Thank you all for the awesome answers. The Huckabee rods are confusing so many options. Was there a model I should concentrate on?
Huckabee for me. You can boat flip 2 lb crappie no problem. Plenty of backbone.
Thank you all for the awesome answers. The Huckabee rods are confusing so many options. Was there a model I should concentrate on?
Stoutest rod I've ever used is a BnM Pro Staff Trolling Rod (14') and I HAVE boat flipped 2# Crappie with it (but I wasn't using it for jigging)
They do come in 10' & 12' lengths.
The Capps & Coleman Trolling rod comes in 12' length & is slightly less "stout".
I've used a 10' Huckabee Dippin rod, but found the cork handle a bit "thick" and it wears on my hand/wrist grip moreso than some of my other cork handled rods. May just be me
I would look at either the 10.5ft Huckabee Elite or the 11’ Huckabee Pulling rod. They are built off the same rod blank, the Elite is just butt trimmed six inches and has smaller stainless guides. The weight on these rods isn’t as bad as some of the longer models. I have fished with about all of the Huckabee models as well as most of the other brands and the Elite is my favorite. Have been using them for several years now, chose them over the Kevin Rogers Jenko, which I also spent a lot of time with. The Kevin Rogers series are lighter but more of a tip heavy blank and not as solid swinging fish truly over 2lb in the boat.
2018 Crappie Masters Kentucky/Tennessee State Champion
One thought I forgot to mention though. Most of us that fish with the Huckabee rods are standing up or leaning against a butt seat and letting the long handle run up the forearm the way they are meant to be used. You really can’t comfortably hold them that way sitting down and think that is where some people have problems with the weight.
2018 Crappie Masters Kentucky/Tennessee State Champion
Big fan of the ACC rods. Fast tips and lots of backbone. I see a lot of others mentioned here that have back bone but they don't have fast or extra fast tips.
I should have clarified the rods for the boat will be stationary in rod holders.
This technique doesn't require holding the rods, therefore, feel is out and rod weight is not a concern. This is simply sight fishing the rods tips and mostly in the dark. I assume similar to spider rigging. The stoutness is needed to have that power to lift and pull a 5lb walleye to the surface in current. There is no reeling involved, just lifting to the surface. Whippy light rods don't do well with stick baits on 3-way rigs in river current and would never control a bigger fish in current in close proximity to other rods.
Most fish can be netted when they reach the surface. Any walleye over 18" (circa 2lbs+) would get netted for sure. Maybe smaller fish gets boat-flipped, but walleyes are too prized to take that chance.
Other rod technique was simply a 10' rod held while vertically jigging for walleyes in shallow water. This rod definitely needs the sensativity and backbone to stick the bite.
Thanks for all the great ideas so far. Much appreciated.
Last edited by MartyWI; 01-14-2022 at 12:10 PM.
The Acc Crappie rods are a medium action rod that pretty stoudt,but are still lightweight.
Pro Angler, or Huckabee
Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com
Proud Member of Team Geezer!
Another vote for the acc jigging rod. GS11M Super Grip
I have the 10' version. Sounds like it'll do what you want although I've never tried boat flipping a 5# fish with it. If I catch a 5#r I'm to afeared of loosing it and grab the net.
Sent from my SM-N960U using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app