You can obviously catch crappie on about any pole. When it comes to fun I would stay in the UL - ML range. ML is the stiffest I would go. I fish crappie with a 7' ML Fast action premier and love it for crappie.
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You can obviously catch crappie on about any pole. When it comes to fun I would stay in the UL - ML range. ML is the stiffest I would go. I fish crappie with a 7' ML Fast action premier and love it for crappie.
That's what I use. Ita worked fine for me. I know for jigging they recommend a long rod, but for what I do a 6'6 medium has worked for me. I do want an ultralight to make it more of a challenge and all that. But from my LIMITED experience your setup is identical to mine and it works just fine for how I fish for crappie.
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Take a look at the B n' M Sam Heaton SuperSensitive series of rods. You can match a 7' model with a Pflueger President for around $100.00. Great combination for crappie. And definitely look at line between 4# test and 6# test.
Year's ago I was really into 4# test line. Then discovered Crystal sewing thread, tested at about 1#, sure was fun! Been using lever wind only for years's and 6# was as light as I've gone on them. But started for crappie last year and drug out an old light spinning rod with a broken reel. Got a new reel, cost me 20 some dollars and seem's to work fine. What I haven't run into is 4# line anywhere. You'd think everyone would have it! 6# is light as I've been able to find. Probably gonna have to find it on the internet!
I find a ML rod matched with wide spool spinning reel a lot more "reasonable" than the buggy whip UL combos you find at big box stores. UL combos have narrow spools and line bunches up a lot. Can hinder casting. I use a 6' ML Dock Shooter with US 180 reel spooled with 4lb Berkley crappie mono. I use it mostly for casting jigs plus the wide spool helps with distance. The high gear ratio helps with retrieves.
Crappie is about all I use a spinning rod for these days. Have several but only two I use. One is a Shakespere Intirpid 6'6" light action but fairly fast tip, love it. Used my backup some yesterday is a Eagle Claw Feather Light 6'6", Really slow tip. As I recall all I was thinking about Kokenee fishing when I got it. Never fished for though. First time out with it for crappie yesterday and missed a number of fish when trying to set the hook, rod just to soft. Really bends though with a fish on! It has on it a Shimano 2000, love the reel. On the Shakespere is a reel I got last fall when a reel broke on me. Ocuma ROX-40, $35 reel and love it! Couldn't pick a favorite from the two. Seldom ever miss a fish with the Shakespere. I didn't hook a spinner up with the Wright McGill rod but that might help hook up. I mostly use slip bobber and line is fairly loose laying on the water. Problem with the Wright McGill is it's just way to slow.
BTW, I did try a small single spin with a 1" curly tail on it and did very well!
What Don just spoke of is key to choosing a good rod. My early experience with ultralight rods were small in length and soft in action. I’ve heard the term “parabolic” used to describe some rods, and my understanding of that is that it begins to bend right in front of the handle. I have learned that I like a soft tip that will load during the cast of a light jig, but have enough middle and butt stiffness to handle a surprise fish. A fast action or medium fast action seems to suit me most times. As DBD said earlier, all are not the same. Medium in one maker is completely different with another, so handle before you buy or be ready to be disappointed. An inexpensive rod that I like a lot is the Shakespeare micro series. They come from 4’6” to 7’ in most of the places I have seen carry them. The 6’6” is a nice rod that behaves well for everything from jigs to slip floats that I have tried on it. At$18 it doesn’t hurt your feelings at the register. I have 3 of the President 20’s and like them fine. Always remember to loosen the drag when you’re done and you won’t compress the drag washers. That goes for all of your reels, especially the smaller ones. 4lb line is what I’ve used for years, bass pros offshore angler tight lines, and always hi vis. Something like 4000 yards for under $10. Variations on these items have kept me fishing and teaching others for years now. If you like a higher end rod, look up the St Croix 66lf with the blue label. I prefer the one piece version, but both are nice. Good luck in you r search, and keep us posted, you’re teaching us along the way.
Take a look at the TICA trout rod on Amazon. A great rod in light action with fast tip!
It's amazing how far fishing has come since I was a kid. Back then, early 50's, if we wanted a fishing rod we just went and bought a fishing rod. Med action? Never heard of it! Then UL came in the scene. My first memory of it was in Germany in the service about 1965. Mitchell Garcia came out with the little 308 reel and I think the rod was a 3601. Favorite rod and reel and by the time I lost them, they weren't making them anymore. That was my most favorite rod and reel ever. Today you need a doctorate in fishing rods to pick out the very best rod for any particular fish. I remember in my grandfather's gun closet, an uncle kept his salmon rod. It was made of steel!