Rod & Reel For Crappie

[phinfanfrommd]

What should I be looking for in a rod/reel setup, to be used exclusively for crappie?

4LB line cap for reel? What length rod?

Thanks!

[new2BC4bass]

I have a 6' Berkley Lightning and Penn 430SS I bought somewhere around 40 years ago that has caught plenty of panfish.  Couple years ago I got a Fenwick River Runner 7'2" Light just to have something new.  Rod is rated for 4-8 lb. and 1/32-5/16 oz.  No doubt there are plenty more rods just as capable.  Choice of reel is wide open depending on how much you are willing to spend.  Make it a smaller model tho.  Especially if going with a shorter rod.  Should make the combo feel better balanced.  Also it doesn't take much spool size to put on a lot of 4# line.

 

All my spinning reels with the exception of a Supreme XT are out of production.  I have a Team Daiwa-S 1500 CU that makes a beautiful little reel for panfish.  I have it on the River Runner although a bit bigger reel would balance it out better.  I'm not complaining, tho. 

 

BTW, the Lightning / Penn is still a fun rod to use.  It has also caught fish bigger than the largest crappie I've ever seen.

 

When I got back into fishing I went opposite of how I use to fish....longer and heavier rods all for baitcast reels.  Kind of outgrowing that phase altho I still prefer longer rods.  However, for crappie I think a 6 to 6-1/2 foot rod teamed with a small, light spinning reel would be the cat's meow.

[phinfanfrommd]

Thanks for the info. I was looking at a St. Croix 5'4" rod for my crappie set up.

[SJex]

Depending on your price range a G.Loomis TSR791S with a Shimano 1000 CI4+ (or a Shimano Cardiff 2000S) makes an excellent combo for panfish, trout and bass. I purchased this rod and reel after researching 2 years for the best ultralight setup. Easily my favorite combo for fishing, I bring it every trip out now. Worth every penny I paid.

 

Steve

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

The bait and presentation drive the tackle choice more so than the target species. Will you be vertical jigging or swimming grubs and spinners or something else?

[OntarioFishingGuy]

The ET River Runner is a great rod as is the St Croix trout series. I would assume the panfish series is good as well.

[phinfanfrommd]

The bait and presentation drive the tackle choice more so than the target species. Will you be vertical jigging or swimming grubs and spinners or something else?

As of now, mostly swimming grubs.

[Crestliner2008]

You never stated what you budget is? If you can afford around (or less than) $100., then by all means consider the B n' M SHSS 7' spinning rod. This is an UL rod that is perfect for casting 1/16 - 1/8 oz. jigs. Match it with a Pflueger President 6920 reel and you're good to go. I would also recommend 2# test or 4# test Fireline Crystal braid, with a 3' section of 4# test fluorocarbon leader. Attach the leader with an Alberto knot.

 

Now my particular preference is to use a tiny (fly flishing) snap on which to attach your jig heads. If you prefer, tie direct. But I find using the snaps lends a more natural swimming motion on the retrieve with most jigs. You can get these at JannsNetcraft.com. They are called "snap hooks" and I normally use size #2, or the medium size. 

 

I currently have two of these B n' M set ups which I've used for over 7 seasons now. Great casting ability and dependable performance all around. I've landed 3 - 5 lb. bass on this set-up, as well as one 9 1/2 lb. pike. Can't tell you how many hundreds of crappie, yellow & white perch and bluegill I've caught on them as well.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I like something like Crestliner's talking about. A little casting distance and hook setting length is nice for swimming grubs / spinners. An ultra-light doesn't have to be stubby.

[J Francho]

Unless I was ONLY vertical jigging, I would go over 6', more like 7-8'. 

[jitterbug127]

I have. Little 5` 9" fenwich ml action rod with lews speed shot 2 ball bearing reel my dad bought like 20 years ago. Put some 6 lb test on it and love it for catching panfish. Short rod is easy to walk the bank and long enough to cast a good distance. Probably not the ideal set up but for free it works great. I like the 6 kb test just incase i hook into a carp or something i am not chasing i still have a good chance to bring them in and not snap my line if i am patient

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

Awesome rod I think is St Croix Avid 8' ML Mod rod. For an 8' rod its only 3.6ounces. The fun part of this rod is the Mod action that gives the long arc to the rod when fighting fish. Awesome is the sensitivity this rod has to feel the light biters. The length you can reach over brush near the shore and drop right next to shore. The extra length helps with longer casts. I have a Stradic 1000 on mine.  Here a range of fish that this rod is a plast to catch.

