Huckabee rods compared to Lew's rods

Just within the last year have gotten serious about crappie fishing, Livescope, etc. etc. The primary tactic we use is single pole jigging with Livescope.

I have been using the Lew's Wally Marshall pole (the long one--10' I think?). I have been pretty happy with it. With that IM8 blank, it seems like it is pretty sensitive.

However, coming from a background in bass fishing, I know the difference that a really top quality rod can make in how much you can feel. That has me looking at and wondering about some more "premium" crappie poles, like the Huckabee rods. I know they get really good feedback on here and elsewhere, but I'm wondering specifically how they compare to the Lew's Wally Marshall that I'm currently using. I don't mind spending a little $$ if it is really going to make a difference, but I don't want to spend the money to upgrade if it really isn't going to make that much of a difference.

Also, if it does make enough of a difference to make it worth upgrading, any suggestions on the specific Huckabee model would be good. I'm wanting to use it single pole jigging; I am typically using a double jig rig with total weight from 1/8 to 3/8 oz.

Any insight will be great--thanks!

I have a Hukabee rod 13 ft and like it but the weight is a problem. I also have a 11 and 12 ft acc crappie stix and in my opinion they are some if not the better rods on the market. Just my.02.


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I have used both the rods originally mentioned myself in a livescope boat.
I liked the Mr. Crappie rod more myself , my 2 cents .
not being a fan of the long rod in general ,my opinion dont mean much though :Rofl

I don't have any lew's rods but have several huck rods and a boat full of ACC rods. I use the 12' ACC rod vertical jigging most of the time because it is so light and sensitive. It has enough backbone to sling any crappie and still very sensitive. I still use my huckabee's when dipping trees when I want to jerk them out quick but they are heavier.

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I have very little experience with the Lew’s stuff, but I absolutely love my Huckabee 12’ slab swinger. Also have a 14’ Flip Stick. I like it fine, but the weight will wear you out after a while. I reach for the 12’ rod 99% of the time. I also have a 13’ Jenko X13, and it’s a nice rod too, but if I had to choose I think I’d have to say I prefer the 12’ Huckabee. I would like to try of the ACC rods to see how they compare. It’s all about what you like and how you like to fish. I’ve fished “softer” rods for a long time (BGJP etc) and liked them fine, but I think the Huckabee is more sensitive and I love not having to reach for the net to get the fish in the boat.

Not to hijack but why use such a long rod vertical jigging? Shallow water?

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Originally Posted by catchNgrease

Not to hijack but why use such a long rod vertical jigging? Shallow water?

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the long rod is a stealth thing , big crappie are pretty spooky critters and have a tendency to not like intrusion

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Originally Posted by catchNgrease

Not to hijack but why use such a long rod vertical jigging? Shallow water?

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Ketch covered it pretty well, but Livescope has shown me just how spooky crappie really can be (are). Sure, some days nothing seems to bother them, but there are a whole bunch of days the slightest thing will move them. Even fishing brush that’s 30-40’ deep in a clear water reservoir the boat will spook them/shut the bite off if it gets over the top of them. Casting works well, but a lot of the time they want the bait held dead on them and won’t eat it any other way. Longer rods allow me to stay off of them and not spook them as bad.

B&M BGJP 16' is a very light rod and I like the 14' PST. Hold those all day with a light weight spin reel. Its nice to barely pitch a 1/32 out 22 feet for those easily spooked big girls. You can put the brakes on a jig easy for presentation with a longer rod as well. I have a Huckabee Phantom too, but its better in heavy shallow trees, dont use it much going after roamers.

