So, I have been getting by with a traditional rod and reel for crappie fishing, but ready to get my frist true crappie rig. Any thoughts on what would be a good starter rig.. Think I am looking for an 11ft... Or whatever you guys think is best to start with... thanks for the help...

IMHO you won't be disappointed if you start with a 10' Pro Angler with the cork handle and a good spinning reel. I have the Gander Mtn. Guide Series small reel on mine & it's a great rig, for my use anyway. Entire rig cost less than $50 (2 years ago).

11 foot is wicked long. 7-8 foot is a lot more versitile. Pro Angler rods, B&M rods, Wally Marshall rods all could be found at Finnytribe.com.

To me the rod is more important than the reel. I like a 7 foot rod medium light action and a reel spooled with 6lb hi-vis line. I have Shimano and Daiwa reels paired with several different rods.

Reggie

9' Sam Heaton would be my choice. I have fished it for many years all over the country. www.finnytribe.com has them.

If you buy it, you will like it.

I just got my first crappie rod less than a week ago. I went with a 10'B&M on a Shimano reel. I used it a couple times this weekend and I love it.

I would suggest the 8' pro angler!!! Good for jiggin and all around fishing!!!

my choice has been the 8' pro angler,

Depends on your style of fishing,

Timber , bridges , wading , dock shooting, slow trolling,
brushpiles.



I've got rods from 4.5 to 8 ft and I don't even consider
myself a crappie fisherman.


MO

I just outfitted my boss & his wife with the new
ugly stick Lites $29
What a deal.
and a couple of Shakespeare� Agility reels for
$29 each.
So for $60 they got a great setup that will last.
ya just don't need the high end stuff for pitchin' & straight line Jiggin'.
BPS just won't carry a reel for less than $40.

I have rods from 5' to 12' and I Love all of them depending on what I am doing. If I had to choose just one rod it would be an 8' Med Fast. That Pro Angler or TICA, either one would be great. Get that 10' rod and go fish some timber. It will be funny to watch, but you won't be laughing. I bet your vocabulary of four letter words will be totally exhausted within an hour. But that 10 or 12 footer is great when fishing the shallows during the spawn.

Whats wrong with a 10' in timber?

I really like my 7' Wally Marshall Mighty Lite.

You tired of your boss outcatching you or what BigMack? I mean an ugly stick?!! That dang old crappie needs to almost rip that rod out of your hand for you to feel a bite on that stick.

Nothing unless you are fishing in the timber. It's hard to work that 10' pole around them branches and such. It's great for a backseater but if you are sitting in the front of the boat, you have to back away from the tree a lot of the time. It works and I did it for a year with a rod that long until I figured out that it was just easier to use a shorter rod.