Why is your pole so long?

[IMHB]

I am wondering why you guys use such long poles.? 10,12,14,16 feet WOW!!!
I use an ultra lite pole that is only 6 feet long with 4 lb test Trilene.
I am wondering if it would be worth my while to get me a longer pole....do you think it would help me..Please comment.
I can only fish with jigs, and for live bait I can use crickets, red worms or meal worms...NO minnows are allowed.
I do use the Crappie nibbles and they seem to help. I have tried the Roadrunners with NO luck at all...the crickets and meal worms
seem to only catch the Bluegill..I don't seem to catch Crappie on them. We do keep the large Bluegill, and they taste real good.
I usually fish straight down and try to wind drift or use the trolling motor to just barely move the boat.
The Crappie seem to like my jig when it has no action at all, just hanging there and slightly moving. I have never used a bobber
and I am wondering if I should try a bobber with a jig hanging down....I am using the 1 1/2" 'Little Hustler Crappie Jigs'..
I seem to do best with the orange or red head, and the chartreuse tail.
Remember the water I am fishing in looks like drinking water, it's actually just that clear.
I am are going fishing tomorrow morning...wish me luck..

Harry.... in far, far, Northern California.

[OutdoorWilly]

I think it's to reach in far places and just drop your bait without casting and getting caught in a tree. I too use a short 6 foot rod most of the time. I feel like I can control it better. Long poles just get me frustrated because of how tall they are. I even have an old BnM Bucks crappie rod that is only about 5 feet long. It does great cause I can feel a bite better, and put more action in my minnows and jigs.

["G"]

The long poles get baits further away from the boat so the boat does not spook the fish.

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[bassbull]

Hello , You didn't say how deep the water is in your area that you fish. If the water is as clean as I think you mean you have to fish really deep our you shadow,boat and movement will spook a lot of fish. I fish with 8ft and 10 ft. poles for that reason. One thing that I picked up on real quick is that with a long pole you can make a lot of pitches and drops because you never have to wind in you lure. I've fished down to 15ft. without any trouble. It is just faster way of fishing for me. STEVE

[bowhunter012463]

Once you try jigging with the long poles you will never go back to the short poles. They are super senitive and you can feel the difference between hitting a rock on the bottom or a fish tapping you jig. My wife tried using one last weekend and she just loved using a long pole. No jokes please.

[kingkrappie]

Lol

[willsjwills]

I fish a lot in water from 4 to 12 feet in depth around brush, logs, and stumps. No casting. Just let out desired line length, drop jig in water, and swim said jig up to, through, and around structure. 10' and 12' poles are best in this situation.

[Tracy Swanson]

The long poles get baits further away from the boat so the boat does not spook the fish.

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2x

[Crestliner08]

For the kind of fishing you are doing, I actually prefer a longer rod - 7'. A quality UL like that will enhance you experience. I have a 5.5', a 6' and the 7' rods. I almost always choose to cast with the 7'. I drift with it as well, when in a boat. Like what's been said, the longer the rod, the more sensitive it becomes. And the more fun it is to fight a feisty crappie. I don't spider rig up here (illegal), so the 12' - 16' rods would not be an advantage to me. Most of our fishing is in open water vs. brush or trees, with casting & drifting being your best options.

Borrow a longer UL from someone and give it a whirl. I think you'll be buying one soon!

[Kenny65]

The long poles get baits further away from the boat so the boat does not spook the fish.

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If you are fishing from the bank or with a clankin- n banging knucklehead buddy in a boat...they have their advantages! Surely that's not just "a Arkansas thing'? Lol