This evening I fished for the first time with the most expensive crappie rod I�ve ever owned: A $160 7-foot G-Rod. I�d avoided it prior to now over price. Plus, I love my $50 Pro Angler 6.5 rods. And I still do.

But friends, if you�re like me and have never fished with a premium rod like this, all I can say � as a normal dude who pays full price unless it�s on sale - is HOLY S%#T!

I�ve been shooting docks and working brush piles here at my (new to me) Cedar Creek home almost every evening for the past nine months, and for the past couple of months I�ve missed a whole lot of crappie because I detected the bite too late. Since the spawn, the THUMP has been a rarity; they�ve just been lightly tapping or inhaling my jigs, and too often spitting them out before I feel them.

But this evening, I felt EVERY hit, and every one was a real THUMP. I only missed two, threw back quite a few, and boated 15 keepers.

People say it�s not the bat, it�s the batter, and I agree. But pro ball players use premium wood bats for a reason: They perform better.

So does this rod.

Now I just have to avoid breaking the darned thing.

160 i'll pass

^ cool response

Totally agree jp, it's the batter not the bat, but give a capable batter premium equipment and waaaatch out! Glad you like them

Now might I suggest to you to give an ACC Crappie STIX a try and I think you will notice very similar results.

I own 2 G-Rods myself.

ACC is what I fish with 99% of the time.

wasn't no 160 bucks tho for 1

even if I was a pro that rod better fix breakfast wake me up with a kiss and so on.

I agree! The rod helps feel bites a lot better but sometimes the fish just hit harder and are easier to feel. I have always thought that as much as I fish, I want to have the best quality equipment that I possibly can. Those G-Rods are definitely some high quality rods.

I believe its in the rod and line

I have all three and fish at least three times a week depending on winds. ACC $55, Bonehead $99, and G-Rod $160. There is no comparison. I have tested by using all three several times on the same pile same day and G-Rod just simply "out catches". G-Rod is very noticeably lighter, thinner, and more comfortable to hold.

I like it so much I am going to get, at any price, the new premium series just unvailed at Icast.

I am a believer that the rod makes a difference also. I was using a shakespheare microlite, many people had said it was a good rod for the money, and my biggest complaint with it was the lack of feeling or sensitivity. I bought a fenwick and immediately felt the difference and the catch rate went up. I now own two fenwicks and rarely use the microlite anymore. Each to his own, but it makes a difference to me, and I like a good, sensitive rod, no matter what the price. Everyone is going to spend his money on something; me, it is fishing.

later...etex

You will also pass on a lot of fish ..... I know there are times you can use a cane pole with trot line string and catch crappie, but other times it takes finesse and feel to boat a fish.

I have a Daiwa Tatula for my crappie jig rod and a G Loomis for my bass worm rod .... I was bass fishing late one evening standing by my buddy and I thought I got a hit, turned and looked and a gnat was recovering from running into my line.

IF YOU DON'T FEEL THEM, YOU DON'T CATCH THEM ..... if they jerk the rod out of your hand before you feel them something is wrong.

Earnest let me use one of his custom dock rods one time and I have to agree they are worth every penny. I am willing to skimp on beer but never on a rod.

Finaddict,

I appreciate your opinion on your post above.

I own G-Rods, I own Pro Anglers, I own TICA, I own BnM Sam Heaton Super Sensitive, I own Southern Crappie Rods, and I own ACC Crappie Stix.

Without a doubt a good rod can definitely make a difference.

I can say that it is of my opinion that I can catch Crappie with "ANY" of the rods that I own and mentioned above.

Every single one of them will catch Crappie.

G-Rod, Pro Angler, TICA, BnM SAM Heaton, Southern Crappie Rods, and ACC Crappie Stix...fish with any of them and you will catch Crappie without a doubt.

I like a rod with good backbone.
I like a rod that can sling a Crappie over the boat should I know I have them hooked good enough not to lose them.
I like a rod that will feel the light bite.

Any of the rods I mentioned above will fill those three requirements for me.

If someone wants to spend big $$$ on a rod and in their opinion it's the cats meow then I say more power to them. I say fish with whatever rod or rod maker makes you the happiest.

For the money and value for me and my Dad ACC Crappie Stix is our #1 choice. That is just our opinion.

In our experience no one rod has out caught the other.
We have caught fish with all of them.
We can feel the light bite with all of them.

That is simply our experience.

The bottom line is there are several excellent Crappie rod makers on the market.
Rods, lures, line preference, etc all really boil down to an Anglers personal preferences.
Whatever makes you the best Angler and the happiest then I say go for it.

My Dad and I have talked about this topic and for us we would rather buy 3 ACC Crappie Stix for the same price of 1 G-Rod. Because in our experience we can catch a Crappie using either or.

I have nothing negative to say about any of the rods above.

They are all great Rods.

Tight Lines no matter what you personally decide to use.

Two Man Limit with Two ACC Crappie Stix.

HOGON,

You are 100% correct. Long ago manufacturers figured out that they needed to make products to hook fishermen not fish. Why else thousands of baits and we all have a couple of favorites that in truth would work for anyone under the same conditions.

That said there are differences in offerings and it is confidence and cost that are the top decision makers. The Lord has been good to me that I am fortunate enoigh to be able to purchase my choice of equipment and tend to like higher priced rods as well as reels. Shimano Stradic my preferred ree as example.

Bottom line is we all simply need to enjoy what we chose and we will all have a fish story to share around the next campfire.

Luck to all.