Panfish rods, how many?

Getting into pannies open water last couple years and really digging it. Of course that leads to more rods. Obviously as I fish with more techniques the spots will open up to more rods. With all that said I am curious to what kind of offerings other fellas have for panfish, how many combos do you have that you feel is adequate?

Happy w my 2 rn but in time I could potentially see more.

I have got 3 6’6″ lite action for casting light jigs (1/32 to 1/8).
A couple 6.5 and 7 foot bobber rods which are nothing fancy and a couple lighter bait casters for trolling small cranks.

I have 8 but 3 would work. (if you know me I have a bit of a sickness) One bobber rod, one ultra light for working light lures and a light action for heaver lures. I like having an 8’+ rod for long line trolling. I have not got into the 16’ rods yet. But they look fun and are on the list to try. I am hoping you are only asking about open water rods. There is a long list if you are including hard water.

I run 3 or 4. 2 ultra light bobber rods 6.5-7ft and a light 6.6 for jigs. After watching an episode of Linder they were using a med light 7.3 xf for jigging crappies so I went and bought a Victory St Croix for that application. Seems to heavy for it but if I don’t like it for that I can always use another Walleye rod I guess.

I have one. I don’t really target panfish other than a few times in April/early May. Hard to justify building up an arsenal of gear and tackle for something that I only do 3 times a year, or less.

I have 3 but only usually bring 2 out. I have a 6′ UL and a 7′ light. I also don’t target panfish much. Like my buddy says “Panfish are only for when you can’t target some real fish ” I could probably get by with just that one 7′ rod, but I like to have a spare just in case something goes wrong with the main one.

I think I have 3. Add a 0 at the end of that if we’re talking about walleye rods

Mr. Beads not sure if you ice fish or not, but if you do I’d consider bringing one of those with as well. Whether you’re right on top of them or the wind creates a situation where you keep drifting and a full-size “summer” rod is becoming a nuisance, having an ice rod in the boat for pannies can come in handy too.

I have 7
1 StCroix Avid 6 foot ultra light, general 1/32 ounce jigs casting.
1 StCroix Avid 7 foot medium light for heavier jigs and spinner baits and cranks.
1 9 foot Shakespeare Crappie Hunter when fish are a little spooky vertical or casting light jigs for greater distance.
1 10 foot Shakespeare Crappie Hunter strictly slip bobber fishing longer length gets the hook set a bit quicker when picking up slack line.
2 12 footers for either pushing cranks or jigs, double duty long line trolling or using planer boards the longer length pushing keeps baits farther in front of he boat and soft enough to not rip hooks out when used for trolling and boards. When fishing brush there are times I will use these to dip into brush and snags..
1 Kistler 7 foot MLXF with Piscifun bait caster for casting small Crappie crankbaits this one is just for fun and it is. I will also use this setup for Bladebaits or casting jigs for Walleye.

I think I’ve got 2 and don’t see a need for any more. A do-everything 6′ light action rod with a real soft tip that works decent for slip bobber fishing gills, perch, crappies, and will toss a small spinner for trout. My other one is a 6’6″ ultralight that really doesn’t get used much other than occasionally bobber fishing with kids.

I mainly target panfish in the Spring (ice out perch, crappies on beds)…and then late summer tank bluegills on wingdams. For the wingdam stuff I just use walleye gear with 4# test as it’s pretty common to run into a smorgasbord of species.

Tom do you feel the added l length to the trolling rods help with your catch rate? I can see how that may help but sensitivity would be absolutely diminished doesn’t it? Love drifting along weedlines w light jigs.

Tom P. wrote:

12 footers for either pushing cranks or jigs

Pushing? Like you drop the lure and pull it around moving your rod tip?

I have 6 but that’s because I have the kid and lady that come with. If it’s just me out ill take 2 maybe maybe 3. But 2 typically does everything I need.

I have two. One for a float rig and one for moving baits.

For mono does anyone spool up anything less than 4# on their open water stuff? I’m too afraid to go smaller.

Deuces wrote:

For mono does anyone spool up anything less than 4# on their open water stuff? I’m too afraid to go smaller.

I run 3 lbs on my jig and 4 on my float

I like good #4 mono.

I have a few and after decades of walleyes/bass/pike I’m enjoying the hunt for quality panfish, especially with ultralights.

I have a couple Fenwick River Runner ultralights, a 5′-8″ and 6′-9′. One always has a Beadle Spin type lure usually with a power minnow plastic, and the other always has a jig.

Another useful rod is a 7′ St Croix light action for when I step up the lure weight, and I just added an 11′ B&M for dabbling.

