Advice from someone who catches 700-1000 fish per year (5 months):
5-6'
light action spinning rod
The action allows setting the hook
after the fish has begun the hookset even at a long distance and without pulling the hook out.
A medium action rod will not do! Shorter rods also allow better long distance hook sets and feel.
8# test Kastking braid is soft, thin, no stretch and easy to cast 1/16 oz lures long distances, plus you can feel the change in line pressure when fish strike. If fish are striking fast & furious, no leader is necessary. If the strikes are light, I use 1 1/2' of
6# test P-line fluorocarbon as a leader for a better light lure action than braid can give the deeper I fish. (Kastking is cheap along with free shipping on Ebay and holds up great vs other brands I've used.)
Unpainted ball head jigs and one of a thousand soft plastic lures pretty much catch all freshwater species. I also get my jigs from Ebay and with no collar (because of something I invented to keep lures up on the jig). Jig weights I use are from 1/32 - 1/16 oz. No sickle hooks! Bronze hooks in sizes #8 (smallest) to #2, are
matched to lure length used as well as jig weight. Many jigs in different weights come in different hook sizes. Note: the hook should come out at less than half the lure's length. Always check for hook sharpness and proper gap!
One suggestion to start out is to try a 2"
Crappie Magnet (troutmagnet.com) with a 1/24 or 1/16 oz jig and #6 hook. Color optional or whatever suits your fancy. (Though I don't care for black or white.) The action of the lure is subtle when
retrieved slowly and with slight changes in retrieve speed at the right depth. In warmer water, fish can be shallow or deep in the same lake. In cold water, deeper is usually the norm as well as vertical jigging in position.
Crappie Magnet:
As I said, the sky's the limit when it comes to soft plastic lure choices. Here are examples of lures that will work on catching 5 fish species on
any given day:
1.5" of the tail of a plastic worm
Soft plastic cone tail grub with float:
Try a Beetle Spin in warmer water over 50 degrees
(Used with a shortened Charlie Brewer Slider Worm (rig on the right)
And with plain jig.
IMO straight tail plastic work better than curl tails because I can work them as any speed and especially slow.
Rigging minnows fro crappie
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Originally Posted by D.O.C. 989
