Thread: What kind of rods and line do you use?

I use three techniques most of the time, and my equipment is specific to each. For slow trolling, (tightlining) I use 14 foot Wally Marshal tight line specials, some think there too heavy, but they are strong, limited bounce, and durable. For long lining I use an assortment of sized tackle plus rods from 8 to 14 feet. For one pole vertical jigging, I prefer an 11 foot crappie commander made by grizzly jig co. Long lining I use #6 trilene XL, for tight lining trilene XT in #10. For vertical fishing, #10 p-line. Reels are an assortment of quality spinning reels.

I use visious hi-viz 6# for long lining on 8' BGJP's. I use 4# visious hi vis for dock shooting on a 4.5-5' shakespear AXT UL I think is the model with a crappie max mini reel. The more expensive reels with more ball bearings peel off too much line imo.

I use 6lb test Vicious hi-vis for most of my jig casting, tightlining & dock shooting. I do have one outfit that I use with PowerPro 10/2 ... but normally it's used for deep jigging or casting Roadrunners & Whirly Bees.

I used to use 4lb test Mr Crappie Super hi-vis or Stren Gold ... and they did me well. I just got tired of the easier breakoffs with the 4lb test, so I went to 6lb test. Can't really tell any difference in casting/shooting distance vs using 4lb test.

If using braid in shallow clear water, and you think it may be spooking fish ... simply tie on a 1-2ft mono or fluorocarbon leader. You'll still have the visibility of the braid, but the lesser visibility of the clear line down by the hook. Base your hookset strength on the pound test of the mono/fluoro to avoid line breakage on hookset.

My main outfits, for the three methods you describe, are :

Dock shooting - 5'6" ESP UL rod - Shakespeare Alpha XT 1000 reel - Vicious 6lb test hi-vis line
General casting - 6'6" ESP PowerLite rod - Shimano Aero 1000 reel - Vicious 6lb test hi-vis line
Tightline - a dozen different rod/reel combos & line test ... of which I generally only use 3 of, in my Hi-Tec rod holders, as that's about as many as I can handle at one time.

... cp

Vicious seems to be a common denominator so far, I'm anxious to see more.

Looks to me like you already have a pretty decent rig for casting,pitching or dock shooting. If it works for perch no reason it won't for crappie. Then you need to figure out if your going to spider rig and long line.

I have a mixed bag of rods and reels, just to many to list but all have 6lb vicious line. This line is strong and never seen it spook a crappie. My crank rods I use 10lb braid but that's a different story from the dock shooting, tightlining, longlining, jigging and casting set ups. I also use a fly rod for crappie/bream/trout and use anywhere from 2lb - 7lb lines and or tippets.

I use a Pflueger President 6920 on a St. Croix Avid Ultra Light Rod and 6# test Berkley Trilene Sensation (Blaze Orange).

I use a variety of rods and reels for my fishing.
9ft BnM float n fly with a U.S. STX spinning reel with 10lb Wally World braid for hi lo rigs from Colonel's Creek bridge or boat. Need the muscle to handle the odd likely striper and catfish.
8ft BnM Difference and Shimano Saros 1000 filled with 1/2 lb diameter and 2lb strength PP for finesse fishing. 1/64 oz slab tail jigs or live lining minners.
2 8ft BnM pro staff trollers for trolling capps and Coleman rigs with any reel that works.