4lb Suffix mono for me. Going to switch to braid on my jig pole this year.

I use 4 lb mono on all of my panfish rods. I should also say some of my setups are for my son and wife.

Rodwork wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Tom P. wrote:</div>
12 footers for either pushing cranks or jigs

Pushing? Like you drop the lure and pull it around moving your rod tip?

Pushing is running the rods out the front of the boat like slow trolling. This way the boat does not spook the fish before you get to them like long line trolling. You have much more control of baits and where they are going.

Deuces wrote:

Tom do you feel the added l length to the trolling rods help with your catch rate? I can see how that may help but sensitivity would be absolutely diminished doesn’t it? Love drifting along weedlines w light jigs.

The longer rods help as many have seen, fish may move off to the side as the boat moves over them, if they are really spooky that is where the planer boards comes out.

With the new lighter rods it`s amazing how well they transmit those light bites. The tips are fast enough you will even see when you get those up bites, you will see the rod tip lift if you pay attention. Only thing to remember is when setting the hook have to be a bit more aggressive with the soft tips takes a bit more rod movement to load the rod to drive the hook home.

Many times I find the longer rod does two things, helps keep the boat off of the fish and not spooking them. Fishing brush or weed edges I can dip into pockets or into the middle of a brush pile, or even fishing a Crib I can cover the entire crib from one spot.

I am not one to just drift, pushing I can cover more water and the water I want to cover dosen`t matter what the wind is doing. Depending on wind etc, I will run from 5/8 to 2 ounce weights when pushing to keep my baits at the depth I want at the speed I want. I can run jigs or Crankbaits this way. If I notice fish are higher or lower in the water column simple to make quick adjustments to depth.

Tom P. wrote:

Pushing is running the rods out the front of the boat like slow trolling. This way the boat does not spook the fish before you get to them like long line trolling. You have much more control of baits and where they are going.

At what rod length and water clarity do you find this working well? Like 10’ rods with 5’ of visibility or have you notice the distance your boat spooks the fish at?

Rodwork wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Tom P. wrote:</div>
Pushing is running the rods out the front of the boat like slow trolling. This way the boat does not spook the fish before you get to them like long line trolling. You have much more control of baits and where they are going.

At what rod length and water clarity do you find this working well? Like 10’ rods with 5’ of visibility or have you notice the distance your boat spooks the fish at?

It really varies lake to lake and time of year early spring they seem to be much more spooky. Easiest way to tell is run 2D and SI if your marking a ton of fish on SI and none on 2D they are moving out of the way. If marking a lot of fish on 2D and SI then it is not as much of a concern. If your noticing the fish on 2D are constantly deeper then the fish on SI these fish are moving and may not bite as readily.

I like a 4# leader but I’ve learned that a lily pad stem has a higher breaking strength! So 6# flouro in the weeds, 4# in open water.

Power Pro is great if you are throwing into pads, great structure BTW for spring.

Bearcat89 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Mr.Beads wrote:</div>
For mono does anyone spool up anything less than 4# on their open water stuff? I’m too afraid to go smaller.

I run 3 lbs on my jig and 4 on my float

I use 3 lb. Never had an issue with it. Caught northerns, bass, and a 3 lb smallie on it last season and had no problems with it.

Light action rod and spinning or spincast reel loaded with braid. I figure I can only use one rod with one presentation in an area and switch presentations (rarely) when I move to deeper water.
Last week I logged 150 fish caught in two consecutive days in water 4′ or less. No point in carrying more rods unless I had a line problem (i.e.bad tangle coming off the spinning reel).

Spoon Minnow wrote:

Light action rod and spinning or spincast reel loaded with braid. I figure I can only use one rod with one presentation in an area and switch presentations (rarely) when I move to deeper water.
Last week I logged 150 fish caught in two consecutive days in water 4′ or less. No point in carrying more rods unless I had a line problem (i.e.bad tangle coming off the spinning reel).

You’re way too practical. Making us look bad!

‘Think balance grasshopper’
Balance of the rod, line, and lure .

6′ ul Avid for pitching tight areas, have a 5’6” and 6’6” but prefer the 6′ for this. Then a 7′ Loomis panfish rod for open water. More and more I use bigger baits for crappie. For 1/8th and larger jigs and small crank baits. Use 7’2” to 7’6 med lite. For slow trolling I have a pair of Limit Creek 8’6″ telescoping rods. Straight out each side I cover about 20′. They’re a little heavy. But in Ozark reservoirs, you’re apt to catch 5# Eye or bass, maybe a suicidal 2# white bass. The telescope is way handier than a 2 pc. Have a couple 12′ B&M rods, but rarely use them the places we fish.