Best 8+ ft. spinning rod for perch

[PowernFinesse]

So with the perch starting to make their way into the harbors, I'm in the market for a new perch rod. This rod will be used for tossing double fluke rigs, flicker shads/shad raps and maybe some heavier (1/8 ounce) jig/twisters too. I've been looking at basspro's crappie max rods which are rated for 2-10 lb line and up to 1/4 ounce baits. Just wanted to see if anyone had any recommendations. Hopefully something thats under $100.

Last year my go to rig was a bps 6'6" foot ml tourny series paired with a pflueger president and 6 lb test. Problem was the rod didn't provide enough distance on the cast. That and I forgot a net, so hauling 13 inch perch up the seawall became a very tedious and stressful experience with a short rod and 6 lb test.

[PoorBoy]

B & M Crappie rod in a 8' length is all I use and they cost around $40. I have several of them...

Poorboy

[bassinlarry]

Since I was kind of bitchy to westwind I will make amends here.

8 ft rod is probably not your best bet. If it is at all whippy it will be useless for jigging on windy days.

First off you don't need an 8 ft rod to make long casts. You need better line.

The same rod that you use to throw light jigs is not the same rod that you want to chuck shadraps with.

[PowernFinesse]

I've been looking at alot of crappie rods PB and it seems like b&M's are a good choice. I might be in the market for more than one rod considering crappie rods are a bit cheaper than other species specific rods.

And BL, I've got a 7 ft medium action fenwick I usually toss cranks with (at least on the lakefront), but when I use small cranks (like the 2 in flick'r shad or #5 shad rap) I used to use a 7 ft medium light rod. It had a bit of whip to the tip but had enough backbone to handle a diving bait. If I had some more funds I'd get another custom rod built. I used to have an 8 foot panfish rod that I had built from a fly rod blank with a larger gathering guide so I could make longer casts and it worked well with both j-4 husky jerks and 1/32 ounce jigs. What length rod do you use for chucking shad raps? I know alot of guys put a sinker ahead of the bait to make it run closer to the bottom, but I usually will just add a suspend strip to give it a bit more weight.

[big saw]

St Croix, or st croix, oooor st croix ! I love 'em. About $100 and change out the door. However I get by fine with my 6'6" Falcons just as well.

[Zombie Fish]

So with the perch starting to make their way into the harbors, I'm in the market for a new perch rod. This rod will be used for tossing double fluke rigs, flicker shads/shad raps and maybe some heavier (1/8 ounce) jig/twisters too. I've been looking at basspro's crappie max rods which are rated for 2-10 lb line and up to 1/4 ounce baits. Just wanted to see if anyone had any recommendations. Hopefully something thats under $100.

Last year my go to rig was a bps 6'6" foot ml tourny series paired with a pflueger president and 6 lb test. Problem was the rod didn't provide enough distance on the cast. That and I forgot a net, so hauling 13 inch perch up the seawall became a very tedious and stressful experience with a short rod and 6 lb test.

1) Ignore any advise from boaters. Dropping globs of meat down into a school of perch while a'float'n is not the discustion here. You don't need a rod to do that.

2) I thought this net thing was settled last year. A net for perch? While using six lb line? Where are you catching perch heavier than 6 lbs? Leave the net home or use it at the lake to prance around like a tooth fairy and catch some butterflies for bait. I do that sometimes. Some folks like the show and will throw money at you.

3) 6'6" is not short! That is NBA height. Is there some reason you are standing 7'+ back from the edge of the seawall? You can buy a life vest if you are not a swimmer and are being causius.

4) BasinLarry is correct. It is not the length of your rod, it is your line. Use the smallest braid you can find. 6 lb mononucleosis line is too heavyt for jigs. You can use lighter monomucleosis line to cast farther, but you will loose fish to abrasions.

5) big saw is correct. Sainted Croix is good. You can get a free Trayvon hoodie with purchase then you wo'nt have to fish nakked when it's cold. Triumphs are not good enough for jigging. They are best for dumb bass or dumb anglers like me.

6) BasinLarry is correct. Diss the notion of using the same rod for jigging and for crank baits. Read the Zombie Chronicles and learn! Fish'n for panfish is explained. Fish'n for bass is covered. But little panfish rods are not used to pull stubborn bass out of the weedpiles. little ice jigs are not cast on big bass rods for crappies . Same dealeo for the perch.

7) Give the lead stickers to a nieghbor kid you dont like to suck on and get retarded from. Use sinkers with the Rapalas.

8) listen to the advise here and you will be a fishin rockstar for perch this year and every year thereafter that you do not deviate from it.

[bassinlarry]

Kudos to zombie...only a doofus engaging in vertical fishing would ever recommend an 8ft crappie rod for light tackle jigging.

There is a reason that poorboy trolls and fishes minnows and shrimp from a boat. most everything is a vertical presentation or is being dragged around by trolling or current. He has little knowledge about what it takes to use artificials or throwing 1/16th oz jigs from shore.

Only a dope would consider using an 8ft rod to throw light jigs from shore. The slightest wind and that rod is 100% obsolete.

