There are generally two types of crappie fishing rods. There are bait casting rods and general long handled ones. The most obvious difference between these is that the bait casting rod is often a single handed rod and when handled the reel sits on top of the rod, the other has a grip that supports two hands and the reel hangs from the rod on the bottom. There are advantages to both that should always factor into your decision to purchase a fishing pole.
The single hand rod, often referred to as a bait casting pole, is designed for the comfort of a single hand as the name would suggest. In fact some brands will have left and right handed versions. These also have a "trigger" on many of the rods and if you choose one with a trigger, be sure that it is not too far or too close to the action of the reel. The trigger is important in the casting precision and distance because it gives you another leverage point and a distinct sensitive spot for feeling that gentle bite. This style can give you precision in casting but the shorter rod often means a shorter casting distance.
The two handed rods are often longer with somewhat stiffer shafts because of their overall length. These will generally use a spinner type reel or a fly reel and there is also plenty of hand room between the reel position and the butt of the rod. This gives you extra leverage to cast that bait the extra distance but sometimes lacks the precision that a single handed rod can provide.
Of course there are single handed rods that support a spinner reel. These rods place the reel support where the "trigger" would normally be. And there are rods that are primarily single handed but have an extra grip for that extra leverage and distance.
Today we find fishing rods resemble middle age swords with grips and edges, eyelet orientation, designed to kill the enemy. Think about your bait and get a rod that supports it, bait casters are for lures or jigs that required a lot of movement but the two handed longer poles work great with jigs that involve a rest period.
You can find rods from as low as ten dollars to hundreds of dollars. I have always found a rod that was in the $20 - $30 range. These rods would generally support my fishing habits but also stand up to my transport and storage habits, which are never too gentle.
Many of your big outfitters have their "brand" of rods, these rods are bought from generic manufactures that produce many of the bigger brand names and the same rod for the other big outfitter. These generic rods are fairly good but consider them a disposable item that will last you two or three years under normal usage. If you catch that trophy fish on one you might consider retiring. As with all rods, flexing causes tiny little fractures and will eventually snap, and this will always happen at the worst possible time.
If you are considering a sectional rod make sure that it locks together correctly and will not come apart with normal use. Sectional rods can provide extra length and ease of storage and transport. But once again trust me that there is nothing worse than casting your bait to the perfect spot promptly followed by the upper half of your rod, then followed by a snag that breaks your line. I must have a dozen half rods from this scenario or one similar to it.
Crappie fishing is a sport that the whole family can enjoy. Crappie remain small, typically around 8 to 12 inches, and weight about a pound. Crappie, unlike other types of fish, do not struggle once they are caught on a hook. Because of the nature of Crappie, young children, senior citizens, and avid fisherman alike are able to catch and reel in Crappie.
There are actually two species of Crappie, distinguishable by there color, spot patterns, and dorsal fins. Primarily you will find Black Crappie in the northern regions, but you may come across a White Crappie as well. Black Crappie's spots will be randomly placed, while White Crappie will have vertical bands of spots. The most noticeable characteristic is the dorsal fins, Black Crappie with have either 7 or 8, and White Crappie will have 6.
Black Crappie prefer warmer water then their White Crappie counterparts, as well as many other types of fish. You will be able to find them in Southern Canada, and in the Great Lakes Region. Generally, you will not find any type of Crappie in central or northern Canada.
If you are thinking about fishing in Canada, you may want to consider fishing in the water around Georgian Bay and in Lake Simcoe. You can find these waters around the Ontario Canada Area. The Crappie in these waters are extremely over populated. If you are looking for an experience, or to catch a large number of Crappie, you may want to consider visiting these places first.
Essential Equipment Needed When Fishing For Crappie
While there are thousands of different types of fishing equipment available, you will only need the basics to catch Crappie.
Bait
Nothing will work better for Crappie fishing then the bait that the fish on a daily basis. Crappie will always respond to the bait they know before responding to artificial bait. The first thing you must do is find out what the Crappie in your area eat. While minnows is always your best bet, there may be a more predominate bait fish in the water, such as shad. Contact your local government or wildlife/outdoors office, as they can typically help.
While frozen bait is available and will work, when using real bait, the best way to catch crappie is to use live bait. By placing the live bait on the hook through the rear body near the tail, live bait will live for a small amount of time after being placed on the hook. This allows the bait to move and swim, attracting the crappie.
If you do not prefer to use live bait, a variety of artificial weight is also available.
Daniel Eggertsen has sinced written about articles on various topics from Site Promotion, Fishing and Dancing. Dan Eggertsen is a fishing researcher and enthusiast who is commited to providing the best crappie fishing information possible. Get more information on. Daniel Eggertsen's top article generates over 49500 views. to your Favourites.