I don't target crappie. How important is a crappie pole?

Very important because sometimes crappie bite very lightly. You need a sensitive rod in order to feel the bite.

I used a 7' rod that is for redfish first time fishing. I missed several fish. I now have 3 crappie rods and if I can get a limit with my new setup (electronics)I will buy more

I like a medium light action spinning rod for crappie. Fast tip with good backbone.

I've a Berkley Cherrywood HD. 5'6". Light. An Abu Garcia Cardinal S10 spinning reel is on it. I've caught bass with it. It's been a good rig so far.

I see these crappie rods are 10' and longer with very slim tips. They're kind of whippy. Seems the idea is to reach out of the crappie and vertical jig.

I use an All Star popping rod for jig fishing often. 7' with a full grip. $20 from time to time at Academy. I dont fish my equipment hard but I am hard on my equipment. These have held up really well.

EXACTLY!

Absolutely unimportant. All you need is flexible tip to absorb headshaking. To feel their bite (no matter how light) run the line over your index finger.

Don't confuse sensitive with light action. Ultra light rode are not as sensitive as medium light for example, you need a rod that's light on the tip but with good backbone. Hard to explain but easy once you have more experience.

The answers to the posed question are coming from different perspectives. What you may need to catch a crappie and what helps in improving your catch rate are different perspectives. Anything can catch crappie as SCK showed us couple yrs ago with line wrapped on a beer can.

But using rods that are adapted to particular presentations and having the right sensitivity and backbone really helps with "catching" crappie. For example: when I'm fishing the spawn, that 10 ft rod really helps reaching fish without putting the boat on top of the spawners. If you fish with me, you'll have an extremely hard time catching fish with a 7 ft rod. I don't want to put the boat up close to the fish in 2 ft of water as they spook extremely easy. TM prop wash, ect.

Likewise, a longer rod is useful fishing brush piles to help reach all over the pile without having to position the boat on top of the fish.

And if you're shooting docks, that long rod is a no good.

Backbone is talked about quite a bit. Hook setting power is greatly diminished with the soft tip limber rod. Most people aren't going to believe this but it's hard to register over 2.5 lbs of hook setting power with some of the stiffest crappie rods. Most of the UL or light action rods will not register more than 1 lb hook setting power.

As Ernest stated, limber does not equate to more sensitive. The type material used and construction of the rod contribute to the sensitivity.

You can get by with a limb off a tree and some string. But I bet a dollar to a donut hole, that once you get that 8 ft ProAngler in your hand, you'll throw that tree limb away.

Hey Ken,

No doubt Pro Anglers are great rods.

Try out an 8 Foot Green (GSO8M) ACC Crappie Stix someday, and let me know your honest opinion when comparing the rods.

I have nothing but good things to say about Pro Angler Rods.

However,

Give the 8 Footer from ACC Crappie Stix a try and let me know what you think.

I have Pro Anglers, TICA's, G-Rods, Southern Crappie Rods, and of course my newest Thump Chasing Rod the 8 Foot Greenie from ACC Crappie Stix.

I saw where Mr. Ernest Patty posted on the other rod thread and he likes his 8 Foot ACC Rods.



Happy New Year!!

All the rod makers I mentioned produce great rods and I have nothing but positive things to say about all of them.

It is like having a tackle box with many choices to pick from when on the prowl for Crappie.

I admit I am a Crappieholic and Rod and Tackle Hoarder.

Guess I'll get a crappie pole. Worst to happen is I'll have another fishing pole.

One piece or two?

With the exception of offshore rods, I've always used two piece.

If that's how you feel, you better buy 2.

Lol, I use 2 piece just for convenience. I do use a dedicated crappie rod. Once you use one and feel how sensitive they are you'll know why. My dad usta use cheapos from Walmart (and caught crappie). But he got tired of me catching more fish. I let him use one of mine and the next day he was buying an uglystik crappie pole. Get some hiviz 10 pound braid and some 4-6# fluro for leader and never look back