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Whether you are a seasoned pro or a beginner, fishing for crappie is always an exciting and rewarding experience for all. However, to maximize your chances of catching these elusive fish, you need to have the right equipment, and that includes the best crappie rod along with a proper reel. But with so many different options available on the market, it can be overwhelming to choose the best one for your needs.

That’s why we’ve put together this comprehensive guide to help you find the best crappie rods available. No matter what skill level you are at, we’ve got you covered with everything you need to know to make an informed decision and start reeling in those crappie in no time!

A rod designed by crappie professional is something not to miss to add in your rod arsenal. This crappie pro series are designed and approved by the Legendary Wally Marshal and are the epitome of excellence when it comes to crappie fishing.

The blank is fiberglass rod so durability is on check. The stainless steel guides on the rod are perfectly spaced to ensure smooth casting and accurate placement of the bait.

If you are an angler who spend long time on the water, these rods are for you. As high density EVA foam handles provides comfortable grip even with wet hands.

What I love about the Wally Marshall crappie rod series is versatility. Being longer rods i.e. 9 and 10 feet they are suitable for any preferred crappie fishing style.

Whether you like trolling, jigging, or slip bobber there’s a Wally Marshal rod that perfect for you.

Overall, I highly recommend the Wally Marshall Pro Series crappie rods as you don’t have to worry about the breaking or failing when you are fighting the trophy crappie.

2- St. Croix Rods Premier Spinning Rod

best crappie shore rods

St. Croix never disappoints its anglers in any type of fishing. With its feathery weight and fatigue less performance on the water make it an excellent choice when fishing for crappie from bank with live minnows. 

This top of the line fishing tool features the lightweight carbon construction which makes it easy to handle and maneuver. The cork grips on the rod add more ease to hold.

One of the key feature of this rod is the sensitivity. It is specially designed to be ultra-sensitive clear indication that you aren’t missing any opportunities. Sensitivity is essential when it comes to crappie fishing, as these fish are known for their light bites that can be difficult to detect.

Overall, it is one of the best crappie rods available in the market, the price might be higher as compared to other spinning rods but they last longer and if you are serious about catching crappie even trout or small mouth bass, you won’t be disappointed with this rod.

3- Fenwick Eagle Spinning Fishing Rod

best crappie trolling rods

If you are looking for an all-rounder rod that offers the perfect balance of performance and budget, then look no further than Fenwick eagle spinning rod. It is one of the reliable rod for pan fishing.

Fenwick eagle has range of features that make it one of the best crappie rods on the market. It features a graphite blank that is both lightweight and durable, as well as stainless steel guides that are designed to reduce friction and improve casting distance.

Besides being 2 piece the rod ferrules are made strong and offer a lot of backbone to land crappie. In addition to this, the stainless steel guides can bear the braided line and saltwater abuse.

Overall, durable rods for trolling fishing as you wouldn’t be trading durability over sensitivity with these rods. They are strong and powerful enough to support any crappie fishing style.

Also proven as versatile rods, they are available in a long range of lengths, power and action. On top of all that, the Eagle Spinning Fishing Rod also comes with a 5-year warranty. This gives anglers added peace of mind, knowing that they’re investing in a product that is backed by a reputable company.

4- St. Croix Rods Trout Series Spinning Rod

best ultralight crappie rod

The St. Croix Trout Series Spinning Rod, the ultimate weapon for all crappie fishing enthusiasts out there! This ultra-light rod is designed to provide unparalleled performance and sensitivity, ensuring you never miss a bite.

With St. Croix signature finest materials construction that deliver exceptional strength, durability, and sensitivity. The rod is also equipped with Fuji DPS reel seats, ensuring a secure and tight fit between the rod and reel, providing a solid and precise casting.

This trout series is highly versatile too, perfect for crappie fishing, but also works great for trout, panfish, and other light freshwater species.

You might miss the fiberglass durability with these rods especially when fishing in areas crowded with bushes and branches. But great option for stream, lakes, and when fishing from kayaks.

The rod’s fast action delivers smooth and accurate casting with quick hook sets, and its ultra-light power allows you to detect even the slightest bites, making it a highly effective tool for all types of fishing.

In conclusion, if you’re looking for the best ultra-light rod for crappie fishing, the St. Croix Trout Series Spinning Rod, TFS is undoubtedly the way to go.

This series rods also cheaper than St. Croix Premier, so if you are a St. Croix lover but tight on budget, these rods are gift for those fishing enthusiast who don’t want to sacrifice quality.

5- Shakespeare Micro Spinning Rod

best crappie rod under $50

Shakespeare rod users well understand that tough this brand rods are and last longer for many years if used properly. These are best option for fishing where bushes and trees are in plenty.

