rod length?

[rapman1]

i would like a little input please. i am getting a st. croix (avid or premier) ultra-lite soon and am not sure about the length. they make them from 4.5 feet up to 7 feet. i primarily wade, fishing bays on a few bigger lakes with lots of overhang, or some small ponds. i appreciate any help.

[no1son]

I fish 5' and less almost exclusively. My 5' St Croix Triumph is a fantastic rod. I fish almost completely on foot, too. It is easier to get under and around overhangs with the shorter stick IMO, and you can shoot in under just like shooting docks with the shorter stick, especially if you are already wading.

[river slabs are better]

you can cast farther with a 7'

[Blackhawk19]

I like a 7' but if you're standing under those overhangs I would go with 5' or under.

[rapman1]

it's kind of a mix. sometimes i will cast into the open bays, other times i will shoot by bait under overhangs.

[Locator79]

Sounds like you need two!

[crappiejgr]

I prefer long rods 6'9" and up . As far as a Premier or Avid , Avid will be a lighter rod .

[rapman1]

actually, there is minute weight difference between the avid and premier. the avid has a more comfortable grip, and better components, from what the catalog depicts.

sure would like to have two, but i don't want to get into too much trouble, too quickly.........lol

[no1son]

I find that I don't need extreme casting distance. Most of my crappies come within 25 or 30 feet, in fact most of my crappies actually come from directly below me or just a bit of a flip out and I actually see maybe 30% of the takes. Love that flash! One has to balance one's line to the rod and the jig, of course; so the line can't be too heavy or you can't follow the little jigs anyway. I seldom fish over 4# copolymer (.008"), and will go down to 2# ice line (.004) at times. That requires a reel with a very smooth dependable drag and a landing net. There are going to be some bigger bonus fish even on the tiny ice jigs. Last spring my fishing partner landed a 21" largemouth on the little stick and ice line, and I have landed muskies of 32", 38" and 40" on my 5' crappie rod and 4# test one each in the past three years. You have to be able to trust your drag! I will frequently fish a 4' ultra ultralight when I can get directly over the school; I have three of them and one is nearly always with me. That definitely takes a certain amount of stalking, of course, and/or a very quiet boat. A lot of my fish come from in the dock shadow (when you get the right dock and the right part of it) which is more difficult to get into with the longer rods. There are a number of fast tipped 4' ice rods aimed at stand up panfishing on the ice that would work just fine for this. They also cast passably with the right line/jig combination.

My opinion is that if you need extreme casting distance, you are running too loud a boat, or just maybe too big a one. Crappies are easily startled, sometimes by as little as heavy steps sounding along a dock. Some brat racing around on a dock will definitely put them down. This works for me for an average year around of something like 3 or 4 crappies an hour when I am fishing for them, but then I know my home waters real well and they are not all that big in the first place, either the waters or the crappies, but on the little tackle they are all fun, and I release them all anyway.

[Blackhawk19]

it's kind of a mix. sometimes i will cast into the open bays, other times i will shoot by bait under overhangs.

If you're shooting under the overhang you need a short rod.