5 Best Crappie Jigging Rods (Top Picks for 2024)

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Crappie jigging is an exciting and fun fishing application. Whether a veteran or a beginner, you will enjoy this technique. However, you need to ensure that you have the right tackle.

A crappie jigging rod sometimes can be hard to find. To ensure you have the right rod, you need to consider factors like the rod’s power, crappie’s nature, lure weight, and the rod’s action. This article will help you determine the right rod for crappie jigging.

Best 5 Rods for Crappie Jigging : Comparison Table

We have research tons of rods, and picked best jigging rods for crappie fishing. We took quality, built material, performance, application, durability and pricing into consideration. If you are in a hurry , you may take your right gear from the list.

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Best Overall
GOOFISH Jigging Rod

GOOFISH Jigging Rod

  • Length : 6' 6"
  • Max Jig (g) : 200 - 500
  • Drag Power (kg) : 15 - 20
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Best Light Weight
Ugly Stik Elite Spinning Fishing Rod

Ugly Stik Elite Spinning Fishing Rod

  • Length : 5' - 7' 6"
  • Power : UL - MH
  • Action : MF, F, EF
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Strongest Heavy Duty Crappie Jigging Rod
B’ n M’ Sam Heaton Super Sensitive Rod

B’ n M’ Sam Heaton Super Sensitive Rod

  • Length : 9'
  • Portuguese Cork Handle
  • Lightweight and super sensitive
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Best 7 feet Crappie Jigging Rod
Lew's Wally Marshall Signature Series Light Crappie Rod

Lew's Wally Marshall Signature Series Light Crappie Rod

  • Length : 7'
  • Power : Light
  • Action : Fast
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SOUTH BEND Crappie Stalker Jigging Rods

SOUTH BEND Crappie Stalker Jigging Rods

  • Length : 9' - 12'
  • Action : Light
  • Lure Weight (oz) : 1/32 - 1/2
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1. GooFish Jigging Rod

These jigging rods offer twenty-four options you can choose from. You will enjoy using them due to their appealing look and performance. The construction of the blank consists of Nano and high Toray carbon fiber, making it lightweight. Therefore, you can fish for long hours without experiencing fatigue. Additionally, the lightweight rod ensures maximum sensitivity, and its rod tip is stronger than hollow rods.

These slow-pitch jigging rods come with three different color variations with different power and action. No matter where you fish from, you are assured of maximum performance. The spiral guide model plays the role of buffering and unloading when fishing. The FUJI reel seats and guides enhance the rod’s accuracy and improve performance. Additionally, the 1.5 piece design rods make transportation easier, and one-piece design rods are super sensitive.

Key Features

  • Available in one-piece model and 1.5 piece models
  • Have a deadweight lift weight of 15kgs, 18kgs, and 20kgs
  • Guide Spiral Model that makes catching fish easier
  • Solid Nano Blank with an inside carbon fiber layer
  • Fuji Guides and reel` seat
  • The rod is super sensitive
  • High drag power
  • Lightweight` and easy to handle

2. Ugly Stik Elite Spinning Fishing Rod

Besides the superior performance of this rod, you can be assured of its comfort. It comes with cork handles with an etched logo that gives you leverage and maximum comfort to deal with different fish species. This series consists of 35% more graphite material than the Ugly Stik GX2, making it lighter and more sensitive.

The Ugly Stik clear tip design also assures you of increased sensitivity, and the Ugly Stik Tuff guides ensure maximum durability and eliminate insert pop-outs. Also, you are not limited to a specific type of line; you can use braid, Mono, or fluorocarbon. You are also assured of maximum durability due to the exposed blank-style reel seats with cushioned stainless steel guides.

Key Features

  • The construction consists of the Ugly Tech construction consisting of graphite and fiberglass.
  • Clear Tip design
  • Exposed blank style reel seats
  • Cork Grip with etched logo
  • It comes with a seven-year warranty
  • Highly sensitive and lightweight
  • There are different models to choose from

3. B’ n M’ Sam Heaton Super Sensitive 9-Feet 2 Piece IM6 Rod

Get this rod specifically made for crappie and experience sensitivity at its best. The blank is made of an IM-6 graphite material so that you can be assured of its lightweight and superior strength. Additionally, you can enjoy maximum durability due to the brass plated guides. You can now jig for long hours without experiencing exhaustion since, besides the rod’s lightweight, it also has a Portuguese cork handle that is super comfortable, giving you good leverage.

The Aluminum oxide guides provide smooth line flow and prevent line sticking. The reinforced reel seats on the other hand, were made to fit under your arm, giving you maximum leverage.You do not have to worry about its transportation as it’s a two-piece rod so that it will fit in your car trunk perfectly.

Key Features

  • IM-6 Graphite construction that assures you of its lightness and sensitivity
  • Aluminum oxide guides for smoother line flow
  • Brass plated guides
  • Enhances all-day comfort
  • East transportation

4. Lew’s Wally Marshall Signature Series Light Crappie Rod

The Lew’s Wally Marshall series rods are made with actions perfect for vertical jigging. It’s also popularly known as Mr. Crappie since you can use it for all crappie fishing techniques. The construction consists of a premium IM-6 graphite material, so you are assured of superior strength and sensitivity. 

You can forget about fatigue with the rod as the comfortable EVA grip handles offer maximum comfort and leverage. The guides with aluminum oxide inserts offer smooth line flow, so you are assured of maximum performance.

