Do you love big bluegill?

ECONOMY QUICK START RIG - VERSATILE COMBINATION SPINNING RIG (BOBBER, DROP SHOT AND SPIN FLOAT&FLY)

Pattern:

You’re just starting to research your equipment budget and expenses on your new endeavor on Bluegill fishing. You want a do it all tackle system to get you in the game. Realistically there is no such animal but some forms of rigging can get you close. So im publishing my equipment system that kept me happy when I was on a very slim fishing budget for years. Of course every angler is different and personal preferences vary… this is just my selection that ive tweaked and feel confident to recommend it to any one.

Rigging:

Basis or back bone of the system is the Berkley 5-6 light action Lightning Rod. I have landed LMB over 5lbs with this setup. Even the smallest Gills seem to fight like warriors with this setup. With the braid you feel every headshake $34.00 recommended price
6-0 recommended braid … I really like the Spider wire or PowerPro. With the braid you only need a quick snap with your rod to set the hook. Eliminates the need for large sweeping motions or a longer rod to set the hook with stretchy mono.
1000 series spinning reel… currently i'm using a Shimano Sienna 1000 series reel after continuous Lews bail spring fails. $29.00 every where
Favorite live baits Night crawler bits, waxies, and Gulp Maggots or 1” Minnows

Presentation:

this hardware setup is ideal for fixed bobber, slip bobber or drop shotting. Last year was the first time using fixed bobber Carl’s Quill floats and have used them successfully on this setup. Drifting the wobble bobber with your favorite panfish jig (Tabbert Jellie Jig shn) also works great with this rig. When it comes to summer peak drop shotting the deep breaks is a killer method for panfish and this is ideal hardware for that presentation. Gills are biting on the surface have a fly casting bubble handy with your favorite popper or floating fly.

This system comes close to doing it all and is great starting point for the beginning gill enthusiast.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Slip Sinker on March 3, 2015 at 9:50am

well thank you Mo... a lot of thought went into this setup and its main purpose was to stow in the car and be rigged at a moments notice. ya never know when you will be passing a BOW and access that needs to be explored. i take it everywhere with me and it comes with me on the boat.

one of the main reason i like the braid is its strength per diameter ... i could swap spools and put the 15 or 20# braid on drag a worm through some dense cover and drag a bass out. with that in mind i have that confidence to horse a fish out of cover... never broke a fish off yet.

most of the time on the boat when im in panfish mode its slip bobber setup for this rig or drop shot.

i really like the floro now for ice fishing... switching all of my setups to 2# floro... its still very sensitive and a lot more rugged than mono

Permalink Reply by Mo Fish on March 4, 2015 at 9:47am

Yep, I keep one outfit rigged with a slip float at all times on my boat. I played with the drop shot rig for panfish last summer. It worked very well. I use it all the time for bass. It never dawned on me to use it for panfish. I have one outfit spooled up with 2lb test S.O.S line from Leland Lures. I am still getting use to it. Do you think 2lb test is overkill or do you find that there is a big difference between the number of bites you get with 2 vs. 4? We don' t ice fish here in Arkansas.

Permalink Reply by Slip Sinker on March 4, 2015 at 10:22am

its the thinness of the line that allows you to use tiny jigs and allows the jig to sink to deep water quickly. another reason why flouro is more efficient on the ice is its density that allows it to sink more quickly also.

Permalink Reply by Slip Sinker on March 4, 2015 at 4:29pm

slip bobber fishing to me is so addictive some days ill start using the slip bobber rig and find out i still have it in my hand at the end of the day.

Permalink Reply by Mo Fish on March 5, 2015 at 5:59am

I have been fishing for over 35 years and I can't believe that last year was the first time I ever tried a slip float rig. It is now my go to rig. About the only time I don't fish it is if I am swimming a jig for crappie or bream. I missed my chance to ice fish. I was born in Milwaukee and grew up in Chicago but my dad wasn't into it. It sounds like a lot of fun. At least it looked fun on Grumpy Old Men. I do miss the smelt though. I can eat my weight in smelt.