Fly Rod For Jigging

I fish primarily from a solo canoe. I use various kinds of cast and retrieve techniques with 5-6 foot ultralight rods. I was thinking about getting a longer rod for doing some vertical jigging. But I didn't want to go real long because my canoe is only 12 feet long and I didn't want to deal with handling an awkwardly long rod in it.

Then I thought of using an 8 1/2 foot, 4 weight fly rod I have. I have had a lot of fun with this rod fly fishing for trout. It seems like it just might be usable for vertical jigging. And it wouldn't be awkwardly long in my canoe.

I know a lot of folks might suggest I go longer but this is something I already have so no further burden on my budget. Do any of you out there use a fly rod this way? What are your thoughts?


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I don’t normally use my fly rod for crappie. It’s used 99% of the time in streams for trout or smallmouth bass.
My fly rod tip is too “whipy “ for my liking with a crappie jig. One of my jig poles is better suited to the waters I crappie fish.
But yours may work just fine, give it a try and let us know how it works out.


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Long ago before modern crappie fishing, there were a lot of fly rods used for jigging and bottom bouncing on KY Lake for crappie. The somewhat cheap and mostly fiberglass ones. Tells you how old I am.
Think I still have one or two of those stuck somewhere amongst all of the other rods .

I had considered that perhaps the length wouldn't be as much of an issue as the stiffness of the rod for jigging. But even if it isn't ideal I kind of hoped to hear of some folks having success this way.

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Originally Posted by UpstateSC_Bill

I had considered that perhaps the length wouldn't be as much of an issue as the stiffness of the rod for jigging. But even if it isn't ideal I kind of hoped to hear of some folks having success this way.

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I haven't been out in my boat (12') yet this season, but will shortly. I'll try it and let you know how mine works for me. Of course there's fly rods and fly rods -- brook trout rods and steelhead rods.

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Originally Posted by SRHacksaw

I haven't been out in my boat (12') yet this season, but will shortly. I'll try it and let you know how mine works for me. Of course there's fly rods and fly rods -- brook trout rods and steelhead rods.

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Well the one I have is a 35 year old Winston 8 1/2 foot 4 weight. Might not be ideal for backbone but it is certainly capable of playing a crappie.

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Originally Posted by UpstateSC_Bill

Well the one I have is a 35 year old Winston 8 1/2 foot 4 weight.

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Sweet rod! Is it a WT? Or maybe IM6?

Either way, it’s perfect for what you want to do, IMO.

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Originally Posted by fredo

Sweet rod! Is it a WT? Or maybe IM6?

Either way, it’s perfect for what you want to do, IMO.

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It is IM6. I don't know exactly how old it is but I bought it used but in like new condition about 35 years ago. I am going to give it a try next time out. Unfortunately it may take a couple weeks.

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Originally Posted by UpstateSC_Bill

It is IM6.

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Great rods — and still worth a lot of money.

I love my 7' 4wt fishing from my kayak.

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Originally Posted by UpstateSC_Bill

I had considered that perhaps the length wouldn't be as much of an issue as the stiffness of the rod for jigging. But even if it isn't ideal I kind of hoped to hear of some folks having success this way.

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To limber for crappie , if you’re vertical jigging with it , it’s about way to slow and soft …
Bought 2 at a garage sale , both don’t get it done ,,,,my 2 cents

It depends on the action of the 4wt. If it's a fast action it might work and since it's an older rod it might be stiff enough for crappie. I have an 8.5' 6wt. St.Croix SCV fly rod blank that I had custom made into a spinning rod and it's perfect for crappie fishing. Casts a float and jig a long way or vertical jigging brush with no problem. Try the fly rod and see how it works, use a 1/32 to start with a small spinning reel.

I used fly rods to vertical jig for years. But always 5 weight or stiffer. Very similar to using a rear seat jig pole.

Well I am going to take it with me next time out and see how it goes. I don't flip my fish into the canoe so I don't need backbone for that. And being what it is the rod is very sensitive. I will see if it works. I've read some differing opinions on how stiff a rod you need.

No, I think that len*5h and weight might work out very well. Give it a go!
Bob

I have Saltwater 7wt 8wt and 9wt 9ft 3piece fly rods. Epoxy coated guide wraps, anodized aluminum reel seats, 2in fighting butts. Awesome jigging rods. Here is one of the first videos we made using them. The sensitivity is so good with monofilament you can feel the fish swim by the line. I have extra 8wts and 9wts. If anyone wants the details PM me. I only had my importer bring in one order and the few 7wts left I'm keeping for personal supply. Several members here have them as we are friends, they fished with them and had to have a few. I'm Not in the rod business so when they are gone there won't be any more ordered.

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I have used flyrods for jigging for years when just starting out crappie fishing. I even used an eagle claw fiberglass flyrod several times. One thing that I did though was to change out the snake eyes with casting rod eyes. The line was bad to stick to the rod with the snake eyes. I do think 5wt and up would be best.

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Originally Posted by Sky Pilot

I have used flyrods for jigging for years when just starting out crappie fishing. I even used an eagle claw fiberglass flyrod several times. One thing that I did though was to change out the snake eyes with casting rod eyes. The line was bad to stick to the rod with the snake eyes. I do think 5wt and up would be best.

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I do understand that something heavier than what I have would probably be better. But the main reason for considering what I have is that I already do have it. If I were to buy a longer, heavier rod for jigging out of my canoe I would buy a rod designed specifically for jigging from BnM or someplace else. I am considering trying my fly rod so as to avoid the expense. I know it is not ideal. I am just curious if some people may have made it work.

I used a cheerywood fly rod for several years. I don't remember what weight it was but it was pretty light weight. I also did it as a way to save money since I already had the rod and didn't want to spend the money on a long pole at the time. It worked and I caught a lot of fish on it over several years. The only down fall I could really find was I was fishing grass beds or brush and you really had to be quick to get the fish pulled out of it since the rod was so light they could get tangled into structure very easy. I can say I am happy I tried it first since I had never used a long pole before. I have since bought poles specifically for long poling but the fly rod definitely worked and was a good way to find out I liked fishing that way. I hope this helps.

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Flyrod will work fine for jigging. I had an old graphite 8' 5 wt. from years ago. I believe it was my first flyrod, an old Garcia. Only problem I had was the snake guides don't work so well with mono. I removed mine and added single foot Fuji's and extended the butt. Put on a small spinning reel and it worked great. That said, I'd be hard pressed to do that with my Sage rods or a Winston for sure. You probably won't like the snake guides either with mono, just doesn't work very well. But shucks, give it a try.

I have two hand-me-downs from my Grandpa .... a True Temper & a Roddy Built Custom 8.5' (with auto fly reels). My Grandpa used them to fish for Crappie w/minnows (hook & sinker on the 8# test mono leader) ... fly line & auto reel still on them. Used to drive me crazy watching the end of the fly rod go 3-4 guides underwater before he'd set the hook. :Rofl

I took the fly reels/line off and put a spinning reel on the Roddy and used it to dip a slip float/minnow around standing cedar trees in the Fall ... with much success, I might add. I used it because, at the time, it was the longest rod I owned and I could reach out farther & didn't have to let the boat get into the tree branches.

I say "go for it" ... try it for a trip or two & see how it performs. Got nothing to lose but a little of your time. :ThumbsUp