Looking for some info and help in my setups.

I am an EX bass fisherman and used to fish a lot of tourneys, years ago! I got out of fishing because work had me to busy to find time for it or anything else for that matter. I did have opportunities to hunt on occasion and just recently went on a hog hunt in Georgia as well as some Crappie fishing in Florida with a very good friend. After the Crappie fishing ( St. Johns River in Astor ) the bug has bit me again to get back out and fish more. I am retired now ( Georgetown, KY area ) and can find more time for both fishing and hunting, so it will be easier now. My questions are as follows:

1) I have 3 baitcasters, 4 zebco 33's and 3 spinning reels, all with rods, but heavier than what I see you all using. Mine are all Medium up to Heavy. Does this matter?

2) While in Florida, everyone was using red line. All I could find was 14lb test. I currently have 2 rods set up with that. I did find a spool of 12lb on our way home last week and purchased it as well. I now have 3 reels loaded with the 12lb. Question is, does it matter?

My buddy and I plan to fish mainly with jigs and tails, but may occasionally use minnows.

Any suggestions or comments are welcome.

Thanks in advance..
Lonnie.

It would probably depend on how you plan on fishing .... ie what methods (casting, jigging, Pushing, etc) and what lakes.

Spincast or spinning reels on med action rods will work fine for casting, but I'd suggest mono no stronger than 8lb test. (I'm currently using 6# test on casting outfits with spinning reels)

You "could" use the baitcast outfits for trolling methods, but would likely want rod holders added to the boat if more than one rod was being used at the same time. (I used baitcast reels, until I changed over to line counter reels on my long rods)

Don't forget to look over the KY state forum .... and :welcome to Crappie.com !!

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Originally Posted by CrappiePappy

It would probably depend on how you plan on fishing .... ie what methods (casting, jigging, Pushing, etc) and what lakes.

Spincast or spinning reels on med action rods will work fine for casting, but I'd suggest mono no stronger than 8lb test. (I'm currently using 6# test on casting outfits with spinning reels)

You "could" use the baitcast outfits for trolling methods, but would likely want rod holders added to the boat if more than one rod was being used at the same time. (I used baitcast reels, until I changed over to line counter reels on my long rods)

Don't forget to look over the KY state forum .... and :welcome to Crappie.com !!

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I see you're in Lexington. Would you mine if I came by and looked at some of your setups?

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Originally Posted by icehouse

I see you're in Lexington. Would you mine if I came by and looked at some of your setups?

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Whenever this Covid mess is behind us, no problem.

Medium spinning will work, but I prefer light or UL outfits for casting jigs.

I use nothing heavier than 4# line.

I read about rods and reels that were mentioned here for about a month. Seems personal preferences matter most. All brands have their followings. i agree that you really need to settle on a method first, then try to sort the rods and reels out later.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by icehouse

I am an EX bass fisherman and used to fish a lot of tourneys, years ago! I got out of fishing because work had me to busy to find time for it or anything else for that matter. I did have opportunities to hunt on occasion and just recently went on a hog hunt in Georgia as well as some Crappie fishing in Florida with a very good friend. After the Crappie fishing ( St. Johns River in Astor ) the bug has bit me again to get back out and fish more. I am retired now ( Georgetown, KY area ) and can find more time for both fishing and hunting, so it will be easier now. My questions are as follows:

1) I have 3 baitcasters, 4 zebco 33's and 3 spinning reels, all with rods, but heavier than what I see you all using. Mine are all Medium up to Heavy. Does this matter?

2) While in Florida, everyone was using red line. All I could find was 14lb test. I currently have 2 rods set up with that. I did find a spool of 12lb on our way home last week and purchased it as well. I now have 3 reels loaded with the 12lb. Question is, does it matter?

My buddy and I plan to fish mainly with jigs and tails, but may occasionally use minnows.

Any suggestions or comments are welcome.

Thanks in advance..
Lonnie.

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A lot of people here are using 1/32 oz. or less weight jigs, and the only way to cast something so light is with very small mono or braid. You could use a heavy weighted float with 12 lb line, and 1/16 oz. jig.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pG3-Tmb0yZ0

Update to my original post!

First, thank you all for your comments, several have been taken to heart.

I plan to jig, float fish and probably cast a little as well as troll.

I do now have 3 rod/reel combos set up with 6 pound line and another with 4 pound. All are lightweight rods with spinning reels. I reduced most of my bait casters down to 10 pound, just in case we decide to fish for some big ole bass. I also got me a couple of those big 10' poles set up with spinners and 6 pound test.

Biggest investment to date is a 2008 Bass Tracker Pro Crappie 175. This is the boat that I fished out of while in Florida a few weeks back. He had purchased a new pontoon fishing series for himself and wanted to sell this one. I hope I didn't get taken, but the trolling motor lists for $1800 and it does have a Mercury 50 on it. Gave the man $8000!

I should have everything I need now.. LOL!!

We all know that a LIE!!

Something about any fishing. Before special rods and reels that were just right for the fish we want, people caught them on tree limbs! Little fish to me means little rods and reels I have two UL reel's on small UL rods and then have two bit bigger reels on bit heavier rods. I like using 2# line when I can find it! Otherwise I put up with 4#.