Rod and reel

[nsfr1206]

I am wondering which rod and reel to get from BPS. Somebody recently gave me a gift card and I don’t know which to get for crappie. The reviews on their site aren’t so good for some of them…


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[nsfr1206]

Definitely thinking about a spinning setup…


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[CrappiePappy]

Get a 6' to 6.5' rod and a Pflueger President reel of the size that will balance the outfit on your outstretched finger placed under the front end of the rod's handle. If you can actually go to BPS (or Cabela's) and try out the combinations, all the better. Otherwise you may want to post on the Main Forum and ask if anyone has one of these combos that balance.

I don't have a Pflueger President reel, but am recommending it on the other members that have one & like theirs. As far as the rod goes, I cannot recommend any specific brand, but I would say a med power rod with a fast action tip will cast jigs and play fish better than a UL or Lite power rod. (just my opinion) But, I am basing that fact on the ESP PowerLite 6.5' rod that I use for casting jigs. And, of course, I'm only assuming that's what you are planning on doing with the new outfit.

[DonF]

Getting started I think a 6' maybe even 6'6" med action rod would work great. For reels something fairly small. I don't have a clue how sizes go. Supposably smaller numbers are lighter reels. Crappie are not overly large fish, I like 4# test but prefer 2#. Very hard to find 2#! Might want to go with a bit heavier rod and reel so you don't confine yourself to simply fish of a certain size. Either that or plan on more than one rod/reel from the beginning. Around here crappie are very small, usually about 8" but I got one that went 13". My favorite crappie rod/reel Is a very small Okuma reel filled with 2# line on an Okuma UL action rod that's 5' long. I never use if for any other fish! I have several light rod's with 4# line and 6'6" rods that I would use on different fish but I prefer level wind casting and my crappie stuff is all spinning, spinning is easier to learn to use!

[DockShootinJack]

The Pflueger Presidents are some very smooth reels

[nsfr1206]

Thanks for the answers. I’ve been fishing since I was a young child but not much specifically for crappie. I will take a look at the presidents.


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[DockShootinJack]

If I were just going after crappie with this rod I would get a light action.

[canebreaker]

I like trigger spin reels over spinning reels. I have Shakespear Crappie Hunter and Zebco Crappie Fighter combos in 6.5 to 12 ft. Got them at the auction house for $8 to $15. Zebco M33 trigger spin reels on a 5 ft casting rod for $5. There are 2 AL dealers that come to the local auction house. I'll see if I can find out where they are located.
If your gift card isn't dated BPS will have an early crappie fishing sale coming up soon. Stock up on baits is what I usually do.

[DonF]

Crappie around here all seem to be very small. Like biggest I ever caught was 13" and only one! I have a rod and reel I bought just for sturgeon fishing. I've read they get up to 100+#. It's a 7' rod and only info on it is for line weight from 30-80#, it could probably serve as a power pole! The reel is very big and has one of those things under it to lock onto the rod! I could catch crappie on it! But, of course, my crappie rods are a lot lighter and smaller. I don't understand the number's that relate to reel size very well so I look for small reels, generally the smaller the better. I also look for rods under 6'6" that take line from 2# to about 15# and rated at med lite and ultra lite actions. Now you could go with longer rods and say med actions and do just fine. I have a couple Mitchell 300 reels that for me are to big for crappie but certainly useable. Crappie is a small fish and the fish your after should tell youthe equipment you need. my favorite crappie rod/reel is a 5' Okuma rod with a very small Okuma reel and I use 2# test line on it. My other rods all have 4# line but that's because 2# is very hard to find around here!

Guess what I am trying to say is there is no wrong answer so long as the equipment is matched to the fish your after! Most all rods are marked for action and line weight and lure weight. So what size fish you going after? If you are in one of those places where 5# fish are pretty common, I'd take my Mitchell 300 with 6# line on about 6'6" rod. For the small crappie we get here my go to most often is my 5' rod and 2# line. For 5# fish and everyone certainly won't be, get into something like a level wind and 15# line and it works but for the most part takes the fun out of it. A reel like my 300 with 5# line on a med action 6'6" rod leaves in the fight without requiring the user to be awfully experienced. match the equipment to the fish and your own skill, you expect to catch mostly!

[NIMROD]

Ask the sales person to show you several fishing setups in your price range for a start . Let them know what you plan to fish for and technique your interested in .