Was looking to purchase a Crappie rod for fishing docks. Will use jigs standing on docks. Thinking of a lite action 6' 6" to 7 ft
please let me know
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Was looking to purchase a Crappie rod for fishing docks. Will use jigs standing on docks. Thinking of a lite action 6' 6" to 7 ft
please let me know
I think your length of choice is fine, provided you don't have a roof or crossbeams above you that might interfere with casting or hook setting. Your choice of action (lite) would also be fine, IMHO.
Now, as far as "brand/model" ... that's up to you & your budget. Also, what reel you plan on putting on it might make a difference ... especially if you intend to cast or jig with it. You want the weight of the reel to balance out the weight of the length of the rod.
I, personally, use a 6'6" ESP PowerLite rod for most of my jig casting. The reel on it is a Shimano Spirex 1000.
If you already have a reel you want to put on the rod ... buying a rod that has a Tenn style handle will allow you to place the rod on the handle where it balances best. If you buy a rod with a fixed reel seat, you may have to "hands on" test the reel on the rod to make sure it will balance. If you can lay the rod/reel across your finger, at the very front end of the handle, and it will balance on your finger without rapidly falling towards the tip or reel ... then the outfit is pretty much balanced. Tip heavy outfits will strain your wrist ... handle heavy outfits, not so much, but they are "heavier" than necessary. A balanced outfit is more comfortable to use, and doesn't strain your wrist/arm.
... cp :kewl
Look at the Wally Marshall Pro series by Lews. About $40.
My son said he was looking for spinning reels, rods, combos to decide what they wanted. I gathered up all my reels and rods to carried them to him. They like the micro size so we went looking for rods. walmart has the Ugly Stick combo for $50, couldn't find the rod. They have the Shakespeare micro spin combo they like for $20 and the rod for $17.
BNM sharp shooter
Will you be casting off the dock or fishing vertically? If the latter, I would go with a shorter rod.Quote:
Originally Posted by ld7009
Agree 100%! I love to open the bail, walk a distance, close the bail, and allow the bait to pendulum. I have caught a lot of crappie fishing marinas with this approach.Quote:
Originally Posted by deathb4disco
Has anyone herd of or using aSore Lip Series Rod SLS-150
Trout Magnet brand rod. IM6 high modulus graphite / 2pc / fast action tipQuote:
Originally Posted by ld7009
Price seems pretty reasonable, even for an off brand rod. But, of course, you have to factor in S/H charges on any rod you order online or through a catalog vs buying one at a local store.
And, again, as with any rod with a fixed reel seat ... finding a reel that balances the rod is a key factor in having a good outfit that's comfortable to use. With that extra long corked handle, one would tend to think that you could balance the outfit with a fairly light weight reel. :dono
... cp :kewl
i personally like 6 foot rods if i am vertical jiggin docks ....there seems to always be something above you when you set the hook
or even shorter ....like 5 6 or so .....
I appreciate your thoughts. There will be a New Cabelas opening in Lexington this March I will feel a lot of rods . Thank you again and any advice is appreciated
Don't forget ... there's a Sportsman's Warehouse, & Dick's Sporting Goods just a few miles away from the new Cabela's ... so you can always do some comparison shopping. There's also Backwaters Outfitters, and while it is geared more towards Bass fishing ... they do have rods/reels on consignment (used) that can be some decent bargains.Quote:
Originally Posted by ld7009
And of course there's always Wally World ... where you could pick up a Berkley rod (Cherrywood or Lightnin rod) cheap. My fishing partner fishes Cherrywoods and catches his fair share ... and I have a 6'6" Eagle Claw med action rod that serves as a backup or loner outfit.
