Crappie is a popular fish that every fisherman wants to catch! For successful fishing, you need a crappie fishing rod. You will find many different brands on the market. They offer high-quality rods that are ideal for crappie fishing.
Our Selection 11 Best Rods for Crappie Fishing
I suggest you check out the 11 best crappie fishing rods. I’ve tested quite a few rods and reviewed the best ones. Then you will find out more about crappie fish and how not to go wrong with your fishing rod!
1# OKUMA Celilo Ultra Light Trout Rods
This is one of the most reliable crappie rods out there. I have been using it for many years and I can say that it is a reliable and quality accessory. This rod of the Celilo series is designed for fishing white and black crappie as well as salmon and trout. Blanks are made of graphite composite. The model has incredibly sensitive blanks. Ring inserts are made of aluminum oxide. The front and back grips are made of cork. If you’ve never caught crappie before, then this is the rod for you. A fisherman of any experience will love this product!
2# Sougayilang Fishing Rods
This is a delicate rod that has Graphite Composite Blanks. The ergonomic handle design gives you a comfortable feeling all day long fishing. The handle keeps your hands from getting tired. It is a lightweight model that is not difficult to transport. It is equipped with Fore and Rear Cork Grips. This rod is great for crappie fishing as well as other types of fish. For example, trout or salmon. The model is equipped with stainless steel guides with stainless steel inserts. Guides reduce line friction. This product is suitable for both fishing enthusiasts and professionals.
3# Lew’s Fishing Rod
It is one of the most popular crappie rod brands. This rod has two parts. This makes it easy to transport and store the rod. It is made of fiberglass. This material is highly durable and reliable in use. In addition, the material allows you to better feel the fish bite. The guides are made of stainless steel and have aluminum oxide inserts. The length of the product ensures precise and long casts.
4# Berkley C-Series Crappie Pro Spinning
A distinctive feature of Berkley’s spinning rods is the fanatical approach of the developers. It is difficult to buy a rod that knows what the fishermen want. But this Berkley spinning rod is perfect for crappie fishing. The price is much lower than that of analogs from other manufacturers. This product is made from 24-ton carbon fiber-carbon graphite fibers. You will not be able to miss even a careful bite. During the development of the rod, all the nuances were thought out to the smallest detail. The handle of the spinning rod is made of comfortable and durable EVA material. Also, the spinning rod is endowed with the High Visibility Concept (HVC), which allows you to visually control the wiring along with the blank, even in the dark.
5# St. Croix Premier Spinning Rods
The blank is made of SC-II graphite. Thanks to the material, the rod is so light and sensitive. The Fuji reel seat is also made of graphite. This will firmly hold whatever brand of reels the rod is designed to be used with. Wonderful guides complement the St. Croix Premier rod for long casts and long-lasting performance in all types of lines. It’s considered a universal rod. It is used in a wide variety of fishing conditions.
6# Shakespeare Crappie Hunter Spinning Rod and Reel Combo
This kit is great for beginners. If you don’t want to waste time finding the right reel for your rod, then this combo is what you need! The rod from the famous fishing brand Shakespeare has a graphite construction and is capable of withstanding high loads. Powerful blanks allow long-distance casting of rigs of any weight. Thanks to their superior performance, the rods can handle even large crappies with ease, giving the angler complete control. The rods are perfectly balanced and have optimal elasticity, which allows the blank to return to its original position after casting with a minimum of residual vibrations.
7# Daiwa Travel-Spinning Rod
Low weight with sufficient resistance to loads provides the convenience and durability of the rod. The accessory is quickly put into working condition, folds for transportation. The compact size in the folded position provides comfortable carrying in the hands or transportation on any type of transport. The high modulus graphite in the base of the rod contains reinforced fibers that increase the strength of the blank. The whole design is aimed at saving weight. The rod has a fast action, which facilitates casting. It allows you to perform it accurately and at the desired distance.
8# Zebco Crappie Fighter Spinning Rod
A real star in the Zebco spinning rod family. The high-quality carbon fiber blank allows for long and precise casts, delivering the bait directly to the fish. This spinning rod is best suited for crappie, perch, trout, and zander. This has a two-piece design that facilitates the transportation process.
9# KastKing Crixus Fishing Rod and Reel Combo
A powerful rod that comes with a high-quality reel. The rod has KastFlex IM6 Graphite Blanks. They provide high performance at a fairly low cost. The rod comes in two parts so it is easy to use and transport. The reel is equipped with 5 + 1 double-shielded stainless ball bearings. It also features lightweight carbon frames. This is a great option for those who want to get all the necessary equipment for catching crappie at once.
10# BnM Sam Heaton Super-Sensitive Series Pole
It is an ultra-light and ultra-sensitive tackle. You can use this rod not only for crappie fishing but also for other types of fish. It has an IM6 graphite blank. This material is known for its lightness. The Portuguese cork handle provides a secure grip and comfort all day long fishing.
11# Lew’s Mr. Crappie Light Crappie Rod
This spinning rod has two parts. It is made from high-quality premium graphite. It has functions that allow you to fish both small and large fish. If you are looking for a rod designed specifically for crappie, then this is the one for you. It will appeal to both beginners and professionals.
