How long a fishing pole?

[Slab]

Just how long a fishing rod do you need to go crappie fishing with? First you have to answer what technique you are using to catch your crappie. While shorter fishing rods are better for accurate casting a longer rod is normally used when forward facing sonar fishing.


Fishing poles have changed over the years from 2,000 B.C. even earlier in time when the first fishing poles were recorded and made from bamboo, hazel shoots to wood. Today’s high tech poles are made of advance graphite blanks that are lightweight, super sensitive and strong. No wonder anglers have several poles ready to go with lures tied on for fishing.


Longtime crappie fishing pros Charles Bunting has been around long enough to see how the fishing poles length and rod blanks have change. “I have been around long enough to see changes in fishing poles designs, construction and lengths,” B’n’M Poles pro Bunting continued, “I have used every length and style including the new B’n’M Poles Black Diamond poles that were designed for forward facing sonar fishing.”


In years past, Bunting would dock shoot or cast a 6 foot pole in tournaments or just for fun to catch crappie. Rod length and bend of the pole for casting was the most important part of selecting the best pole for fishing. In tournament fishing few anglers are dock shooting, however, Bunting noted that for fun fishing and catching crappie it’s a great way to get a limit. Today, Bunting if he is dock shooting he’s using a B’n’M Poles SharpShooter Six. It’s a one piece extra stiff graphite blank that results in longer, more accurate cast of fishing jigs


Next, Bunting noted with the release of side imaging sonar spider rigging increased in popularity. “It was in the early 2000’s when open water trolling became popular and that’s how tournaments were won,” Bunting continued, “We used B’n’M Poles BGJP aka Buck’s Graphite Jig Poles mostly in the 16 foot length and very successfully.”


In today’s world of forward facing sonar, Bunting has switched to long, high tech fishing poles, however, he is still changing the rod length to get the best cast or drop to catch a crappie. “When I’m taking people out fishing, I usually let them use a 12 foot long rod because they are not use to fishing with long rods and the longer rods are hard to control for them,” Bunting went on, “But, normally I like the 14 foot B’n’M Poles Diamond Series Jig Pole and switch to the 18 foot B’n’M Poles Black Diamond Series if they get spooky.”



“Now I’m either casting with the B’n’M Poles 75 Series Rod paired with the 75 Series Reel or 6 foot Sharpshooter, but mostly with the longer 75 Series rod as it can cast farther and more accurately,” said Bunting. The 75 Series Rod is a one piece pole constructed from high modulus graphite which results in an extremely strong, sensitive and castable fishing pole. It also features high quality, gold alloy guides and genuine Portuguese cork knob handle.


When fishing with forward facing sonar, Bunting uses rod lengths from 12- to 18-foot in length. “For dipping, I like the 12 foot Diamond Series and I will change to the 14 foot Diamond Series for a little more length,” Bunting went on, “I will switch to the longer 16- or 18-foot Black Diamond Jig Poles for spooky fish.” B’n’M Poles Black Diamond Jig Poles were released at 2023 ICAST and have become popular with angler fishing with forward facing sonar. The 3 piece rods are made with IM6 graphite blank and feature a carbon fiber reel seat and genuine Portuguese cork handle. The 18 foot Black Diamond Jig Pole also features 3.2-ounce counterweight plates and 16 foot Black Diamond Jig Pole a 9.6-ounce counterweight plates that are removable allowing the angler to customize the balance of the rod.


For reels, Bunting uses B’n’M Poles 75 Series spinning reels or HH baitcasters rigged up with 12 pound fluorocarbon K9 fishing line or 10 pound braid around timber like on Truman Reservoir.

Article by Brad Wiegmann

[SuperDave336]

Good article. I love my B'n'M rods. I have everyone mentioned in the article except the Black Diamond.

[DrNip]

Been using 10-12’ rods since 2015 as dipping has been my technique of choice and what most did here in Oklahoma or at least that I knew. Pre-livescope had a rod in each hand. Post-livescope I’ve switched to just one rod.

[Rojo]

I only Single Pole for the most part. All my casting is done with Rojo Grande Spinning rods (my personal favorite). I use 2 9ft Rojo Grande 8wt fly rods for single pole fishing in stump fields, the 11ft to 16ft assorted Lews Wally Marshall Signature rods with 6 inches cut off the handles, B&M Tree Thumpers - Dana rods in 11ft only, Ozark Tony Edgar 11 footers for single poling under low bridges (where I'm on my knees sticking the rod under the bridge where I can't even see, BGJP's 11-14ft single poling a more open pile of submerged structure, specifically BGJP's 14ft for micro jig fishing middle of winter in deep cover in deep holes since using Ketchn's #6 hooks the BGJP's limber backbone and slow action in 14ft never pulls the hooks out of the deeply, really bottom dwelling Slabs 16-20ft of water or deeper at times.

[Grainraiser]

Back in the 70's we made our own jigging poles by starting with a cane pole. We would then cut up a metal clothes hanger and bend them into shape to make eyes and a crude reel. We would attach them with electrical tape and string them up with dacron line. Add a slip bobber and some minnows and you were ready to tear up some spawning crappie. When they were not on the bank we used Ambassador baitcasters with 17lb line and pre-made double minnow rigs. I knew nothing about light spinning gear or jigs. I we didn't have minnows we did not fish. Man have times changed.

[Ketchn]

I could hang in about any venue , cept an LS adventure , with my 5 8 …..
But if it were not LS and there was ample room , I really like a fast light 7….
Beyond there , no likes much with me around 8 and up , just saying

[BuckeyeCrappie]

IMHO you can’t beat a BnM rod. Also an awesome site sponsor.

[GreenLine]

I’ve been using 10-12 ft jig poles for years.
Past few years I’ve gotten used to a 14 ft jig pole for the extra reach when fishing the spawn in heavy cover around cypress trees. It also lets me pitch more distance from the boat when I need to.


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com

[Ketchn]

IMHO you can’t beat a BnM rod. Also an awesome site sponsor.

and the wait continues for the 6 sharpshooter "test" rod to see if that is actually so ....
......pause time .....still waiting .....and pause again ....still waiting .....
no worries patience is the key .....

[jjue1979]

I grew up on 10’ rods, and I’ve slowly crept up to 12’, 14’, and 16’ rods. This spawn I’ve been using 2 16’ B&M rods, 2 14’ B&M rods, and 2 14’ Crappie Thunder rods for my spider right now setup. My dad couldn’t get use to the 16’ rods and kept missing fish, so yesterday he swapped back to 14’ rods.