I also use a 8'6 fly rod as a jigging pole coupled with a Shimano Sienna 1000 FE spinning reel and I fish it mainly with the crappie magnet (my favorite lure.) I preferred using thicker 10# mono with the fly rod because it has less tendency to wrap around the long fly rod when compared to 4# or 6# mono. I mainly pitch with the fly rod but can cast with it from my kayak.