Don’t go forward facing sonar fishing without this! - by Brad Wiegmann

Just don’t go. Don’t do it! You are just going to get mad and cuss out the fishing pole you’re fishing with.


You see what fishing rod you’re using makes a difference in how successful you are when using fishing forward facing sonar. Forward facing sonar has changed the way anglers are fishing for all game fish, but especially tournament crappie fishing.


What makes a fishing rod great for forward facing sonar fishing? Who really knows? Is there any available right now?


First, what makes a great forward facing sonar fishing rod? The answer to the above questions comes from the legendary owner of B’n’M Poles Jack Wells; in addition to Beaver Lake crappie fishing guide Greg Robinson who has numerous days on the water with crappie fishing rods for forward facing sonar.


“When the 14 foot B’n’M Diamond Series pole came out with it’s high quality components and high modulus graphite blank that was the best long pole forward facing sonar crappie rod you could buy,” Robinson continued, “However, the new 16 foot Black Diamond premium jig & crappie pole has completely raised the bar on how a long pole should feel and perform on the water.”


Robinson, who spends numerous days on the water guiding for crappie and teaching anglers how to fish with Garmin Live Scope one poling noted there were several reasons for such high praise for the 16 foot B’n’M Poles Black Diamond fishing rod. “First and foremost, the blank action is perfect for setting the hook. Instead of jerking hard, I now only have to pull and lift up to set the hook,” Robinson continued, “The super sensitive rod blank lets me feel a bite and the tip action is perfect for casting and setting the hook.”




When one poling Robinson is able to pitch an easy 20- to 25-feet out with little effort and accurately. “When one poling it’s important to cast past the crappie and bring the lure over to get a bite when sniping-one poling. By pitching 20 or more feet out, I can easily bring it into the strike zone normally around 15 feet or so,” said Robinson.


The 16 foot B’n’M Poles Black Diamond fishing rod features a carbon fiber reel seat that Robinson pairs up with a baitcasting reel. “I like a baitcasting reel because it gives me more control over how far I’m casting the lure and how fast it’s dropping,” Robinson went on, “I leave the reel disengaged when pitching so I can pull out more line if I need the lure to go farther. I just press my thumb against the spool to stop the line from coming out or to hold the line firm when setting the hook.”


Typically, Robinson will use a jighead that weighs 3/16- up to 1/4 -ounce rigged with a Bobby Garland soft plastic lure. When he is fishing for roamers Robinson will pitch to them, however, he normally just drops straight down when fishing brush piles or pole timber.


“The 3-piece 16 foot B’n’M Poles Black Diamond fishing rod was designed for live imaging fishing,” B’n’M Poles owner Jack Wells continued, “It allows the angler to get out to where the crappie are without disrupting them”


Wells noted that the 16 foot B’n’M Poles Black Diamond fishing rod has some unique features including genuine portuguese cork, 30-ton graphite blank, super stiff action, stainless steel guides and carbon fiber reel seat. “It’s such a lightweight rod you can fish with it all day long and not wear you out,” said Wells.




If the 16 foot isn’t long enough or you just want the longest, super sensitive with stiff action blank for one poling rod available then it’s the 3-piece 18 foot B’n’M Poles Black Diamond Premium Jig & Crappie Pole you want. “Like the 16 foot B’n’M Poles Black Diamond fishing rod it’s perfect for live imaging fishing, but we have added an additional 2 feet in the blank,” Wells continued, “In addition to having our special weighted handle for counterbalancing the rod and reel allowing the angler to fish longer without experiencing fatigue plus the stiffer blank lets an angler swing big crappie into the boat.”


“Since I started using the 16 foot B’n’M Poles Black Diamond fishing rod I hardly netted a crappie to land them,” Robinson went on, “It can easily sling in the biggest crappie we have in the lake.”