Bluegill - Big Bluegill

Do you love big bluegill?

My first experience with it was with Vanish. On a spin reel and as tippet for steelhead. So-so. Seaguar and P-line seem to be somewhat better, limper, better handling. So my question is... in your opinion, which flourocarbon line would be best, even to spool up with, not just tippet mat'l.. ? steve b

Views: 308

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Yup, Vanish was my first try, and came to same conclusion, am looking for limpest, most castable, tyable, to spool a whole reel with. Never seems to fail, at last light, bite takes off, then I break off. My dexterity is comprimised for several reasons, add to low light issue,well I only want to tie one knot then, an easy one. Just for this one reel, for that one use. steve b
Steve,

Umpqa superflorocarbon is what you are looking for but it is expensive. If you use regular Umpqa mono (http://www.umpqua.com/t-umpquaproducts.aspx) in a 6lb for example and then use a 4 lb superflorocarbon leader you will almost always just break off the leader section so you only tie one knot. I use a number 14 two way swivel tied to the 6 lb and tie the 4 Lb leader to the other end of the swivel.

This way if you make a long cast with just a single line it may break at the reel or anywhere in between and you lose all that line. Using the other method, most of the time you will break off below the swivel losing only a small section of the superflorocarbon. It doesn't have to be 6 lb to 4 lb, it could be 12 lb to 10 lb or 10 lb to 8 lb.

Mostly I use 6 lb to 4 lb, but often I use 4 lb to 2 lb.. Two lb florocarbon works as well as 1 lb mono. The lighter the line the more natural everything looks and big bluegills are as sensitive to a natural presentation as any trout. FWIW.
I've used several versions of fluoro and have had no problems running full spools with any of them. Stren fluoro, Vanish, P-line have all worked well. I use only 4 and 6 pound tests. Part of your problem could be in the setup. I spool these onto 2500 size reels which helps with line management. I also use longer 6.5' ML fast action rods. Finally, make sure to wet every knot and pull it tight s-l-o-w-l-y. Fluoro hates heat which is generated when cinching down dry line.
OK, just home from trout camp. The Berekely Profeesional Grade floroucarbon in 4lb worked great ! I spooled it onto a reel, wasn't happy with fill level, tranfered it onto a second reel to put some filler on, than wound back from second reel to first. A recipe for disaster ! So wired two big snap swivel, in tandem to my bird feeder pole and back across yard and down the driveway, applied pressure and wound it back on. No problems line-wise all weekend. steve b

RSS

Latest Activity

Bruce Tomaselli commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
9 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on John Sheehan's status
"We 71 on Sunday and down to 63 from a cold front, another tomorrow that will hit Jersey too…."
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Cody Had the Bass Bite Covered….4/7/2025

"Eastern time zone is 8am -1130 Saturday on FS1……Sunday is 8am -11 eastern on…"
yesterday
Bruce Tomaselli commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Cody Had the Bass Bite Covered….4/7/2025

"What time is it on the Tube?"
yesterday
John Sheehan posted a status
"Water temp was only 46 degrees today. Anxious for 50 +"
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Cody Had the Bass Bite Covered….4/7/2025

"Check it out Bruce….the cold front has stalled out surface temperatures but they’re…"
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

The Big Browns Are Always Sunning in April…..4/7/2025

"Yes…..this is a “brown water snake” Bruce…….non-venomous snakes…"
yesterday
Bruce Tomaselli commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

The Big Browns Are Always Sunning in April…..4/7/2025

"Whoa, that does look big. You say it's a brown snake? Poisonous? Around my part of PA we watch…"
yesterday
Bruce Tomaselli commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Cody Had the Bass Bite Covered….4/7/2025

"Wow! Thanks. I'll have to make a note to to tune in on Saturday Sunday."
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Cody Had the Bass Bite Covered….4/7/2025

"Thanks Bruce….looking forward to the Bassmasters Elite series tournament this…"
Wednesday
Bruce Tomaselli commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Wednesday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Monday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Monday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Caught Some Slabs Today….4/5/2025

"Although black crappie tend to run smaller than their cousins the white crappie , this is a great…"
Monday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a photo

Last Fish of the Trip….4/6/2025

It was already 84 degrees headed to 90 today….
Sunday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Sunday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Sunday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Sunday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Sunday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a status
"We knew it was going to be tough today with gusts over. 30 knots.but good surface temperatures of 68 helped…couldn’t fish where I was 4/5/25"
Sunday

© 2025   Created by Bluegill.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service