Bluegill - Big Bluegill

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Since I've fished almost exclusively with a fly rod the past 30 years for all types of fish, I've lost touch with the spinning rod and reel industry. What is your opinion of the Shakespeare Rod and Reel Crappie Hunter outfit?

The link below,

http://www.fishusa.com/product/Shakespeare-Crappie-Hunter-Combos

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... just me personally... ive gone away from the long rod Ultra Lites and now use the ULtra lite spinning rods down to 4-6' in length. im finding the shorter the rod the more sensitive they are... and since tiny presentations on ultra thin lines have become my main stay most of my spinning rods are gathering dust more or less.

Hi Slip,

Can you suggest some outfits that on high on your list? Most of the time I will be walking the shoreline.

Thanks,

Bruce

Are we permitted to name brands on this site? I need a few ideas as to what to buy.

…Yep... for the longest time some people thought i was a Berkley rep because i like their products so much. lol

BRUCE;  CRAIG THORSEN BOUGHT A FENWICK ROD AND BROUGHT IT TO THE RENDEVOU;;  SWEEEET ROD !!   IVE HAD A FENWICK ROD SINCE THE 70;S;;  MY MOST FAVORITE !!  MATCHED UP WITH A GOOD REEL;; ( LIKE A PRESIDENT );;   OUTSTANDING ROD N REEL COMBO !    QUESTION IS ALSO;; DO YOU PREFER LONG OR SHORT RODS ?   FOR MYSELF;; MY PREF IS RODS IN THE 6 TO 7 FOOT LENGTH.

…my perspective and choices very with time on the water... but currently I'm doing a lot of jigging and slip/floating out of my jon and kayak... i prefer the shorter rods for lightness and their increased sensitivity over the longer versions.

currently

JIGGING: Shakespeare Wild 5-6' with Shimano 50 series Sienna Reel loaded with 3# Nano

JIGGING - SLIP/FLOAT: Diawa Spinmatic 4-6' with Shimano 50 series 2# Ice Braid

Well, I'm just the opposite of slip sinker, all of my rods that I use today are 8 foot spinning rods made on 4 or 6 weight fly rod blanks. I learned to use these types of rods from Bill Binkleman's Night Crawler secrets where the normal shorter rods would continually throw of a nose hooked crawler while casting them. When walleye fishing the nightcrawler is just hooked thru the nose and many times there is none or very small split shot used to the weight is all contained in the hook/crawler. Plus I use lightweight line, too. It is a necessity. One can not cast lightweight items(bait, jigs, hooks, etc) with normal heavy line(8# or higher).

So these days my great short ultralight rod has not seen the water in over 4 years. Another item to consider is buy a good reel, especially one made for braid because eventually you will end up using braid, I guarantee it. I did after over 40 years of using mono(mostly 4 and 6# Trilene XL) I now have no reels with it on them. 4 and 5# braid is all I use, may even try some lighter just because it is thinner and stronger than twice or three times heavier mono and no stretch. Biggest reason for using braid is no memory on the spool so no "rats nests" on you reels.

Finally if the rod locker of my boat would take longer rods(8 foot maximum) I would be using them. Just bought two 12" BnM spinning rods to try out, soon. These won't be used for casting tho, more dropping in pockets of weeds or brush.

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