Crappie
According to Wikipedia, crappie is a small North American freshwater fish belonging to the genus Crappie (Pomoxis) of the Centarchidae family. Crappé derives from the Canadian French “crapet”, which refers to many different fishes of the sunfish family. Other names for crappie are papermouths, strawberry bass, speckled bass or specks, speckled perch, white perch, crappie bass, calico bass. The fish is very popular with American anglers.
There are two typical types of crappie:
- White crappie
- Black crappie
Both live in the same body of water. Both of them can be caught using the same baits and tactics.
Black and white crappies have the same overall body shape, but differ slightly in color and pattern:
- The black crappie is mostly silver / light gold with black spots all over and 7 or 8 spines on the dorsal fin.
- White crappie is mostly silvery but has only faint vertical lines on the sides and only 6 spines on the dorsal fin.
Crappie can grow up to 20 inches long and weigh 5 pounds, but the average size is 1/4 to 1/2 pounds and 8 to 12 inches long. Crappie weighing over 1 pound is considered a popular catch. Adult fish feed mainly on aquatic insects, bait, worms, and small crabs.
Crappie: Where to Find It?
One of the most important steps in catching crappie is finding them. Crappies move all year round when the spawning season comes and goes, and the water temperature fluctuates. They have some important habitat requirements that remain unchanged. Crappies love underwater features such as weed beds, cairns, fallen trees. These are the places where crappies spend most of their time. They float above, around, or below their favorite spots.
Crappies also love deeper waters. If there is no spawning season, crappies prefer deeper water. This makes it harder to find. Typically it’s 10 to 15 feet deep. Deepwater has a more constant temperature than shallow water, which in turn means more stable living conditions. Although crappies prefer deeper water, they don’t go straight to the bottom, making it difficult to find schools of fish. Rather, they hang at different depths in the water column. This is where fishing tactics and strategy come to the rescue, and most anglers use electronic fishfinders to find schools of crappie.
What is the Best Rod for Crappie Fishing?
You don’t need fancy or expensive equipment to catch crappie. Since crappie is not the biggest or hardiest fighting fish like carp, almost any type of rod will do.
Crappie telescopic rods. If you like the idea of a classic tubular rod, but want to take advantage of modern materials, a graphite or fiberglass telescopic crappie rod is the way to go. Many crappie fishing methods require very long rods to fish effectively. Modern telescopic crappie rods are available in lengths from 8 feet to 20 feet.
Crappie telescopic rods are a great option if you plan on doing a lot of coastal fishing, especially with heavy lures. One of the main advantages of a long crappie rod is that it often has a very fine tip that can be used to spot the finest crappie bites.
Ultralight spinning rods. When you choose an ultralight spinning rod, you have the most options in terms of choice and configuration.
How Long Should a Crappie Rod be?
Ultralight crappie spinning rods come in a wide variety of lengths from under 5 feet to over 16 feet. The length of the rod should be determined depending on the fishing technique and method you plan to use. Shorter rods, from 4 1/2 to 5 1/2 feet, are best suited for vertical boat fishing. Medium-length rods ranging from 6 to 7 1/2 feet are ideal for casting. A longer rod allows for longer, more accurate throws. It is useful if you want to leave the bait under the dock or overhanging tree.
Most crappie anglers prefer rods with highly responsive tips. The soft tip will help you spot the delicate bites that crappies are famous for. Some crappie anglers prefer faster action rods, especially when fishing vertically in deep water. A stiffer tip will help you add movement to the jig 20 feet or more.
What is the Best Reel for Crappie Fishing?
Most ultralight or lightweight spinning reels designed for freshwater use are great for crappie fishing. Since you are using a lighter line, choosing a spool with a larger diameter spool is an advantage. This reduces linear memory and helps you keep working. It is also important that the reel matches your rod. This way, the performance of your rod will not be lost.
Choosing a Crappie Fishing Line
Most crappie fishing is done with a very light 2 to 6 lb line. However, some crappie anglers who mainly use telescopic rods prefer heavier lines. Some anglers choose them up to 20 pounds. Monofilament has always been the standard line for crappie fishing, but lately, anglers have started using braided lines. It has virtually no stretch, which helps when fishing vertically in deep water. A braided line also has less memory than monofilament and has a smaller diameter. Both contribute to increased throwing range.
It can be problematic when using braided line for crappie because it has little or no stretch. The problem is that you have to be very careful when putting it on the hook so that it doesn’t break the line. Monofilament is much gentler and shock-absorbing, which works in your favor when you insert the hook into the soft crappie mouth.
Crappie Baits and Lures
You can catch crappie with both live and artificial bait. What you use depends a lot on the time of year and conditions. But this will also depend on your personal fishing preference. Live bait can be very effective for crappie, but never switch to live bait completely.
Conclusion
Crappie is one of the most delicious freshwater fish. Therefore, many anglers love to catch this type of fish. If you’ve never caught crappie before, I hope you will do it! I hope my article will help you with this! But don’t forget the best rod for crappie fishing. I advise you to use OKUMA Celilo Trout Rods.
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I live in Tenerife (Canary Islands) for the last 10+ years and share my daily fishing experiences on my website. Many years of personal experience as a fisherman and the vast experience of my friends allow me to write professionally on any fishing topics (from choosing a flashlight and equipment to deep-sea fishing).
All of my advice is based on practical real-world experience and will be useful to both novice anglers and professionals. Read more about the author.
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