The rod which is both affordable and effective for crappie fishing is Shakespeare Micro spinning rod. Of course, one of the biggest selling points of the Shakespeare Micro Spinning Rod is its affordability. At under $50, it’s an excellent value for anyone who wants a high-quality fishing rod without breaking the bank.

Beside being affordable the manufactures didn’t sacrificed on the rod construction. They are graphite composite rods so lightweight and sensitive especially when throwing lighter lures.

The stainless steel guides on the rods play their role in smoother casts but there is still room for improvement required for placement. But its fair with this price point.

It is always fun to fish with Shakespeare micro spinning as its cork handles make sure it doesn’t slip from hands and leads to successful catches.

These rods are best for kayak fishing pick a shorter version of these rods and let it rock on water. With its lightweight design, versatile construction, and durable materials, it’s an excellent choice for anyone who wants to get the most out of their fishing trips.

6- Zebco Crappie Fighter Combo

best crappie rods and reels

The Zebco Crappie Fighter Spincast Reel and Fishing Rod Combo is an exceptional choice for novice anglers who want to target crappie. This combo has a lot of features that make it stand out from other fishing gear in the market.

One of the most striking features of this combo is its ease of use. As a novice angler, you want to have equipment that is easy to handle and use. The Zebco Crappie Fighter Spincast Reel and Fishing Rod Combo delivers exactly that.

Along with a lightweight rods, the reel is designed to be simple to operate making it easy to cast and reel in your catch.

It’s a fiberglass rod so it’s a durable rod as compared to Shakespeare spinning rod. This rod is versatile enough to cast lighter lures like crank bait, spinner bait or jigs.

What’s promising feature of this rod is it is suitable for young anglers to female anglers too. Whether it their learning phase or a fishing trip, Zebco Crappie fighter is best for all.

It is no doubt one of the best rod and reel combo for crappie as both are sensitive enough to detect slightest tucks and strikes against the lure and transfer vibration directly to the angler’s hand.  

Overall they are great but you can’t use the braided line on these guides, they are mono line friendly and works best with it.

These new crappie edition by Zebco are valuable as getting rod and reel at this price point is really bang for the buck.

7- Okuma Celilo Graphite rod

best crappie spinning rods

If you have read our best panfish rod article you can better understand why the trout rods are also suitable for crappie fishing. It is because both are medium sized fish belonging to pan fish family.

The main requirement of rod for this type of fishing is sensitivity that Okuma Celilo offers prominently being graphite rod. These fast action rods are great for detecting quick bites.

They are budget-friendly rods additionally durable and available in multiple lengths in ultra-light power so pick the right length according to the casting distance required.

The durable cork handles offer firm grip and lessen the chance of rod slipping from hand even when wet or wearing gloves. These are the best rods on the market for pan fishing.

The guides are aluminum oxide so better do freshwater fishing as saltwater exposure can cause rusting of guides.

In conclusion, if you are looking for a high-quality, lightweight, and affordable rod for crappie, bluegill, trout, and other panfish, the Okuma Celilo Graphite Lightweight Ultra Light rod is an excellent option.

8- Daiwa Crossfire Crappie Rod

best crappie rods for spider rigging

The Daiwa Crossfire Crappie Rod is a versatile and high-quality fishing rod that is perfect for a wide range of fishing styles and species. Whether you are dipping, pitching, or casting, this rod is built to provide you with the sensitivity and strength you need to catch more fish.

These are one of the recommended rods for spider rigging for crappie being durable and strong to cast heavy lures up to 1/2oz. These are medium power rods rather than ultra-light so ideal for bigger catches.

Being multi-sectioned rod they are easy to transport to any desired location. Whether you are fishing in shallow water or deep, from a boat or from the shore, this rod has the perfect length and action to help you get the job done.

Highlighting its construction part, it features composite rods, stainless steel guides, and EVA foam handles so that the grips lasts longer and wouldn’t get affected by placing in rod holders.

Even they are longer rods but they allow for a quick and responsive feel, so you can easily detect bites and set the hook without any delay. The rod’s sensitivity is enhanced by the high-quality guides and reel seat, which are both designed to reduce friction and provide a smooth casting experience.

Overall, the Daiwa Crossfire Crappie Rod is definitely worth considering. These are among the best long crappie rods.

How to choose the best Crappie rods out of many

Now to make an aware decision read this buying guide in detail.

Length of the rod

The length of the best crappie rod depends upon the style you will adopt for fishing. Whether its fishing in shallow waters, trolling, jigging, and more importantly the season of the year.

During late summer and spring, which are the spawning season for crappie are the best opportunity to catch plenty of crappies.

