yep, been there done that.
I just re-spooled back to mono.
Braid is great for big fish. LMB, Stripers & Hybrids.
I used it for crappie for a year now and I'm tired of the twisting, fraying and knotting. Yeah, I could retrieve my jigs but you need to replace them after about 4 serious bends on them anyway. My partner, Mike, had to retreive my head out from my behind and reminded me we weren't using $12 bass lures and realize I'm using .50 cent (or less) jig heads.

As far as the spinning reels, I only use them for dock shooting, casting and for bobbers so I only carry 2.

I like the baitcasters for verticle jigging mainly because it easier to let the line out via the thumb latch verses the bail. I know you can set your drag loose on the spinner but it will cause even more twist in the line. Another plus is they lay on the deck flat unlike the dadgum handles that stick out on the spinners. When we're slow trolling I will have 5 with me.

Just my opinion. Time on the water is the best teacher.

I use both casters and spinners depending on application.

My dock shooters have spinning reels for obvious reasons. I've also got a pair of "Guy Skinner Cool Kid" ST Croix rods that I'm starting to use for brush piles, they have spinning reels on them as well because all I have to do is open the bail and let the jig go until it contacts brush / bottom and take a crank or two up.

I've got 8' Pro Anglers with casting reels that I use to fish timber and brush piles with and I've got 10' Pro Anglers with bait casters that I use to spider rig / slow troll.

Stick with mono for crappie fishing. I've got 6# Gamma co-poly on my dock shooters and brush pile spinners. The casting reels get 10# P-Line CX or Sufix Siege.

And Mack's right, I did remind him we're not fishing with $12 crank baits, more like 25 cent jig heads. You can bend the sickle hooks most of us use back into shape fairly easily but after one has been straightened a couple of times I cut it off and replace it anyway, no sense taking a chance on a hook breaking when you least expect.

All this advice is worth exactly what you paid for it....nothing

Time on the water will tell you what YOUR preferences are.

I use 8' ProAnglers for vertical/casting 99% of the time and the 10' ProAnglers for springtime jig fishing and Trolling. All with bait cast reels. The only time I use egg beaters is when I'm shooting docks and thankfully that is only a few times a year.

Ok,

Yeah, I use egg beaters on my shorter rods for shooting docks(the rare times I get to do this technique). Good stuff when they hit it on the fall.

As for the longer poles, I don't troll, though sure once I own a boat, that may change.

Mainly looking for vertical bumping over piles and near trees fellas. Not worried about the other stuff, though appreciate the differing advice from all of ya.

I'm with BigMack on the line and even fishing piles, I won't go above 10 lb, just too thick and not sensitive with heavier lines, especially braided, which I never use for crappie(though used too) for same reasons BigMack said(more of a pain when tying/cutting line).

Give me 6-10 lb mono(depending on type of fishing/amount of cover, and rod/reel size).

B&M is staying and going on the longer pole. Egg beater on the shorter pole(unless I feel I really like the B&M baitcaster...then that may change).

Again, thanks folks.