I'm lucky enough to now be averaging about four guided trips per week, so consequently, I get to see a lot of fishing equipment that other folks have spent a lot of money on, and sadly, a large percentage of it isn't what they needed for the application that they intended. Crappie fishing (like any other type fishing), is not a 'one size fits all' way to fish. If you start off with a Zebco 33 and any action 6' rod, and fish minnows off the bank with a bobber; you're good to go, but this set-up is not necassarily applicable to any other style of fishing. For instance, I've never seen anyone successfully shoot docks with a closed face reel, and/or a '$10 any brand/action' rod. Nor have I seen hardly anyone (except very skilled fishermen) successfully fish deep brushpiles with short rods.

My point here is that I see a lot of money spent by a lot of people, only to be sat in a corner of the garage after they find out that they've bought something (rod and/or reel) that just won't work for the way they want to fish.

So rather than spending money two or three times to finally get to what you want and need, ask before you go. There are several guides that post on the TFF that I'm sure would be willing to help you buy it right the first time. So give Ernest, Chuck, Jerry, myself , or any other one that you may have in mind, a call before you buy. It could save you a lot of frustration (not to mention the money), and shorten the learning curve on that technique that you're trying to learn .

Good luck and good fishin'..............

That is sage advice, Guy and you are a gentleman.

I have to add one more thing, that I have always preached on this forum, from someone who has learned from these guys. The very best thing you can do also is to take a guided trip with them. This also saves you time and money, because you learn so much more being on the water with them for a day, than you can learn by any other form of information. Sometimes to someone who has not taken a guided trip before, the guide fee seems like alot to spend, especially if you own a boat. Believe me, I waisted so much money on baits,rods,reels,gadgets, and what I learned from them simplified my arsenal of tackle and I don't waist as much time going out and not catching fish.

My 2 cents worth.

I'm thinking about heated converstaions I have had with other folks regarding this matter. Some men just won't listen.

Regardless, though Guy is right, there will be those whose stuburn mind will guide them into less than fair fishing days.

I call this...pride.

Open your minds and listen to those who do it often and catch often. There is a reason for this.

Sharonwilson01,
Ditto. I wouldn't change a word of your post and could not agree more... period.
Catfishsalsa,
Folks who'll listen can learn "why", and "how" and then apply what they learn to different situations when they're on their own.

There are several trigger spin reels that are closed face that work well for dock shooting.

The rod that you use would make a big dif. though.

To me this is the best advice I have seen on here. The right equipment will make a world of difference. I too run a guide service, and geez some of the stuff that some people show up with makes me want to be in the (as Sharon put it) the gadget business, but thing is I would'nt be able to sell someone something that I know they could'nt use. If you do hire a guide whether it is for crappie, bass, catfish or any other type fishing, ask the guide what type equipment you will need. We don't work for any certain company so our opinion will not be biased. And this goes for the children as well. Get them the right stuff and they will enjoy it more, get them the wrong stuff and they will have a miserable time trying to fish.

Guy,

This should have been posted in the Open Freshwater Forum. It is true not only for crappie but for every specie anyone might fish for.

I wish I would have had something like the TFF to go to for advice 30 years ago when I first started buying 'better' fishing equipment. Who knows how much money I could have saved. My father and grandfather had both passed away and I really didn't have anyone to turn to. It might not have made any difference anyway because when they were alive I was still in my 'know-it-all' phase.

One thing I can say, when I learned something through 'trial and error' I didn't forget it.

Kevin

alright, ill bite.
i need to get a good rod/reel for shooting docks. how long,what kind and where to get?

For the rod, I like (and use) a 5'6" Wally Marshall, bought at Bass Pro Shops. Any good open face reel will work, but IMO, stay away from the small spool reels. The 1500 size in the Shimano and the 30 size in the Wally Marshall are the size that I perfer. The smaller size reels will give you line problems when dock shooting. Been there, done that .

I just received an email that I thought might be coming as a result of this post subject. It wanted to know who my sponsors were, and am I pushing their products.

There's no hidden agenda here. The post was simply meant to help you not spend your money in the wrong areas. And unfortunately....I have no sponsors. I do admit that I wish I did, as it would probably save me money, but I don't. I'm not trying to sell anyone's product in particular. Just trying to help.

Guy:
Have to add my thoughts to your most sound advice.
Two weeks ago i spent more than a dollar to hire a guide for crappie and he showed me the importance of the proper equipment and how no tot to use it,he was terrible ,opinated and unwilling to adapt to existing conitions. IT was out of state but close.
What I learned from the seminars of your and ernest . Let me ask this, would you crappie fish with a 7 foot rod, small open face a sixtennth oz road runner with a inch and half grub in a wind of 15 mph by casting (or trying to)40 to 50 feet to 20 plus deep water ?

We live to learn,I got a excellent lesson on how it isn't to be done. But good comes from all things,I help the ecomony of the state.

Thanks for the advice Guy.
One question though, why is it that only a "skilled fisherman" can successfully catch fish off of brush piles? Dock shooting requires a quality shorter rod. I understand that one, but the brush pile fishing I don't get.

spaz

eddie,
I would usually use a 7', 8' or 9' rod to fish a brushpile, and have been know to use a 1/16 oz roadrunner with a 1 1/2" body to do it....but, not casting to it, particularily in a wind. I vertical fish all my brushpiles.

Texas,
What I meant in that statement was that I've known very skilled fishermen that can use a short rod to fish deep brushpiles, and be very successful. That's hard to do, as it is much easier to use a longer rod when vertically fishing deeper brushpiles. The amount of line moved with a longer rod is proportionately more than the amount of line moved with a shorter rod, given the same movement of the rod. I did not mean to imply that it takes a skilled fisherman to catch fish off a brushpile.

"Nor have I seen hardly anyone (except very skilled fishermen) successfully fish deep brushpiles with short rods."

Not to speak for Guy, but he was referring to fishing deep brush piles with the shorty rods. It's just a little more difficult with the short(er) rods.

With the longer rods over deep brush piles, you have more ability to cover more of the pile with less effort. You can move your jig 8+ feet from point A to point B without moving the boat. Also, if you have two people fishing the same brush pile from a boat, if both are using the longer rods, then both can "effectively" fish the same part of the same brush pile without having to jump through boat positioning hoops.

Conversely, everything I just said is exactly opposite if you're using a 4-1/2 or 5' rod.

Also, keep in mind the entire water column from bottom to top. If you have fish suspended say 10' off the bottom, you can (with the longer rod) lift your rod tip from bottom to that area and still get a "decent" hook set. Case in point, yesterday I was fishing my shorty over a deep brush pile when I noticed that the fish were actually suspended. So, I lifted the rod tip until it was at about the 1 o'clock position. Good news is: I got bit. Bad news: Nowhere to go to set the hook = Missed fish.

Hope that helps some.

On a side note: It's good to know that I was a "skilled fisherman" about 18 times yesterday. LOL