Bluegill - Big Bluegill

Do you love big bluegill?

I'm looking forward to trying out my 2-weight Redington Classic Trout on some 'gills this spring and summer, and would like to have a sinking or intermediate line in my bag of tricks but the choices seem really limited when looking for a 2-weight of this type.

Things get a little better in the 3-weight class, there are more intermediates available, but I'm not sure about overlining with a 3-weight intermediate on this rod, has anyone tried it?or

Orvis does have a 2-weight intermediate (Gen 3 Clear) and it's on sale cheap (24 bucks) but a very high percentage of the reviewers have also complained that it has severe memory problems, although they were also using much heavier weights of line. It's a mono-core line, so I guess that's to be expected.

Orvis also sells non-clear braided core Gen 3, which should dispense with the memory issues, and it's also on sale cheap, but is only available in WF3I and up, which takes me back to overlining...

Opinions?

Thanks,

Jonathan

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Replies to This Discussion

That's a good point, Mike, and maybe that's why there are only a handful of intermediate lines in 2-weight and as far as I can tell, no full sinking lines.  If I had to strip the fly almost all the way back in to re-cast, that would be inefficient. Maybe I'll try the Orvis Gen 3 b/c it's on sale and try it with reasonable distances of line out and very carefully see what happens. The sink rate is 1 - 1.5 IPS, so keeping it from getting too deep might be manageable.

As an alternative, what do you think of sink-tip in a 2-weight? I haven't yet checked to see if anyone makes one, though.

Thanks,

Jonathan

Teeny T-130 is an efficient sinking line ..it's rated as a 4+ weight line ...I use it on 3-4-5 wt tackle ...not
Made to be a presentation line, just a heavy sinking line that you'll get a feel for as to how to cast it ..gets down very effectively ...second choice would be the lead core sink tip, they come in short pieces of four, six, eight inches ... I carry a couple in case i need a good sink tip in a hurry ...
Paul

JB, I have a cortland intermediate camo line in a 4 weight!!!!! I use a 8' and 10' 2 weight fly rods!!!!! Casting it is not a problem, when you get ready to recast raise your rod tip hi and a simple roll cast will bring the fly to the surface!!!!! You are set and ready to begin your back cast!!! Been using this set up for years and NEVER BROKE A FLY ROD casting a sinking line!!!!!

I think you will LOVE THIS in you arsenal!!!!! I use my sinking line 95% of the time!!!!!

Jonathan, 2-weight rod dosen't have the back bone to handle a sinking line. My orvis 2-weight rod only weighs 1 1/2 ounces. I only use it for dry flies. I do use a sinking line on my 5 weight in the winter when fish a deep. It works well.

Bill Freuler

MY  2WT TEMPLE FORKS HANDLES A 4WT INTERMEDIATE SINKING LINE FROM SCIENTIFIC ANGLERS GREAT! HAVE BEEN USING IT FOR 9 YEARS NOW 99% OF THE TIME WHEN I'M FISHING FOR GILLS, SMALLMOUTH OR CRAPPIE.

AS YOU CAN SEE FROM MY PICTURES I BRING IN SOME MIGHTY NICE FISH WITH IT!

I caught this 20" smallmouth on a TempleForks 2wt fly rod and a 4wt intermediate sinking line. The rod had enough back bone to handle this 5lb smallmouth and 4 wt sinking line. A 2wt is tougher than a lot of people think.

What a great fish!

Looks like a lot of people fishing TFO 2-weights here - you, Jen, Ray, who knows who else? I have a TFO 5-weight (Lefty Kreh Professional I 8'6") that I got not too long ago after casting one that belonged to someone in the local fly club and really like it  The Sage Flight it displaced is probably going to go up for sale one of these days.

What model(s) of TFO 2-weights are you all fishing? The Redington CT is generally considered a fairly medium action. Slower than my TFO Lefty Kreh, anyway. I also have one in a 4-weight. DIdn't really need a 4-weight but it was so cheap I couldn't really say no LOL.

My 2wt is a TFO Signature 6' rod. I have it overlined with DT and as I fish it , it does not seem like a fast rod to me.  I bought the rod as a combo and it came with a 2wt WF line and I did not like the outfit as it came and I set it in the corner. Sometime later I decided to try a heavier line on it and it made a world of difference.  Just checked the line on this reel and it is actually a 4wt. WF line. This may be the reason that the rod does not seem like a fast rod. hehehe

 

The creeks that I have been fishing average about 30 or 40 feet across and are 2 to 3' deep for the most part. They have a tree canopy and the short rod is the ideal tool. I have fished the normal long rods but it is a activity of frustration. Always hung in the trees. I don't enjoy roll casting and with the short rod roll casting is seldom needed. I can use the normal overhead casting which I personally enjoy. With a double haul my distance is only slightly compromised. Fly size is not minimized as much as many have led me to believe. I have fished this rod for 3 seasons and I wished I had taken the plunge much earlier. I am a weak old feller and I can cast this rod all day without a hint of being tired. Wished i could say the same for my 7 and 9 wts. they wear me out in just a few hours.

I need to back pedal on the line I use on my 2wt. It is, in fact, a WF line. Sorry for any confusion my former statement may have created.

JB, Here is the TFO 2 wt. I have!!!!! I got mine about $30. ago!!!!!! :-)

http://www.templeforkflyrods.com/products/rods/professional.html

My goodness!!! How long did it take to get that in on a 4wt????  Wht kind of a leader did you have???

dcastlen50, Th was caught on a 2 wt. not a 4 wt.!!!!!!! 4 weight is way to heavy!!!!! I will go up to a 3 wt. occasionally but never heavier than that!!!!

We did DANCE FOR A WHILE!!!! :-)

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