What kind of rods are people using for microfishing?
I've been using a 13' Black Widow crappie pole with 7x/8x tippet or 2 lb. monofilament tied to the end. I found the rod for $8 shipped on Amazon earlier this summer, so I thought I'd give it a try.
After supergluing the tip back on before I even used it, I've had mixed feelings about it.
At times it's a lot longer than I'd like (like when the fish are at my feet or when I need to re-bait the hook), but sometimes I like the extra reach when I don't feel like getting my feet wet to reach a promising root wad or riffle. It's also a bit heavy (~10 oz.), which gets tiring over a couple hours.
Microfishing Rods
Started by
Guest_rndouglas_*
, Aug 15 2013 08:54 PM
49 replies to this topic
#2
Guest_BenCantrell_*
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Posted 15 August 2013 - 09:39 PM
I like hearing about inexpensive micro equipment! My eyes glaze over when people talk about their micro rods costing triple digits. My go-to rod is a 7 ft collapsible. I can't figure out who made it, but I bought it in Japan in 2008, and it's pretty much indestructible. I wish I could find more of them. When I know that spooking fish isn't going to be an issue, I use a 5 ft ugly stick ultralight as well. It's nice to have a size 20-ish hook on one rod and a Tanago hook on the other.
I was just thinking of getting one of those long crappie rods. If you were to buy another, would you go shorter than 13 ft? Maybe 10 ft would be good?
I was just thinking of getting one of those long crappie rods. If you were to buy another, would you go shorter than 13 ft? Maybe 10 ft would be good?
#3
Guest_rndouglas_*
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Posted 15 August 2013 - 09:48 PM
One of my friends bought a 16.5' and kept saying he should have bought a 20' model!
Personally, 13' is probably too long for me. I've thought about trying a 6' six-piece spinning rod I have to see what the shorter end of the spectrum is like, but 10' might just hit that sweet spot.
Personally, 13' is probably too long for me. I've thought about trying a 6' six-piece spinning rod I have to see what the shorter end of the spectrum is like, but 10' might just hit that sweet spot.
#5
Guest_BenCantrell_*
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Posted 16 August 2013 - 07:00 AM
I keep thinking about bringing an ice fishing rod rigged up with a micro hook. Most of the darters and madtoms on my lifelist were literally caught at my feet. In fast current situations it works pointing the rod upstream and having the line come back to you, but in low current situations an ice fishing rod might be really handy.
BTW Mike, it's good to see you posting! Haven't heard from you in a while.
BTW Mike, it's good to see you posting! Haven't heard from you in a while.
#6
Guest_AMcCaleb_*
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Posted 16 August 2013 - 10:00 AM
I had been using just a 6 ft. lightweight rod for a while but it got kind of frustrating at times because I would get too close to some of the smaller species and scare them away. So, I went to walmart and spent 10 bucks on a 10 ft. Shakespeare collapsing crappie pole. They had a 13 ft. one there too made by someone else for 10 bucks as well. But, the crappie rod is super light, convenient and easy to use. I keep about 2 ft of 2lb test line tied on with a barrel swivel at the end to easily attach my tanago hook line to it. I'd definitely recommend the collapsing crappie pole.
#9
Guest_BenCantrell_*
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Posted 17 August 2013 - 08:02 PM
I had a gift card for Bass Pro that I needed to use, so I picked up a 12 ft Crappie Maxx combo today. $40, includes bait caster reel, line (not sure of strength), and 2 piece 12 ft rod. Looking forward to trying it out.
#10
Guest_rndouglas_*
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Posted 18 August 2013 - 08:06 AM
Nice! I tried my 6'6" spinning rod last night (line tied to the last eyelet), and I found I really preferred that to my 13' pole, at least on the narrow, shallow stream we were fishing. I think I'll start bringing both poles along with me in the future.
#11
Guest_Irate Mormon_*
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#12
Guest_BenCantrell_*
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#13
littlen
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Posted 22 August 2013 - 10:19 AM
Please forgive how simple-minded and naive this is going to sound. I am actually that clueless about this sport and find it fascinating that you all are able to catch very small stream fish like this.
Why is a specific pole for microfishing even necessary? It seems like the challenging part would be finding the right (size) hook and bait....and baiting it correctly. But once you over come that, and start hooking fish (and here comes the naive part)...don't you literally just pull "up" on the rod and lift the fish out of the water? So couldn't you just (naive part, part 2) just tie your string to a small branch?
Again, I do NOT mean to offend anyone. I am a simpleton who just "cranks like hell" if I'm ever lucky enough to catch something the few times a decade I go fishing.
Please, be gentle!
Thanks.