 

 

 

 

 

[desmobob]

I use a 6' UL TFO Gary Loomis Signature Edition rod with a Shimano Sedona 500FD reel spooled with 10lb. Power Pro and a 4lb. fluorocarbon leader.

 

It is perfect for throwing Beetle Spins, tiny cranks, and small jigs.  I'm thinking I may go back to using regular monofilament line on the reel though.  The braid is susceptible to wind knots on breezy days.  I had frustrating issues using straight fluorocarbon line when I first set up the rig, hence the switch to braid.

 

I've caught a few big bass and lots of small pickerel and pike on that rig and it's always a blast.  For some reason, pickerel seem very, very attracted to a Beetle Spin, and they tend to be my most common by-catch when panfishing with that set-up.  They end up swimming off with a LOT of Beetle Spins.

 

Tight lines,

Bob

[everythingthatswims]

I use a 6' UL TFO Gary Loomis Signature Edition rod with a Shimano Sedona 500FD reel spooled with 10lb. Power Pro and a 4lb. fluorocarbon leader.

 

It is perfect for throwing Beetle Spins, tiny cranks, and small jigs.  I'm thinking I may go back to using regular monofilament line on the reel though.  The braid is susceptible to wind knots on breezy days.  I had frustrating issues using straight fluorocarbon line when I first set up the rig, hence the switch to braid.

 

I've caught a few big bass and lots of small pickerel and pike on that rig and it's always a blast.  For some reason, pickerel seem very, very attracted to a Beetle Spin, and they tend to be my most common by-catch when panfishing with that set-up.  They end up swimming off with a LOT of Beetle Spins.

 

Tight lines,

Bob

Getchoo sum red label fluoro 4lb or 6lb!

[guitarglynn1]

I have. Little 5` 9" fenwich ml action rod with lews speed shot 2 ball bearing reel my dad bought like 20 years ago. Put some 6 lb test on it and love it for catching panfish. Short rod is easy to walk the bank and long enough to cast a good distance. Probably not the ideal set up but for free it works great. I like the 6 kb test just incase i hook into a carp or something i am not chasing i still have a good chance to bring them in and not snap my line if i am patient

 

I feel the same way jitterbug. I use 6lb for my UL and it gives me a little more confidence. Some of the spots I fish, it is not about how far I cast but rather simply trying to maneuver through trees and bushes. Having a short rod lets me get off casts in very tight confined spaces where as a longer rod would make it extremely difficult. 

[Angry John]

Using flouro with a very small reel will lead to a lot of problems.  I fish a 2000 size daiwa and will not go over 6lb due to coils and jumping off the reel.  A good copoly will be the most manageable and have good stength for the diamiter.  Some options that you may look at if you have a larger budget is the 1000 size daiwa certate or the presso line of reels.  I love my 2004 certate for the smaller fish and it is so nice.  Long rods with faster actions help on the hook set.  The length will provide the ability to load up the rod as speed is relitive to length of the rod.  I see a lot of very long crappie rods but i just use a 7' myself.

[DogBone_384]

I use a 6' light BPS MicroLite rod and a 6920 Pflueger President with 6# mono for crappie and/or perch. It'll throw light Rapalas and spinners nicely and is strong enough to handle the occasional bass or pickerel. If I remember right, it cost me around $100 or so.

Best of luck!

[BammerBass]

For the most fun, I find ultralights with 4lb test line are thr best. They also pick up on the slightest of hits very well. Those 1.5lbers feel like monsters on ultralight rods and are an absolute thrill to catch. But beware, there are those 4+ lb fish out there that can strike at any time, and when they do, you will have your hands full!!! A good 5.5 -6 foot light action rod and reel combo is also great for crappie. Less likely to snap your line on these, but they also dont pick up the "light" strikes quite as well as their ultralight cousins. And it doesn't have to be an expensive rod and reel either. My 5'6" light action Zebco ZS1 spinning combo has netted me some nice crappie, and it wasn't but $25 when my mom bought it for my birthday several years ago.

[Bluebasser86]

I use a 1000 size Shimano with 4lb mono on a 7' 3" ML/F rod. Most of my crappie fishing is done with larger baits or under a bobber so the typical short, ultralight crappie rods are not a good option for me.