Looking to get a rod for crappie to throw bobbers with jigs, jigs, beetle spins, and rooster tails. I definitely want to get an ultra light, but is having a 7 foot rod over a 4"6 rod an advantage for crappie fishing. I'm worried a longer rod might make the fights easier. Thanks 

    Easier on whom, you or the fish? If you think a long rod makes it easier for a fish to fight you, it's not. The opposite is true; with a longer rod you can fight a fish more efficiently and USUALLY protect light line better. I have 2 ultralights. One is a 7' Fenwick Eagle, and the other is a 7 1/2 foot Daiwa Presso. Both are excellent ultralights, but I recently got a light power rod for crappie -- the first light action I've had in over 20 years. I had only a very short time to fish it before ice up, but I kinda think that sorta-maybe my time with the ultralights this coming year will be reduced. Specifically I like the light action over the ultralight for one thing you mentioned -- bobber fishing. If I felt I NEEDED to use an ultralight for crappie, then I'd buy the 8' model ultralight in either the Presso or Eagle lineup. They both have them.  jj

32 minutes ago, jimmyjoe said:

    Easier on whom, you or the fish? If you think a long rod makes it easier for a fish to fight you, it's not. The opposite is true; with a longer rod you can fight a fish more efficiently and USUALLY protect light line better. I have 2 ultralights. One is a 7' Fenwick Eagle, and the other is a 7 1/2 foot Daiwa Presso. Both are excellent ultralights, but I recently got a light power rod for crappie -- the first light action I've had in over 20 years. I had only a very short time to fish it before ice up, but I kinda think that sorta-maybe my time with the ultralights this coming year will be reduced. Specifically I like the light action over the ultralight for one thing you mentioned -- bobber fishing. If I felt I NEEDED to use an ultralight for crappie, then I'd buy the 8' model ultralight in either the Presso or Eagle lineup. They both have them.  jj

I just want it to be a fun fight. Thanks

Longer UL and L rods tend be a "fun fight" set up for me. As JJ said, longer rods protect light line so I haven't lost nearly as many fish as I did with shorter rods. If you really want to try something fun, try a 7'6" BPS MicroLite Glass UL rod. Long glass rod + bluegill and crappie = heap, biggum good time. 

 

My main Crappie rods now are St Croix Panfish Series rods in 7' LXF and 6'9" ULF and my BPS MicroLite Graphite rod in 6' LF. These are all 1-piece rods that I like to cast jigs and rigs with. Do most of my swimming jigs on the 6'9" and 6' and most of my rigs on the 7'. Plenty fun for me and still make decent ones feel like biggun's!

I see no advantage in using a short rod over a long rod in general crappie fishing. Short rods shine where accuracy of the cast is paramount; such as with dock shooting. Take that out of the equation and the longer rods really show their promise. Fighting the fish will be equally enjoyable (if not more so) with a longer rod.

 

Take a look at the 7' B n' M Sam Heaton's Super Sensitive. You will not regret it.

I use a St.Croix Avid UL. I would recommend the St.Croix panfish series if you want an awesome crappie rod!

Thanks to all. Decided on a 7" UL Shakespeare micro series just for the price

fishing with a bobber I use 10 to 12 ft wally marshell  because its easier to dab up and down in heavyer cover without getting hung up .and in clearer water especially in stumps lot easier to pic straight up and down with no hang ups. 

I use a 6'6" StCroix Premier UltraLight and its an amazing rod for crappies, I even caught a 4lb large mouth on it this year and it handled it very nicely. I use 10lb braid with a 4-8lb flouro leader and it works real nice I run the braid so if I get snagged in a brush pile I only lose the leader instaed of a bunch of line.

I do own a few crappy rods, but that wasn't my original intent 

On ‎2‎/‎5‎/‎2017 at 1:27 PM, RoLo said:

I do own a few crappy rods, but that wasn't my original intent 

I believe I got a couple of those kind too. they are so flexable ,I don't even think a blue pill would help them

Trick worms, you'll do good with a 6 to 7ft light spin rod. Jig and bobber is my favorite way to crappie fish. I always can land more fish with a longer rod. I use comal tackle weighted bobbers which help with casting distance. Good luck with the crappie fishing

I just got a 5'6 Daiwa Triforce rod for under $30 for trout and panfish. I was hoping for 6', but most rods are closer to 7' or 5' so it's a happy medium I guess. It's short enough where it won't muscle them out and long enough I can still cast it somewhat.

Everything I've read about crappie rods has said that the longer rods primarily help with casting those light jigs farther and (as mentioned before) they help protect lightweight fishing line by acting as a shock absorber.  If you think about the fishing rod as a simple lever, a longer rod gives the fish more leverage to pull on.  However, I honestly don't think you'd notice any difference between a short and a long rod, when it comes to fighting a fish.  That said, all of my panfish rods are in the 5' to 6' range for portability, so take that for what its worth.

Something that wasn't mentioned (I don't think) is that a long limber rod will ALSO help from tearing the hook out of the crappies mouth.  Plus it's easier to toss a bobber rig with a long rod than a shorter setup.