Most of the livescope specific rods are really nice. My only beef is the price tag. #120 to $150 plus or whatever for a Chinese built rod is a little bit of a stretch for me. Especially when i could take a phantom or x13 or stick or a dobyns jj signature series to my custom rod guy let him look it over and he'd replicate a rod that would make them all look and feel like trash for under $200. And that rod you could pick colors of the under wrap, over wrap, butt wrap, split or solid handle, cork or eva foam, guides, # of guides, guide spacing, reel seat, reel seat location, blank color, length, action, weight, # of pieces, and so on with even more you could do to it. I'm not knocking the rods just stating the facts.

got gave 2 Berkley long rods , one 10 and one 12 , they seem about like all the rest of the long rods to me .
they were on clearance a few years ago here in the local Academy stores for 5 bucks ...
never even put a reel on the 12 footer ,still hanging on the wall in the garage .:Rofl
my buds scooped up herds of them and gave them away to their buds , i dont care much for long rods , but lots of folks love them .
I have used several types in livescope boats and didnt see much difference in any of them myself . :dono

I use BnM Russ Bailey Rods (10’) and love them. :biggrin

New to this long rod fishing stuff and learning a lot by reading threads like this. Really like having a 7 footer in each hand and fish away but fishing timber with a live scope has changed that. Feel, weight and leverage all seem to change with the longer rods-hand lining is out as well.

Was a manager at a tackle shop for a few years and the Lews rods that we stocked didn't seem to have as much backbone as some of the longer rods on the market now ACC etc...

What reels do you guys use on the 12' and longer rods?

Lews amrican Hero size 200 awesome reels for 30 bucks!

Thanks for the feedback-I am familiar with those but never have used one. Will look into it.

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Originally Posted by Crappie Brother

What reels do you guys use on the 12' and longer rods?

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All rods I have that are over 10' have line counter reels on them, except my 12' BGJP that I use to flip jigs when Livescope fishing and it has a spinning reel on it. (currently using a Okuma Stratus STX20)
My long rods are used for Pushing jigs & cranks, which is why they have line counter reels on them. I don't Spider Rig, and rarely Vertical Jig or Long Line Troll. But, when I first started Pushing jigs, my long rods had baitcast reels on them.

Thank You CrappiePappy!

Lots of quailty brands of rods but if real cheap usually get what you pay for .:twocents I livescope and I use Huckabess as we swing the fish in no net . They are sensivite but even light weight rods when the are longer than 12' can seem heavier . I feel the 13' huckabees light as any 13' . Strong and sensitive with extra reach for livescoping . Love my Phantom and Trident rods by Huckabee . Only difference I can tell is one 2 and other 3 piece rod . :fish

I think most will prefer what they are used to using . ACC is an awesome company and they are not telling a lie about taking the rods back . I tried two rods and sent them back in exchange for different models . I did not care for them due to being stiffer than what I normally use , I had no problem selling them . They are sensitive , light, and tough. I do not mind netting fish and prefer a softer tip when I am jigging . The Sam Heaton series from B/M Floats my boat but there are lots of good rods out there . I own Ozarks as well as Lew's and Okuma rods for specific uses . Rods are another Ford/ Chevy thing to me .

i have two 10ft wally marshall troll techs. they are a very stiff rod for a jig pole. i use them for fishing structure with a cork to set the hook faster. i also have acc in 11ft that i like but my over all favorite for vertical jigging are the b&m tree thumpers. i have both 10 and 11 footers. all of these have a faster tip with lots of backbone when compaired to some of the others, but i prefer a stiffer rod to one that is flimsy at the tip. denalli's are very good as well. i cant count how many rods i have bought and sold or gave away finding what i want. i suggest keep trying em out till you find what feels good to you.

I’m moving to ACC rods my self because I can feel them better than other rod other than my Falcon rods I use for minnows. I have some Lew’s Marshall rods. Good rods for trolling but I ( bil) broke the tip off of one of the rods. I can’t order a replacement as the rod has been discontinued. I’m a lot more particular with my rod purchases now.

I have the same lews rod. Only used it once so far. I didnt thing it had as much feel for the bites as my acc or my sam heaton super sensitive. I wonder if it's the soft handles as my others are cork. I will be trying it some more as it's a very nice rod and I like my lews bass rods. Always looking for the lightest most sensitive 10 footer.