Wally Marshall Signature Series Crappie Rods were designed as sensitive jigging poles. They are great for this technique but they also have a following with the slow troll (spider rigging) crowd, too.
Pro staff member, Keith Mueller, says, “I use 16-foot Signature Series poles because they are the best pole I’ve used. They feature a tip action that is light and sensitive. That’s really important for seeing light bites. However, the backbone is strong enough so a fisherman can work a fish.”
Mueller says the long 16-foot poles are more difficult to use but worth the effort. The longer pole catches more fish because the fish see the baits before they are spooked by the boat. The longer poles become critical when fishing shallow water.
“The poles are an investment so I don’t lay them in the floor where they can be stepped on or damaged. I place them in a rod holding system that keeps them supported, keeps lines from tangling and allows me to lock them. Locking is important when at a restaurant or motel.”
Final tip. “Use the lightest weight possible,” says Mueller. “With a lighter weight a fisherman will get more bites he can see. To me, light weight slow trolling is a 1/4-ounce weight plus a jig. When wind is bouncing the boat, it’s time to increase to a 3/4-ounce weight so the bait won’t bounce as much.”
Pole stats include premium IM6 graphite, lightweight graphite reel seat, comfortable EVA foam grips, hard aluminum oxide guides, and designed for light line and small jigs. The 16-foot model suggested retail is $69.99 and the 14-foot model $59,99. www.lews.com
