A few questions

[Jiggah]

Good morning fellow Slab Hunters!

1) What's your thoughts on Graphite poles for tight lining / jigging?

Note, I just purchased a Penn Battle II Spinning Combo Graphite Blank Rod. It's a 7 ft pole. A bit heavy. The reel is a HT-100. On BPS the reviews are great, but I thought I'd ask you guys to see if one of you have a better input on this.

2) Have any of you ever took the spool off of your reel after lining it up and set it in hot water? I heard that helps with the line from being tangled, twisted and it makes it cast out better. Your thoughts?


Thanks!

[Erin Brewer]

Graphite rods are pretty much the best out there short of the southern crappie rods which are made with kevlar. I started out with glass rods pinnacle limits and west point crappie rods but have since upgraded to bnm and southern crappie rods for trolling and i use a 10' ozark rear seat jig pole.

[Crestliner08]

Graphite is definitely the way to go. As far as you "bathing" the filled spool goes, be careful! If it's a front drag reel, the drag washers and lubrication, are in that spool. Washing those lubes out will affect how your drag performs. Myself, I would not do it. Get yourself a can of KVD Line Conditioner. As I wind the line onto the spool, I spray the line liberally. And again when completely filled. That will take care of any line issues you may have. I'm assuming of course that you are filling your spool with monofilament line.

[Jiggah]

Thanks guys. I'm pretty excited about the pole. It just has me nervous because it seems heavier than what I'm used to and I went to bend it but the bend wasn't that flexible. I don't want it to break! It's a $139 pole. It just came in yesterday. I'm waiting until I go again before I rig it up. I been trying to find videos on youtube about it, but there aren't any! I thought about going with Braided line.

Yes. Mono. I have been using Mr. Crappie Hi-Vis 6lb mono, but man that line sucks to me. Now, I have Vicious 4lb clear on my other pole and it is awesome! Love it! I have been doing that "bathing" technique for a while now and the line does seem to work out better. The reel I have has sealed barrings and washers, But I will look into the KVD Line Conditioner. It's not scented is it?

[Erin Brewer]

I have never used any kind of line conditioner my self I just replace the line as needed. I use Mr. crappie hi viz 8lb for most everything even pulling crankbaits. I do use braid on my jigging poles though its very tough for heavy cover and very very sensitive. I have never liked using braid for casting always gave me to many issues.

[hdhntr]

I have never used any kind of line conditioner my self I just replace the line as needed. I use Mr. crappie hi viz 8lb for most everything even pulling crankbaits. I do use braid on my jigging poles though its very tough for heavy cover and very very sensitive. I have never liked using braid for casting always gave me to many issues.

Agree erin using Mr crappie hi vis line for my main poles and braid did come on my st croix 10 foot rod with shinmano reel I bought from a friend but it didn't cast worth beans, in fact it broke tip off rod and had to send it back for replacement. going to switch on my casting rod to stren 6 lb lo vis just because I had it already.

Kevin rogers told us at Crappie U as he does in any of his seminars he only uses spiderwire 15/4 or 6lb braid as he is strictly a run and gun jigging dude but he swears by it. Going to try that.

[CliffordN]

I use nine foot graphite rods with spinning reels, and they work just fine!

[tahoe 50]

Vicious, Berkley XL smooth casting in Clear/Blue. 6lb test.

[deathb4disco]

I just purchased a Penn Battle II Spinning Combo Graphite Blank Rod. It's a 7 ft pole. A bit heavy.

It just has me nervous because it seems heavier than what I'm used to and I went to bend it but the bend wasn't that flexible.

It's a saltwater rod. You're gonna use it for crappie?

[crappie wrangler]

Everyone has their own favorites so there is not really a good generic answer. I use a braid with a 3' mono tip. My favorite braid is Suffix 832 in the ghost color. For rods I liked GLoomis before Gary sold it to Shamino. These days I use a lot of St Croix with very good results. I don't do much trolling though mostly vertical jigging or cast and retrieve. My rods are also custom so they are tailored for what I do.