy store! :woohoo Well worth the drive. Their web site isn't the Best, they have way more then what's listed, and do not keep the prices updated. I had a $200.00 list of stuff, when I went there the prices were higher than online, being a good business, they honored what prices they listed. NOW, they have a notice on their site, that prices could be changed as they have not done all the updates. Kind of an easy way out, rather than updating the prices??? But they are GOOD people and have lots of Crappie equipment. ( no pun intended)

Everytime I go fishing, I seem to learn a little bit more. Can't tell you how much being on the water, and paying attention will help. I don't care if it's a full moon, no moon, sunny and Hot, whatever, if you get a chance go. I do not like the wind, but I have a place nearby that I can still go, unless it is crazy.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help, as I'm try to learn and having "FUN" at the same time.

Good luck take care and Regards,

pescador aka/ Marv

Shoot man. I am fishing blind. No depth finder up front, only have an old GPS76 handheld for speed and location, cheap ole factory finish depth finder provided by Tracker on the console, but still catch a plenty of fish. Cant compete with the big boys for sure, but can get dinner a plenty. Running a foot control trolling motor, might upgrade to a electric steer but maybe not, like the faster response of foot or hand control when fishing other than trolling. If your wanting to compete with FCC or one of the big tourneys than spend as much as your wallet allows to be competitive, but for fun, relax keep it simple and read the water and do what the fish tell ya. Far as reels it is hard to beat the Shimano IX1000 series for $12.00 available many places including the big box stores.

I bought the 4 Pinnacle $60 deal from GrizzlyJigs but have yet to use them for crappie. That will happen in a few weeks. As you stated they are a little heavy but longlining with them in a rod holder they should be satisfactory. Have used them only for snatching mullet.. This takes a rod with staying power and I'm actually surprised at how these rods have held up under the punishment mullet snatching will inflict.

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Originally Posted by SeaRay

I just got an email from Lowrance(I have a HDS7 touch Gen 2). According to the letter, they will be discounting the Gen 2 HDS unit by as much as $400. I would check with Brian at BBG Marine(one of our site sponsirs) to see if he has gotten pricing info yet.

And on the rods, the Pinnacle Limits at 4 for $60 or hard to beat. I have 6 of them and they have served me well. They are not as light and sensitive as my B&M BGJP rods, but they are great for tight lining and long lining.

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Far as reels it is hard to beat the Shimano IX1000 series for $12.00 available many places including the big box stores.

I have 4 of these Mike, have landed Bass over 6 1/2 lbs with them, I like em. Oh, and I also use a hand held GPS for MPH mostly.

I have 9 of the 1000 series I use for pullin and 1 3000 series I use on a surf rod. All are close to 8 years old, took em out the package, put on rods spooled em up and have only changed line each year. Never oiled or washed except for the surf reel gets a bath when I get home and thats it. No breakage, no failures, no problems. Silky smooth drag, no, but we are talking about a fish on average of maybe a pound and a quarter on 6lb test and very forgiving rods and the surf rod I just keep a light drag on to compensate. Cant ask for much more. When the day comes and 1 or all break I will buy again no questions asked.

Update.
Ordered 4 Wally marshall Slab Daddy 12" rods from grizzly on Monday. Received them today. The rods will be big time upgrades from the bream busters we have been using. Also ordered and received 4 Hi tech Crappie reels. Nuttin fancy and not castable but definitely good line storage devices. Lookin at the shimano 1000's for next upgrade. prolly pick 4 of the 10 ft poles too.

also talkin with brian at bbg about a lowrance elite 7 hdi fishfinder gps. Little more than i was lookin for after readin huntin slabs post. Kind of fly by the seat of the pants guys too. BUT!! i like bells and whistles too!!

Your on a roll! And nuttin wrong with bells, whistles, gadgets or gizmos either. Just aint got round to that yet.

PM crabslabstew he has a new HB he likes. Down and side image for $500