I've been doing my best to destroy the little 5' 6" buggy whip I use. I folded the trolling motor on top of it (bent a guide but it didn't break), I leave it out in the sun (it's sun bleached now) and I bend the heck out of it catching big crappie. Maybe I'll get one of those long rods all the "crappie guys" use when I graduate. Until then here are my top ten reasons for switching to a long rod.


1. You can cast farther.
2. Peer pressure... everyone else uses them.
3. You can reach that last tire on the other edge of the tire reef.
4. Ability to vertical jig the shallows from a distance.
5. You can reach the brush near the front seat that your buddy is fishing without leaving the back seat.
6. It proves you are "serious" about crappie fishing.
7. Bigger is better so longer is too.
8. It makes it easier to measure out 12' of line.
9. It's just like using a cane pole only fancier.
10. It will help you with not scratching your new boat.

Have fun fishing no matter how long your rod is!

Thanks for another list of "fishing wisdom" as I ponder my next trip in this lovely Texas weather.

number 11 .....
it makes a much better minner/shad slapper az well ...
ya stun lots more with the added lendth on the intial water slap .....
KABOOM ....times 10 feet is twice as nice as 5 ya know

# 12
You can Wop Ketchn with it without ever leavin your seat lol!

Love It!!! How many rods have I broken or busted the eyes out??
Really like your assessment of the long rod. Many of our fellow Slab chasers like the long rod, but I am still thinking.

Long rods are where it's at...

The reach is a advantage at times.

Some say reach is over rated and is not needed. Both will work at times.

I've found that when actually trying to break, injure, mutilate, or otherwise harm a rod on purpose... Like warranty exchange (never done such) or anybother reason...its a lot harder to pull off than when u just forget its behind u on the deck and step just right n snap it.
The front of the boat bp is greatness.

#13: Easier to do the "Pitch Slow Troll"
The method I was using while we were at Sandlin

I have not will not be persuaded to go to a long rod, I am Borg and I will annihilate you!! If you take my short rods away!!! LOL!

I've been experimenting with a cane pole and one of those retractable/extendable poles lately. Adapting them to open water brush was fun. While I caught some crappie, getting them (the fish) in the boat took some getting used to.

I broke my favorite 5/6 weight fly rod last summer bay fishing when I got over zealous with a big redfish. Thought that because I was using braid with a 20# flouro leader I could horse him in. It was great until it got a couple of feet away and I held the rod up. He saw me and made a real run and when I didn't lower the rod it snapped. I know what kind of fish need a rod with backbone and crappie ain't one of them. I do sincerely wish to buy a replacement fly rod and use it for crappie with a 9' rod.

Baah... Err... Resistance is futile... assimilation in process!

Piscatur non solum piscator both Ketchn and Crapicat can tell I love my 8'crappie/fly rod with a micro spin reel, it works great and the balance is awesome

a perfect multiple smacker rod length .....
and besides on my hook sets .....
them long rods whistle just like a bird singing in the morning ....

Comparing a cane pole and one of those extendable poles to an 8' Pro Angler is like comparing a go cart with a lawn mower engine to a corvette. That backbone we talk about is for getting hook set power to the hook and lifting the fish in the boat. You can take a 2lb weight and put it on the floor and use a Pro Angler rod and pick up the weight. You can't do that with those extendable rods or cane poles. All those flimsy long rods will only produce about 1/2 lb pressure on the hook set. A Pro Angler will produce nearly 2 lbs pressure.

And I'm not trying to sell you or anyone else a Pro Angler rod. Just giving my opinion on why backbone is essential in those long rods. Remember that 15+ lb bass caught by Gary Sims at Fork? Guess what rod was used, Pro angler; and it didn't break. And that video of JD Slabslayer landing that 30 lb yellow cat; Pro Angler.

It's a papermouth be careful with the hooksets.
They don't fight hard.
A big one weighs two or three pounds.
A Hyundai will get you there too.
Pro Angler makes a great rod.