Crappie fishing is hugely popular across lakes and rivers in Alabama, and one of the most common techniques used to target “slab” crappie is jigging. When targeting big crappie relating to structure below your boat, the right rod can make all the difference. Experienced crappie guide Eric Cagle understands the importance of rod selection better than most. As one of the top crappie guides on the Coosa and Tallapoosa River systems, Eric knows what it takes to put anglers on quality slabs day in and day out. In this article, we’ll discuss the factors he looks for in a rod to help you choose the best crappie rods for jigging.
Crappie Rod Action And Power
One of the most important characteristics of the best crappie rods for jigging are their action.
According to Eric, “I like a lot of tip on a rod. But you know, everybody’s different. But crappie don’t always necessarily “thump” your line, you know? Everybody talks about “Feel the thump,” “It’s all about the thump,” or whatever, but what we’ve found out these last few years from live view sonar is that a lot of fish hit your lure but you don’t necessarily feel it. Watching that made me start paying extra attention to tip sensitivity.”
At the same time, Eric says, a good jigging rod needs the strength or “backbone” to quickly winch fish out of structure and away from trouble. “If you’re jigging in the brush,” he says, “you’ve got to have the backbone to quickly set the hook and get him out of that stuff.”
Crappie Rod Length
If you’ve never used one before, a crappie jigging rod can seem almost comically long. Dock shooters and casting rods are much shorter, but a jigging rod can be anywhere from twelve to eighteen feet long.
This is because instead of casting to fish at a distance, a jigging rod is used to very precisely target fish directly below the boat. Even a novice angler can use a long jigging rod to precisely place a jigging rod tight to structure and directly in front of a hungry crappie.
Crappie Rod Weight And Balance
A jigging rod’s weight and balance combine to give a rod what many anglers call its “feel.” A lightweight, properly balanced rod is a pleasure to fish with. A heavy, poorly balanced one can make a day of fishing feel like work.
“When you’re out there fishing for four, five, six, seven hours, that’s when having a good rod really comes into play,” says Cagle. Any rod can catch a few fish, but the longer you hold that rod in your hands, the more its weight and balance starts to matter.
Eric explains, “The last thing you want is a rod where you’re struggling to keep the tip up all day. I think for a jigging rod; the lighter, the better. Especially given that a jigging rod can be sixteen to eighteen feet long. A rod that long…well, you don’t want to end up with a rod that weighs four pounds, you know?”
“On the flip side,” he continues, “a lot of the really light rods have no backbone at all.” Essentially, a good jigging rod should be light enough to prevent fatigue, but still have enough backbone for setting the hook effectively.
Crappie Jigging Rod Materials
As crappie fishing has grown in popularity, a lot of the tech advances that came first to bass anglers are available to panfishermen.
Graphite has been around for a while now and is popular for good reason. Graphite rods are super light, super sensitive, and pretty reasonably priced nowadays. A good graphite rod lets you feel every little nibble on the other end of it. The only tradeoff is that graphite rods can be a bit delicate, especially the tip section.
Then there’s carbon fiber, which can be thought of as graphite’s tougher cousin. It’s a bit stiffer, and substantially more expensive, although prices are coming down a bit.
Fiberglass was the go-to material for fishing rods for decades, but graphite upstaged it a bit when it first came out. For a while fiberglass blanks were only seen on cheaper, lower end rods, but it’s making a comeback. Why? Because it’s tough and has a bit of give. It’s heavier than graphite and carbon fiber, but the new fiberglass rods typically use a blend that some argue gives you the best of both worlds.
Crappie rod handles are also getting better. Winn grips or their alternatives are more and more common on crappie rods, which is a big win for crappie anglers as far as I’m concerned.
Recommended Rods
Somebody once told me in a conversation about hunting bows that, “There are no bad bows anymore. Everybody that made a bad one went out of business years ago. There are cheap bows, and there are premium bows, and there are bows you like.” The same can more or less be said for fishing rods. At a certain price point, every rod company out there that is better than anything your grandaddy dreamed of.
But everybody has their favorites, and Eric is no different. “B&M has got a few new ones out,” he says. “I didn’t really like their old ones, but they’ve got one called a Black Diamond that is a really good rod now. It’s light, and it’s got plenty of backbone and a good little tip.
He continues, “A lot of companies make good jigging rods. Todd Huckabee Rods, of course. They make a good one. Dobyns Rods, they make a fourteen footer that’s my personal favorite if I’m using a jigging rod that day. Josh Jones helped design it, and it’s got plenty of backbone. ACC Crappie Stix also makes a good jigging rod that’s very sensitive and has a good backbone. At the end of the day, it’s really up to the individual to decide what feels right in their hands, but all of those companies make good rods.”
Final Thoughts On Crappie Rods For Jigging
When it comes to jigging for crappie, the rod you choose can really make or break your fishing trip. You want a rod that feels right in your hands; one that you can wield comfortably for hours without getting tired. Sure, there are rods at all sorts of prices, but oftentimes, you really do get what you pay for. Good rods can really up your fishing game. But no matter if you’re splurging on a high-end rod or going for something more wallet-friendly, keeping an eye on things like length, weight, and overall feel is crucial. Take a leaf out of Eric’s book, and you’ll be well on your way to hauling in those crappie in no time
