Trolling rods?

[T.C.]

Thay are good rods. They have backbone. I used to use Capps n Colememans and after seeing the Southern Crappie Rods i switched over immediatly. They are tougher in my opinion. The 12,14, and 16's are made from Kevlar and Carbon, not Graphite, so its a little diff. I love mine

[T.C.]

Tougher witout sacraficing the ability to see hits.

[bdorman]

If you're only using two rods (maybe three, max), do you really need rods that are more than 7 ft. long? It's easy to achieve a 6-8 ft spread between lines with shorter rods that can be used for other purposes too.

I've had very good luck with Eagle Claw Powerlight, 6'6" in Light and Medium Light. Great for trolling but I use them for casting and bobber-fishing too. Sensitive enough for crappie but strong enough for bass and northern pike. (the northern pike seem to love hitting on my Light rod with a 1" micro-grub...go figure). They're only about $30-35.

The Eagle Claws are spinning rods but I think they make them in baitcasting too.

[BigRiverMarine]

I like the Walleye Angler trolling rods from BPS. They work really well on cranks. They are made for trolling cranks and the tips show the baits action really well.. Come in a 12', 10', and 8'. They also make Bottom Bouncers, Dead Sticks, etc. The Whoopin Stick trolling rods from Cabelas are nice for a fiberglass rod and inexpensive.


BRM

[T.C.]

If you're only using two rods (maybe three, max), do you really need rods that are more than 7 ft. long? It's easy to achieve a 6-8 ft spread between lines with shorter rods that can be used for other purposes too.

I've had very good luck with Eagle Claw Powerlight, 6'6" in Light and Medium Light. Great for trolling but I use them for casting and bobber-fishing too. Sensitive enough for crappie but strong enough for bass and northern pike. (the northern pike seem to love hitting on my Light rod with a 1" micro-grub...go figure). They're only about $30-35.

The Eagle Claws are spinning rods but I think they make them in baitcasting too.

Yes you need long rods so you can cover more water, especially if you only have a few out.

[blairarnold]

Thay are good rods. They have backbone. I used to use Capps n Colememans and after seeing the Southern Crappie Rods i switched over immediatly. They are tougher in my opinion. The 12,14, and 16's are made from Kevlar and Carbon, not Graphite, so its a little diff. I love mine

How stiff are they compared to a B&M Pro Staff Troller or a Wally Marshall Tightline Special?

[bdorman]

Yes you need long rods so you can cover more water, especially if you only have a few out.

I guess that begs the question "how far will/can a crappie travel for its meal?"

My experience (although admittedly limited) is that you have to get the bait very close to them (within a couple of feet) to have any chance of getting a strike. I can see the advantage of long poles when you're using 8 poles, each covers about a 4' area.

Since I'm a beginner, I really hope folks will chime in with their experience and thoughts about how far a crappie will swim (or, how far can it even see) to nab my jig.

[T.C.]

How stiff are they compared to a B&M Pro Staff Troller or a Wally Marshall Tightline Special?

They are not quite as stiff as a tightline special, but i think a tightline special is to stiff for spiderrigging in my opinion. but then again Im not using 3oz weights like you do.

[T.C.]

I guess that begs the question "how far will/can a crappie travel for its meal?"

My experience (although admittedly limited) is that you have to get the bait very close to them (within a couple of feet) to have any chance of getting a strike. I can see the advantage of long poles when you're using 8 poles, each covers about a 4' area.

Since I'm a beginner, I really hope folks will chime in with their experience and thoughts about how far a crappie will swim (or, how far can it even see) to nab my jig.

Not too far, thats why you spread your rig out as much as you can when trolling so you cover alot of water and the chace of running over a pocket of fish in increased. If you are fishing a certain piece of cover or structure then thats one thing but if your trolling open water for suspended fish that are'nt relating to any cover or structure you wanna spread out what you have and find em.

[Cray]

One thing you have to be careful with in spider rigging or trolling off the front of the boat is getting the line in your trolling motor when you are moving forward or get a fish on. I use all 12ft BnM PST,s friend uses 12out the front then steps down to 10 then 8 out the side and catches more fish than me.