... cp :kewl
E60PLS 6' Power Lite Rod for docks jigging Blue gills and Crappie. Is this rod sensitive enough for light jigs and strong enough to pull a slab out of water on to dock. Will these tips break easy. Example Cane Run docks
Thanks
That rod is the 6ft version of the rod I use for casting jigs, dock shooting, and even some deep vertical jigging. I also use it for what I call "Vertical Casting", which I explain in this article : Crappie Pappy ArticleQuote:
Originally Posted by ld7009
The only difference in that 6' ESP rod and my 6'6" ESP rod ... is my rod has a 6" handle extension out the butt of the handle (what I often refer to as a "poodle tail").
I've found the ESP rods to be "very" sensitive, and quite strong. After being a field tester for the designer/VP of Marketing ... I replaced my previous rods with the ESP rods, and I still prefer my 6'6" PowerLite rod for most of my "rod in hand" fishing methods.
Would I lift a Crappie/Bluegill up over the side of the boat or up onto a dock with my ESP rod ... yep, and I've done both many, many times. Would I lift land a 2lb fish with it ... yes, carefully. I just wouldn't lift/hold the fish up with the rod pointing straight up nonono
I wouldn't expect even a Ugly Stick rod to not break under those conditions. :yikes
As I've told many people before, the only negative about ESP rods is that they are not user friendly with slip floats ... because the end guides and rod tip are micro guides, and most bobber stops will not go through them easily. Not a big factor in "my" case, since I don't use slip floats very often ... and if/when I do, I have outfits that are designed for that type of use.
... cp :kewl
Besides the B n' M Sharpshooter mentioned above, I use the SHSS in 7' length. It has just the right backbone and parabolic tip to get that jig fired into the tightest places - with a little practice of course! :)
I use two rods for dock fishing. A 7ft Cabelas Pro Guide Panfish Series rod in the UL action for slip bobbers and my new toy a 6ft St Croix panfish rod for flinging jigs out a ways and just plain dropping them near pilings.
B-n-M's 7' Sam Heaton super sensitive UL spinning rod. Is it durable, can you lift a 2 1/2 lb Crappie out of water on a dock
I love to here from experience
Quote:
Originally Posted by ld7009
NO !! And no Crappie rod should be expected to "dead lift" that much weight. IMHO
Just to be sure of my answer, I took my 7' Sam Heaton and tried to lift a 2lb barbell off the floor. I pushed it to the point where I felt the rod would likely break if pushed any further, and the weight never even offered to lift up on one end, let alone lift into the air.
If I had access to a dock to fish off of, that had the potential of providing very many 2.5lb Crappie (or even close to 2lb Crappie) .... I'd spend my money on a long handled net, and just use whatever rod/reel I was already fishing with to that point. Jus' sayin' !!
... cp :kewl
I will use a long handled net I ordered a B'n'M Sam Heaton Super-Sensitive Spinning Rod 7' for casting jigs from Walmart on line. They have 2 ordered 1 with 2 year warranty tax warranty and rod was total $39.00 shipped to store here in Nicholasville
with two year warranty for $3.00 figured its worth it. I appreciate all of your ideas I have a 5' ultra lite, 6 ft lite so 7' Med lite 4lb line should work. really had my mind made up on BnM rod but wanted to here from the Pro's . Great wisdom here . Thank you always enjoy reading and gaining your wisdom
So then I take it you are fishing off a dock at Herrington Lake, perhaps ?? :donoQuote:
Originally Posted by ld7009
I might consider using 6lb test line and not locking down the drag on your reel ... you never know when that fish of another mother (species) might take a hankerin' for your bait.
I like the Vicious Panfish copoly line, myself ... but, also use a variety of other brands.
... cp :kewl
Every time I try to lift a good fish and swing it in the boat I do a touch release. I keep a net close by now so the fish can go into the live well.
You might want to take a look at B n' M's SHSS in 7' length. I've been hearing a lot of good things about it's sharpshooting capability. And you can get a good buy on one at Grizzly Jig Company. I have this model which I use for vertical jigging. Don't have many docks to shoot in this neck of the woods! :)
Yes off docks in small boat at times. Also with friends with boats But still can use on docks IMHO but short rods I have will work for those cold winter nights on docks.