I have mostly fished for bass. I used to fish for crappie in White Rock Lake when I was a kid and used aa Zebco 33. I want to start crappie fishing more now and would like to know a good set up for it. I use spinning reels for some light weight bass techniques but curious to what is good now. Thanks - Steve

Too me a the perfect setup is a medium light rod paired with a size 1000 spinning rod and 4 or 6lb line. Rod length is dependent on how you fish.

where, and how are you fishing..?? are you boat or bank fishing..?

I like a 7’6” ultralight rod with a small spinning reel and 4lb hi vis line. I hate braid.

Fishing in a boat. Bridge pilings, marinas, trees and brush piles.

I like 8' rods, seems like the best length for me to fish with. I use B&M from BPS about $45-50 at BPS My favorite crappie reels are spinning reels by Shimano. Walmart has 500 and 1000 size which is nice and light for about $30. I use a 20# hi viz braid line with a 10-12# mono leader of about 14 feet.

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For the bridge part take into consideration how low the bridges you plan to fish are. With a low bridge you run the risk of breaking your rod on the bridge when you set the hook. I have settled on 4'-6" rods for bridge fishing and dont feel like I am missing out on anything the longer rods bring to the table.

Hey Steve. I use a Shimano Sienna or Sierea 1000 and buddy uses Pflueger President. We both like ACC rods of all lengths, but Pro Angler, Jenko, Bonehead are some others. I use straight braid, but fluro leader or straight fluro works too. Good luck

Its personal preference and how you fish. all of the above mentioned combos are excellent and will work for crappie. I answered your question in the big crappie starter thread before I read this one

Thanks everyone - Steve

I fish with a 10’ Medium heavy and a 13’ medium. Both with 10lb super slick braid, black. I don’t think the reel matters much, but I’m using a mix of Lews spinning reels.

Depends if you like the fun of the fight of the fun of putting them in the boat. When I am fishing for the fight, I use a 9ft fly rod with a 6lb fluorocarbon leader. I use this also with Whites and Hybrids though those fights can last several minutes. If I am fishing to see the cooler fill up, I used a 8ft St Croix panfish seiries with a Pflueger President with 6lb fluorocarbon.

I'm in the same boat as you - long time tournament bass fisherman who's just getting into the crappie scene. I have 3 rigs set up for crappie. Rig 1 is a 9 foot Sam Heaton Super Sensitive with a BPS Micro Elite spinning reel and 10 lb Suffix Braid in fluorescent green. Rig 2 is a 7 foot 2 inch Phenix Feather light action casting rod with a Diawa Liberto Pixy reel and 10 lb green fluorescent Big Game. Rig 3 is a Cabelas 5 foot spinning rod with a tiny Cabelas spinning reel (don't recall the exact model) and 6 lb test Trilene XL fluorescent. On 1 and 2 I use a 6 lb camo leader. On 3 I tie directly to the bait.

Rig 1 is mostly for vertical jigging in brush. Rig 2 is for casting and yes I can throw 1/16 oz jigheads all day with the Pixy. And Rig 3 is for bridges and boat docks or anywhere a longer rod gets in the way.

If you are mostly fishing the way you stated, Id lean toward a baitcast reel with an 8' roda and 8 lb viscious bright yellow line. The newer style of BFS reels with shallow spool are perfect. You wont have to fishline twist and it you might e=want to cast a bit they can throw 1/8 ox bait just fine. You need not spend a lot to get a qualit out fit. Good luck

Great info guys! I appreciate all the info! Keep it coming.

Exactly the same. Great info guys! I appreciate all the info! Keep it coming.