You cut down your line to 4lb fireline and attach a short section of flouro if you feel it is necessary. Learn your damn knots! At the lakefront a 7ft rod for jigging is most likely as ong as you want to go.

These clowns that troll and fish meat off the side of their boats have no idea what it takes to be succesful from shore using artificials.

Do not purchase a 40 dollar 8ft crappie rod. You know why? You are wasting 40 bucks.

I fish with high quality stuff, but I am the stuff that legends are made of.

Look what other people are using. Try and find the stuff you want on sale or on eBay.

If I or one of the bassalarros catch you on the "front of the lake" (courtesy of Kurt Kaboom)...throwing light jigs with an 8ft crappie rod we will kill you. You have been warned!

Take care and tight gal pals and lines.

Your fishin' brother,

Bassinlarry.

[big saw]

So it would be safe to assume then that my 11 foot noodle rod from the 1980's is not appropriate for casting 1/32 nd oz. flies from shore ? Thank you in advance for your intellectual response.

[PowernFinesse]

Well, I bought a rod and after field testing it has cast well and is very capable of pulling in sizeable perch and fighting a few rogue carp as well. To save myself some trouble, I won't mention what brand, but thanks for the input regardless. I'm still carrying my 6'6" rod with me as backup, but the new rod serves it purpose.

And ZF, I think I'll keep my net. When I hook a big smallmouth or anything besides a perch for that matter, I'd like to have my net with me instead of taking a swim to retrieve my catch. Or rely on bucketheads who want to keep said fish as a payment for netting it.

Might as well give a report while I'm at it. Tested out the new rod the past two days with some F^2 (flukes and flouro). Got a few between 11 and 13 on a double rig and my buddy hooked a massive drum. Nothing out of the ordinary to report.

[Superfluke]

1) Ignore any advise from boaters. Dropping globs of meat down into a school of perch while a'float'n is not the discustion here.

Agreed. If vertical meat globbing is your chosen approach for perch, then the 8' crappie rod might fit the bill just fine. But for the most part, any rod for this approach would be suitable. So, rather than wasting the $40 on a crappie rod, hit up a garage sale this weekend and bargain yourself into a $3 combo. Assuming you already have the pre-requisite 1/2 to 2 oz bell sinkers and some aberdeen hooks, pop for some fresh wall mart line and you are fully armed for a day of veritcal meat globbing. This way, if you ever get the hankering for presenting artificials in a precision manner, you now have $35 in your pocket to put towards a more appropriate model such as one of those suggested by BS, BL or ZF.

You don't need a rod to do that.

Tis true (or almost). Case in point. Several years back, Wash invited me out for a trip to the south end with him and his daughter for a day of vertical meat globbing for perch. We had a great day catching and it was very entertaining (for a while at least). I was amazed at how simple and effective vertical meat globbing was. No need for any complicated riggings. Get on top of fish, drop it to the bottom, winch em in. Repeat. The best and most rewarding part of the day was watching Wash's daughter haul up fish after fish after fish...on her Garfield rod and reel.

Anyway, to the OP, it really depends what you are most comfortable with. Knock yourself out if the 8 footer feels right to you. Reading through some of the tongue in cheek responses, the advice on rods offered from BS, BL and ZF really will put the odds in your favor...

[bassinlarry]

So it would be safe to assume then that my 11 foot noodle rod from the 1980's is not appropriate for casting 1/32 nd oz. flies from shore ? Thank you in advance for your intellectual response.

Please try and stay on topic if that is possible. If there is some wind, which there almost always is, you can't be seriously suggesting that your antiquated noodle rod from the Reagan era is the correct choice for any type of lakefront fishing aside from using a float.

While my dearest friends Zombie, the Flukester and myself are trying to mold these young minds and place them squarely on the road to redemption and limits and limits of perch. You and the vertical bait globber are offering up little of use. Your offerings are of little value.

B.S. I have seen people fishing with line wrapped around a crumpled beer can. Maybe this should be your next "sure fire" technique. Apparently if you have caught a fish on a noodle rod it must be the best solution to the problem. Fish your damn flies from your 30 year old noodle rod. Good luck with that approach.

Does your noodle rod have any girlfriends? I am rather partial to women in their late thirties.

Thanks in advance for the hookup.

Your fishing pal,

Bassinlarry

[Zombie Fish]

'meat globbing' --I like it! Has a certain ring to it and you can dance to it.

I nominate meat globbing to the new CFL.com glossary

Does that make Pube Boy (the pubescent one) The Grand Hob Knobb'n Goblin of Meat Globbin?

[big saw]

So are you saying I should use a crumpled beer can instead of my noodle rod ? Please help me, I'm old and I'm getting very confused.

[mplant1]

why limit yourself to 8'? why not be the big man on the lakefront with the longest ding-a-ling and go with a 12'+ surf rod. image how far you could whip out shad raps!

[bassinlarry]

The crumpled beer can is more wind resistant than a thirty year old noodle rod and is also an effective tool when vertically meat globbing.

VMG = vertical meat globbing.

Many people vertical meat glob at the front of the lake utilizing a float. Noodle rods are efficient in the art of VMG.

Your fishing pal,

Bassinlarry