Why is a specific pole for microfishing even necessary? It seems like the challenging part would be finding the right (size) hook and bait....and baiting it correctly. But once you over come that, and start hooking fish (and here comes the naive part)...don't you literally just pull "up" on the rod and lift the fish out of the water? So couldn't you just (naive part, part 2) just tie your string to a small branch?
Again, I do NOT mean to offend anyone. I am a simpleton who just "cranks like hell" if I'm ever lucky enough to catch something the few times a decade I go fishing.
Please, be gentle!
Thanks.
Nick L.
#14
Guest_AMcCaleb_*
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Posted 22 August 2013 - 10:25 AM
Holy cow that's expensive for just a pole. They must be magical.
#15
Guest_AMcCaleb_*
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Posted 22 August 2013 - 10:30 AM
No, you're right. You really can just use line tied to a stick. It's not necessary to have an expensive pole. The convenience in the longer poles is that many of the smaller species of fish get spooked really easily if you get to close. Especially if you're going for topminnows. The telescoping rods are really convenient because they are very lightweight and reach out to upwards of 13' depending on what you get, then when you're done they slide back in making it very easy to pack up. But, in reality they are really nothing more than a stick with an eyelet at the very end to tie your line to. (I paid 10 bucks for mine)Please forgive how simple-minded and naive this is going to sound. I am actually that clueless about this sport and find it fascinating that you all are able to catch very small stream fish like this.
Why is a specific pole for microfishing even necessary? It seems like the challenging part would be finding the right (size) hook and bait....and baiting it correctly. But once you over come that, and start hooking fish (and here comes the naive part)...don't you literally just pull "up" on the rod and lift the fish out of the water? So couldn't you just (naive part, part 2) just tie your string to a small branch?
Again, I do NOT mean to offend anyone. I am a simpleton who just "cranks like hell" if I'm ever lucky enough to catch something the few times a decade I go fishing.
Please, be gentle!
Thanks.
#16
littlen
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Posted 22 August 2013 - 10:41 AM
That makes a lot of sense. Thanks for the explanation. I assume the fascination with microfishing is just another way to catch the stream inhabitants that we all enjoy catching; primarily by dipnet/seining. Very cool.
Nick L.
#17
Guest_gerald_*
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Posted 22 August 2013 - 10:58 AM
It also allows you to keep small gamefish that must be released if caught by net or trap. In some states "gamefish" are defined by family so even the species that are way too small to be "real" sportfish are legally considered as gamefish.
#18
littlen
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Posted 22 August 2013 - 12:07 PM
Gerald, I assume you mean members of the Percidae family?
Just so I can get a feel for how 'lucrative' microfishing is, what would be a typcial yield for days worth of fishing--in terms of total number of fish caught? Using Gerald's example above, if one lived in a state that only allowed you to keep 'game'fish if caught by rod'n'reel and you wanted to get X number of darters or shiners---would you be able to meet your quota [to fill your tank], or are we talking like 1 fish every few hours?
Just so I can get a feel for how 'lucrative' microfishing is, what would be a typcial yield for days worth of fishing--in terms of total number of fish caught? Using Gerald's example above, if one lived in a state that only allowed you to keep 'game'fish if caught by rod'n'reel and you wanted to get X number of darters or shiners---would you be able to meet your quota [to fill your tank], or are we talking like 1 fish every few hours?
Nick L.
#19
Guest_AMcCaleb_*
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Posted 22 August 2013 - 12:18 PM
It depends on where you go. But, 1 fish every few hours is terrible. 1 fish every few minutes is more likely. Obviously, the time of day you go affects the catch, but if you find a nice creek or someplace like that you should do pretty well. The difficulty comes in getting them on the hook. They'll bite just fine but you use such tiny hooks that setting the hook is somewhat difficult for the smallest species especially. I went out earlier this week to a little creek that's getting pretty low and in 2 hours caught several dozen fish. I only kept 4 because I was going for something specific, and a lot of the fish were little sunfish that I wasn't going for. My catch consisted of at least 15 or so sunfish, about 6 or 7 creek chubs, 4 redfin shiners, and 1 mosquitofish. That was between 6am and 8am.
#20
littlen
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Posted 22 August 2013 - 01:09 PM
Very interesting. When you say, "setting the hook"---in layman's terms, you mean you are watching to see when the fish takes the line because I would think you'd hardly notice them pull on the line, and if you jerk your pole with any effort, the fish would go flying over your head, no?
Back to the original topic though, what is the difference between the $10 pole you use, and the $100+ dollar poles on the link above? Obviously the quality of construction, materials, etc. But if we agree that a stick can work, why would someone want to pay over 100 when they could pay 10?
Back to the original topic though, what is the difference between the $10 pole you use, and the $100+ dollar poles on the link above? Obviously the quality of construction, materials, etc. But if we agree that a stick can work, why would someone want to pay over 100 when they could pay 10?
Nick L.
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