I'm needing a reasonably priced 9-10 ft crappie rod for a friend. Any suggestions? Also, he's wanting a Tennessee handle and I've never done one of those, any pointers?
Thanks

~Jon

There is certainly something in angling that tends to produce a serenity of the mind

You can use a 9 foot fly rod blank for crappie rods Batson has a lot reasonlly priced as does others. You will have to select what you want. Handling them is the best way to make a selection. If unable to do that you may have to have somebody help you like Schneider's Rod Shop who have experiance with crappie fishing. I like the old Fenwich 721 6 foot 2 pcs blank but have had to go to the Batson SP-721-2 blank and use if for crappie and for trout since Fenwich no longer sells blanks. Liked the old fiberglass blanks for crappie fishing. Some people get the crappie poles and add guides and reel seat and turn them into special crappie rods. All your choose.

Take a look at some of the salmon blanks and settle on one in the 10-11 ft range with a stiff butt and a limber tip.

I agree with Sam. I build all my long Crappie rods on Salmon/Steel head blanks. I think Fly blanks are a little too soft . Need a little more stiffness back in the butt area but a limber tip. If I'm casting jigs I use a Popping blank in a 1 or 2 power. I really like the Rainshadow 7' Popping blanks for casting jigs to Crappie.

Better to build "sacalait" jig poles two at a time - they tend to go after the hung up $ 0.50 jig down in a tree top with the rod tip stuck down in the water doing the shake - shake - shake and what they end up hearing is snap, crackle and pop! Just think, those guys broke me from @#$%& eggs and sent me off into the world of bass fishermen! Now I really got problems! }>



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/23/2009 02:35PM by Bill Stevens.

Hi Jon i built my self a 9ft crappie rod 5 years ago on a 3 piece 4-5 wt fly rod ,it was my second spinning rod that i ever made i used the fuji concept system with fly guides all the way up the tip ,one thing i learned its a great casting rod for windy days were a 5 or 6 foot rod could not reach...needless to say i out fished all my buddies on one trip because no one else had a long rod...gotta have one in your arsenal

Sante Morrone
the fisherman