A medium rod will work, but I think a lighter rod is more fun. I like light or UL rods for crappie.
Does anyone use a medium power fast tip spinning rod for crappie? I know they can be caught on one successfully due to catching them myself while bass fishing, but I'm not sure if a rod like this will cover the actual techniques used for crappie fishing when done the right way.
I currently have a 6'6" M/F spinning rod with 8 pound mono line on it, and I could put 6 pound on it if needed. But I was thinking of buying a new one to set up just for crappie so I keep my bass rig as is. Also was thinking longer is better for some reason, so I am looking at a 7' rod, and either a M/F or ML/F power and action. Specifically, the Shimano Convergence rods, paired with a Pflueger Trion Tri30x or Tri25x reel.
A medium rod will work, but I think a lighter rod is more fun. I like light or UL rods for crappie.
Crestliner08 LIKED above post
I've used them, and they worked just fine. They are a Eagle Claw 6'6" med action paired with a Shimano Aero 1000 and a Berkley Select Hank Parker 6'6" M/L paired with a Shimano Spirex 2000. Though, neither one has a fast action tip. They are currently being used as "backups" for me, or for other people that fish with me & don't have (or didn't bring) a casting outfit.
My current casting rods are a ESP 6'6" PowerLite & a 7' Sam Heaton Signature Series spinning rod. The ESP is lite power, very fast action tip, IM6, that I use mostly for casting jigs. The Sam Heaton is lite power, slow action tip, IM6, that I use mostly for casting Road Runners.
Med is ok but don't get wild with hook set..Gentle If casting lite stuff distance may suffer
That's ok, today I discovered the Bass Pro Shops Micro Lite is available with a choice of any length and power/action rod paired with a choice of any size Pflueger President reel, and sold as a combo for $100. Ultra Light up to Medium is possible with any reel ranging from size 20 to 40. Yes, they actually had a 4'6" ultra light with a size 40 on it (who would use that and why???), but more interestingly, they had a size 20 on a 7'6" ultra light. So from one extreme to the other. With this combo as an option I can see a size 25 or 30 reel on a 6'6" or 7' rod in whatever power feels right to me. Probably medium light or light. Ultra light seems like it would be too whippy.
What you want to do is pick out the rod you like, first .... then put a couple two or three different sizes of reels on it and see which one balances best with that rod. If you can put your finger out and lay the rod/reel across that finger at the very front edge of the rod handle, and it balances .... that's the combo you want. It's even OK if the rod slowly tilts towards the handle end, as long as it don't drop like a rock !! What you don't want is for the combo to drop quickly towards the rod tip end. Tip heavy combos will wear your wrist/arm out a lot quicker, and they're kinda cumbersome to cast with. When the combo is a balanced set, the whole thing feels lighter in your hand & becomes an extension of your arm ... very comfortable to fish with.
My 6'6" ESP PowerLite rod has a size 20 reel on it and it balances very well. Rod is light in weight, but not what I'd call a "lite power" rod. It has a very fast action tip, so it casts well & loads up great for dock shooting. You just have to know that UL, L, Med/L, or Med has no industry standard .... so one brand's Med may be closer to another brand's Lite, which is why having the rods/reels "in hand" before purchase is always the best way to go.
Don Fischer LIKED above postSlab thanked you for this post
Just tried to look at the same outfit at BP in Myrtle Beach. The 20 reel is 6 ball bearing and anything higher is 9 ball bearings. They did not have a big selection to look at. I am very picky when trying a new rod and/or reel. Did not buy today, just tackle bag, jig heads, and floats.