Topic: The Best Crappie Rods of 2023, Tested and Reviewed (Read 60 times)
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Topic: The Best Crappie Rods of 2023, Tested and Reviewed (Read 60 times)
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The ability to deliver a lure to the farthest, darkest corners beneath a boat dock—or way up underneath a fallen tree—often determines whether you blank or boat dozens of nice crappies. Dock shooting requires the angler to slingshot a lure on a low trajectory across the water, often skipping it under low-hanging structures. Typically, the angler pinches the jighead between thumb and index finger, hook facing out, fully loading the rod blank to create launch velocity. With eyes on your target—typically a small opening beneath a dock, pontoon, or other cover—the lure is released, propelled by the arcing rod’s energy.
Obviously, the technique takes practice. But Lew’s Speed Shooter greatly eased my learning curve. Within a few hours of on-water practice, I was skillfully launching tiny jigs back beneath the furthest, darkest recesses of fish-holding boat docks, connecting on fish after fish. It’s an invaluable method for any crappie angler, driven largely by the right dock-shooting rod.
While many co*panies offer generic or low-end panfish rods, B ’n’ M Poles continues to listen to the needs of serious crappie anglers, building fine-tuned, technique-specific crappie tools. Trolling remains a valuable crappie catching technique, and B ’n’ M Poles’ pro staff designed these rods to maximize lure spread, sensitivity, and co*fort.
Pulling crankbaits, minnow rigs, or other trolling setups requires a rod soft and forgiving enough to cushion light or braided lines while preventing missed or lost fish—particularly important given the papery thin mandibles of crappies. When a crappie bites a trolled crankbait, an excessively stiff or short rod will rip hooks loose or create slack in the line leading to lost fish. Further, a longer rod gets lures away from the boat.
Varying lengths of B ’n’ M Poles’ Trolling Rods have also allowed me to stagger my trolling spread without tangling lines. Finally, these fine rods typically set the hooks themselves: The blank’s gradual-loading nature allows crappies to inhale the entire lure or bait without feeling ample resistance, while the boat’s forward momentum drives the hooks home.
On the cutting edge of crappie and panfish products, Jenko Fishing’s Double Down BFS Casting rod introduces anglers to the possibility of tossing tiny lures on casting rather than spinning tackle. BFS also all but eliminates the line twist and other issues associated with spinning tackle.
When I first fished BFS or Bait Finesse System tackle a few years ago, its ability to deliver tiny lures on casting tackle with great accuracy blew me away. A Japanese-born fishing method for casting light line and micro baits further and more accurately than co*parable spinning tackle, BFS has major potential in the crappie arena.
Jenko Fishing, a leader in crappie tackle, offers its Double Down BFS rod, a 4.2-ounce casting rod—like a bass rod in miniature. While the manufacturer suggests the rod can cast 1/80- to 1/8-ounce lures, I’ve found it shines with 1/16-ounce jig and plastic co*binations. I’ve also settled on 4-pound test Sufix Nanobraid for extra-long casts and unparalleled sensitivity with and precise control over light lures. Armed with a Shimano Curado BFS, the entire outfit weighs just over 10 ounces—at least several ounces lighter than the wispiest co*bo you’ve ever fished, a virtual quill of a casting co*bo.
The Big T X-13 integrates some amazing, high-end features into its 13-foot length. Even if you don’t use forward-facing sonar, this rod offers exceptional advantages for “dipping” small lures into precise fish-holding spots, such as between lily pads or right up against a cypress tree.
Catering to the growing number of crappie anglers who rely on the best fish finders with forward-facing sonar, Jenko Fishing’s Big T X rods create a potent fish-catching system. I prefer the 13-foot X-13 for its ability to get a lure far enough away from the boat to avoid spooking fish, yet still giving me precise control over the lure’s action. Once you’ve determined how and where the lure appears on the sonar screen (approximately 13 feet from the transducer), you’ve already won half the battle and can focus on different jigging cadences that attract and trigger bites, as opposed to constantly searching the screen for your lure. With live sonar fishing, it’s all about repeatability and locking in a reliable pattern fast; this rod helps you do that.
I’ve outfitted the rod with a 6.5-ounce Shimano Curado 70 casting reel, loaded with 6-pound test braided line. For balance, I kept all eight 1/3-ounce counterweights attached to the butt. This is key because, generally, as rod length increases, it beco*es more difficult to control a lure. The weights help offset tip weight, reduce “slop” and thereby produce a more precise presentation. Moreover, the rod’s high modulus graphite blank, with a fast, sensitive tip, adds to the precision. (Last thing you want is a tip that continues wagging and vibrating long after your previous jigging stroke.)
Other excellent rod features include its minimalist carbon fiber grip and extra light carbon fiber nut on the reel seat. The rod is easily powerful enough to hoist larger crappies over the gunwales, so long as you’re spooled with at least 6-pound test. Essentially, this rod will take your vertical live sonar game to a whole other level of awesome.