Key Features

  • IM-6 Graphite construction
  • Offers fast action and light power
  • Comfortable EVA grips
  • Unique Rod Length Label
  • Highly sensitive and light
  • Comfortable handle
  • Ideal for all crappie fishing applications

5. South Bend Crappie Stalker Jigging Rod

Enjoy the unmatched performance with the South Bend Crappie Jigging Rod. You can forget about transportation and storage challenges with this rod since the two-piece design makes transportation and storage easier.  You are also assured of improved comfort due to the EVA handle that offers a firm grip.

The construction of the rod is entirely graphite. Therefore, you are assured of maximum sensitivity and enough strength to deal with crappie. The high-vis rod tip also enhances maximum sensitivity and lets you feel any movements and taps. You are also assured of smooth line flow due to the aluminum oxide guides. Additionally, the graphite reel seats with cushioned stainless steel hoods give you increased leverage, and they make fishing easier.

Key Features

  • Graphite composite rod blanks
  • High-vis rod tip
  • Aluminum oxide guides
  • EVA handle
  • The rod is 9 feet rod with two pieces.
  • The rod is super light and strong
  • Offers maximum comfort
  • Highly sensitive rod tip.
  • Easy to store and transport

Crappie Jigging Rod and Reel Combo

Crappie jigging is an exciting technique. You do not need to be the best angler to catch crappie; even beginners will excel in this application. In every fishing application, a good combination will yield excellent results. The Zebco Crappie Fighter Jigging Fishing Rod and Reel combo is an example of a perfect combination of a crappie jigging rod and reel combination. Whether you are a veteran or a new angler, you will enjoy using this combo.

The rod consists of a fiberglass construction so, you are assured of maximum performance and strength. It’s also super comfortable owing to the extended EVA handles that give you maximum leverage.  Additionally, the rod is designed to make transportation and storage easier due to the two-piece design. 

On the other hand, the reel has been designed for all crappie applications. The 1:1 gear ratio offers the right speed for crappie jigging. Additionally, the dial-adjustable drag with a pre-spooled 6lb Zebco line makes jigging fun and easier. Better still, you don’t need to worry about your hand orientation. The handle is changeable from right to left.

What to Look For in a Crappie Jigging Rod

Every time you purchase a product, you need to plan to avoid getting the wrong product. When choosing a rod for crappie jigging, here are the factors you need to consider,

Action and Power

The rod’s action and power determine where the rod will bend underweight and how much force is required to bend a rod, respectively. Crappies are delicate, and hook sets can tear them, and that’s why they work best with ultra-light power with medium to fast action.

Ultra-light rods are recommended for crappie fishing since they come with cushioned hook sets that avoid tearing hook loose from the crappie mouths; they are sensitive and easier to handle.

Length

The length of a trod is an essential consideration in any fishing application. When jigging for crappie, a six feet to 6 and a half feet rod to 12 foot rod is perfect. If you are unsure about the best rod for you a  6’6″ is a great start. Crappie jigging rods essentially should be ultra-light rods; whether you choose shorter or longer rods, make sure the rod is stiff. Depending on the angler’s choice, you will find rods ranging from 5’6″ to 12 feet or more. The most popular rod length is 10 to 12, and anglers prefer them for their reach.

Line and Lure Weight

In every fishing application, there is the recommended line and lure weight. For crappie jigging, light lines and small lures yield the best results. The perfect recommendations are for rods with line weights between two and six pounds and lures weighing 1/64 to ¼ ounce.

Material

For crappie jigging, sensitivity needs to be top-notch. Therefore, you need to get a rod with materials that ensure maximum sensitivity. The most common materials for rods include graphite, fiberglass, and carbon fiber. Graphite is super light, stiff, and sensitive, making it a great choice. On the other hand, fiberglass is heavier and less sensitive, so it will not perform as well as graphite rods. Lastly, carbon fiber rods are stiff, strong, light, and inexpensive. They are also ideal for crappie jigging.

Handle

The handle of your rod determines how comfortable or uncomfortable you are when fishing. When jigging for crappie, it’s essential to ensure that you get the most comfortable rod. This way, you can fish for longer hours without experiencing fatigue; it also gives you excellent leverage to deal with different species.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can A Trolling Rod Be Used For Crappie Jigging?

Crappie jigging with a trolling rod is possible. Trolling seems like a very simple technique, but you need to have the right setup to enhance your success. You do not need a powerful rod when trolling for crappie, so ultra-light to medium-light rods will work perfectly. These rods will help hold the weight better and maintain high sensitivity. Secondly, make sure the jig is super light due to its delicate nature. Crappies are high-riding fish, so you need to ensure that one rod is above the place where they are swimming, and the other one should be below. This way, you are assured of ultimate success when trolling for crappie.

What Is The Most Popular Length For Crappie Jigging Rod?

A rod’s length entirely depends on the fishing applications and anglers’ preference. For crappie jigging, you will find all length ranges starting from 5’6″ to 12 ‘. If you are a beginner, a 6’6″ to 7′ rod is perfect. However, different people use varying lengths. A 10 to 12’ feet rod is the most popular for crappie jigging.

What Is The Best Power And Action For Crappie Jigging?

When choosing power and action for crappie jigging rods, it is essential to note that crappie are very delicate and light. Even the largest crappie does not require a powerful rod, sensitivity is the most essential factor. Therefore, light lures and light-powered rods are best suited for this application. Ultra-light power paired with medium to fast action will work perfectly in these applications. These rods also work better with cushioned hook sets that make the best hook sets for the ‘paper mouths’ of crappie.

Final Verdict

Crappie jigging rods vary from other rods, and that’s why you need to be extra careful when purchasing these rods. Before purchasing the rod, first make sure you have the right specifications, brand, and price range. Otherwise, you will end up with a poor-quality product. It would also be best if you sought the advice of qualified anglers and get the type of products they use. 

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