For crappie fishing, generally longer length rods are preferred i.e. casting distance is preferred over the casting accuracy.

With longer length rods you can cast lures closer to the crappie at deeper depths. So rods from 6.6 to 7 feet are recommended choice for each level anglers.

You can exceed than 7 feet for trolling, or spider jigging. The longer the rod is, the challenging it becomes to hold and handle these rods for longer time especially for beginners.

Power of the crappie Rod

The power of any fishing rod defines how much pressure is required to make the rod bend. The heavier the rod is, the bigger and heavier fish it can land.

Three different power categories are defined on the basis of the target fish size. These are Heavy power, medium, and light power. There are more in between options offered by multiple brands like extra-heavy, medium-heavy, medium-light, ultra-light, and so on.

For crappie fishing light and ultra-light power rods are best suited. A little pressure is required to bend these rods and these rods are sensitive enough to detect slightest fish nibbles.

Ultra-light rods are overall the best power rods for smaller fish catches like trout, crappie, and bluegill so recommended Panfish rods by many anglers.

Learn more about Ultra-light spinning rods, Panfish rods, and the fishing rod power for clearer view.

Fishing Rod action

It is how fast your rod returns to its original position after pending under pressure is the rod action. The more flexible the rod is, the slower action it has.

Again there are three main categories in rod action too i.e.

1. Fast Action
2. Moderate
3. Slow Action

For crappie fishing, slow action rods are best suited. To target smaller-sized fish like crappie slow action rods are preferred.

These rods are good as shock absorbers, allow more time to set the hook and they will not take the lure out of the fish’s mouth before it engulfs it.

As crappie rods are also known as “Paper mouth” due to their thin outer membrane on the lips that a hook can snatch. So, sow action rods are recommended one.

Rod Material

The material of the fishing rod also influence the casting experience for the specific type of fish. Because each rod material as its own properties that make it special over the other.

The following options are available in fishing rods material

1. Fiberglass
2. Graphite
3. Carbon fiber
4. Composite rods

Fiberglass rods are cheap of all, they are less expensive, flexible, durable, but slightly heavier as compared to other materials. They are recommended rods for trophy sized fish.

Graphite rods are famous among anglers due to their sensitivity feature. These rods can detect the slightest nibbles and strike against lures even by the smaller size fish. They are lightweight but stiffer than fiberglass.

Carbon fiber rods are an enhanced and advanced form of graphite rods. They are more lightweight, more sensitive, but have higher price range.

Composite rods have the qualities of both the fiberglass and graphite. They feature the composite construction of both the materials. So, they have the fiberglass durability and flex along with the graphite sensitivity.

For Crappie fishing, the rod sensitivity is a must require feature in a fishing rod. Graphite rods are lighter, stiffer, and sensitive rods. They are perfect option for casting lighter lures for crappie.

Line Guides

The balance on the rod is balanced by the small eyelets on the rod, they also responsible for casting accurate and reduce tangles from the line coming directly off the spool.

For smooth casts, the line guides must be of high-quality. Rod line guides are whether the stainless steel, aluminum oxide, titanium, or ceramic. These are four option available.

Although the titanium and ceramic are top quality and probably the best but comes with higher price. In comparison to them, stainless steel guides are best recommended for almost every type of fishing.

Stainless steel line guides are lightweight, durable, and resistance to corrosion so whether it is fresh water or saltwater fishing its suits all.

Aluminum guides are also a durable option but as they can resist corrosion so regular maintenance is required for their long lasting smoothness.

Handle Material

The material of the rod can be a matter of personal preference as many anglers like cork whereas other prefer the EVA foam grips. Both are good and offer stronger gripper but it can be beneficial if you pick according to the type of fishing.

For beach fishing or trolling, when rods are placed in rod holders, the cork handles can’t bear this and experience disturbed shape. But offers firm grip even in wet hands.

EVA foam is cheaper and durable than cork material and retain their shape for a longer time. They are suitable option for winter fishing as they feel warmer to hands in summer.

Line and lure rating

For crappie fishing, the lighter line and lure rating is optimal choice. The recommended rods with lure rating 1/64 to ¼ oz. are best for crappie as its pointless to cast heavy and bigger lure for crappie fishing.

The rods ranging with 4 to 10 pound test line rating are best suited to catch crappie of different sizes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

In conclusion, no doubt that selecting the right crappie rod can make all the difference in your fishing experience. Just make sure to consider the factors discussed in this article such as length, action, power, and material, you can choose a rod that meets your needs and helps you catch more fish. Remember to also consider your personal preferences and budget when making your selection. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced angler, having the best crappie rod in your arsenal will enhance your chances of success on the water. So, grab your favorite rod and get ready for a memorable day of crappie fishing!

                    

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