I’ve fished a St. Croix Legend Elite Panfish 6 foot 9 inch LEP69LF for three seasons, reserving it for casting little 1/32- to 1/80-ounce hair jigs with 2-pound test line. You simply won’t find a more sensitive, light, co*fortable, and yet surprisingly powerful spinning rod. It will absolutely increase your catch rates.
If you’re truly serious about casting the tiniest, lightest hair jigs and microplastics on 2-, 3- and 4-pound test line in extreme finesse situations, this rod will provide endless hours of delightful fishing. Unmatched sensitivity co*bined with incredible balance and minimal heft makes this rod the finest ever created for the crappie, panfish, or trout enthusiast. Not surprisingly, it will likely set you back two or three c-notes, but think of it as a lifetime investment.
Across seasons, Pflueger’s President reels have proven to be smooth, consistent operators, offering many years of reliable service. (I have one Pflueger President that’s remained in my trout /panfish arsenal for nearly twenty years.) The IM8 graphite rods are equally impressive for the money, featuring soft yet sensitive tips and just enough flex through the lower half of the blank to battle crappies of any size without being overpowering.
Among a haystack of bargain basement grade spinning co*bos—some priced well into the $100 to $200 range—Pflueger’s President co*bos provide quality, consistent casting for years. This is a co*bo you can lend to a less experienced fishing partner or a young angler and feel good about it. It’s also a nice choice for a hike through the woods on a quick trip to your local creek or pond.
Every Wally Marshall designed rod I’ve fished—including those from several different brands—has performed exactly as advertised. The Lew’s Wally Marshall Pro Target Jigging Rods fish co*fortably and precisely, just light enough in your hands to avert fatigue (though anglers may also choose to deploy these longer rods in a rod holder.) Although I’ve long paired longer jigging rods with a 1000-size spinning reel, this model fishes equally well with a small baitcaster, such as a 5-ounce KastKing Zephyr Bait Finesse casting reel.
Relative to crappies, the term “jigging rod” refers to a longer (at least 9-foot) two or three-piece pole capable of clutching a spinning or small baitcasting reel. The primary purpose for this longer rod is to reach out and drop a jig into the fish zone, using the rod’s length to separate yourself from crappies and avoid spooking. Lew’s Pro Target Jigging rods also match live sonar situations in which you’re pursuing specific fish in front of the boat. For this application, consider one of the longer 14- or 16-foot models.
Separately, for delivering a bait into small openings or high-percentage spots near brush, vegetation or other cover, try the 10- or 12-footer. In each case, the extra length presents and hovers a lure or livebait at a set depth and position– close to or away from cover— without spooking fish. When you detect a bite, lift the rodtip to set the hook, sweeping an arc into the blank. So long as you’re outfitted with at least 6-pound braided line, the rod’s backbone plenty stout to lift and swing even larger crappies into the boat.
If your goal is to find a rod that will cast, perform and withstand a bit of maltreatment, Ugly Stik’s Elites are great little panfish sticks. Reasonably light in weight, Elite rods offer a fine co*bination of power and sensitivity, with co*fortable cork grips and cushioned stainless-steel hoods. This isn’t necessarily premium crappie rod, but its consistent performance might convince you its value far exceeds its price tag.
An excellent option for an entry level or young angler—or as a backup rod for impromptu excursions to the local crappie pond— Ugly Stik’s Elite Spinning Rods prove that performance isn’t solely a function of price. While these aren’t the most precise or sensitive rods available, they do perform better than a few rods I’ve fished that cost twice as much.
Available in twelve spinning rod models, five of them fit crappie applications. A 5-, 6-1/2- and 7-foot ultralight are each rated for 2- to 6-pound test line and lure weights down to 1/32-ounce. My favorite in the line is a 7-foot medium light power (USEP701ML), a sweet stick for slip-float fishing.
The best crappie rods are technique specific and the best way to choose a rod is to first decide on how you’ll fish for crappie, which is generally dictated by the time of year.
In spring crappie move shallow and into predictable patterns. It’s the best time to throw a jig or fish a bobber. In summer, fish tend to spread out in deeper water as they chase schools of baitfish. That’s when trolling and spider rigging beco*e the go-to techniques for crappie anglers. Dock shooting is also an excellent technique in the summer. Fall is one of the best times to catch slabs, and anglers catch them with a variety of techniques. Of course, some people will be diehard jig anglers, and others will fish a slip float all year round.
If you’re still not sure which crappie rod is best, the ultimate beginner crappie rod is a 7-foot rod with a light power and moderate fast action. With that rod’s versatility, you can cast light jigs, fish bobbers, and even shoot docks. You’ll be able to fish it for all open water seasons.