Bluegill - Big Bluegill

Do you love big bluegill?

Hello All-

Here is the site of a very good rod builder. His name is Andy Manchester. http://andymanyankee.u.yuku.com/

Also see this write up on him and his amazing work with high end fiberglass. http://www.flyfishohio.com/Garcia_2070_Reproduction.htm

I bought an awesome fiberglass rod from Andy (See the Fiberglass Rod Group) and I am about to order a new graphite rod too!

Andy is fantastic to work with and is the real deal. You can see he does a ton of stuff from repair and restoration to custom rod building. Even does the bamboo thing.

If you are in the market for a new rod you should give Andy a shot. He has been doing this stuff for a very long time and is a pleasure to work with and speak to. His prices are just great! I will only buy from Andy from now on.

FRD

Views: 688

Replies to This Discussion

here is my rod builder. www.bigdadyrods.com my randy emerich is a great guy to work with. he wont ster you wrong and his prices are reasonable. i have a 8 1/2 hybrid fly/spinng rod from him and i just won another rod from him a 8 ft 3 or 6 wt fly rod. and i am all ready having him make me a 5 ft 3 wt ultra light fly rod. you can see most of his work on www.bluegilltalk.com
Old Yankee Rod Smithing
Andy Manchester
PO Box #252
North Branford, Connecticut 06471
203-435-7948
andymannyankee@yahoo.com
http://andymanyankee.u.yuku.com/


I purchased this high quality fiberglass rod from Andy and I absolutely love it. The rod is a short, one piece 6'1", 4/5 weight. Gray in color with dark gray double wrapped guides.

This rod is built to last. and the action is perfect for gills. The short length makes it east to fish in a canoe, float tube or kayak.

I know what you are thinking....FIBERGLASS? Yep! Quality fiberglass is hard to beat. Far more durable than graphite and incredibly light. Fiberglass has a different feel than graphite, slower I guess.....but just very nice.

I paid only $100 for this rod! It was $20 to ship with insurance and arrived to me in 3 days. Shipped in a 6' PVC tube and a 6' rod sock. No fancy packaging or rod tube, but who cares.

Andy is great to work with and really knows his stuff. He also specializes in Rod Evaluation and Renovation, Ferrule Resetting and Replacement, Custom Fiberglass Rods and Graphite Rods and lastly he specializes in Bamboo Fly Rod Restoration.

Great guy, great company, great products, great prices, great service....he builds stuff to last for generations.

FRD

RSS

Latest Activity

Jeffrey D. Abney replied to Jeffrey D. Abney's discussion Panfish Species of North America- Which Ones Have You Caught?
15 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney replied to Jeffrey D. Abney's discussion Panfish Species of North America- Which Ones Have You Caught?
"There’s multiple variations in the Spotted Sunfish….in Louisiana the Red Spotted…"
15 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney replied to Jeffrey D. Abney's discussion Panfish Species of North America- Which Ones Have You Caught?
"Growing up in Louisiana into a fishing family I got many introductions to the Sportsman’s…"
16 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney replied to Jeffrey D. Abney's discussion Panfish Species of North America- Which Ones Have You Caught?
"I have personally caught 11 of the 12 panfish featured in this discussion. I have never lived in…"
16 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a discussion
16 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
yesterday
DAVID L EITUTIS commented on DAVID L EITUTIS's photo
Thumbnail

THIS COLOR COMBINATION SEEMS TO WORK THIS YEAR

"Yup blue and white is an essential with my oldest son......."
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a status
"My glass boat is going to the shop tomorrow, need an ignition system tune up, figured I would give it up during this extended heat wave.."
Sunday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

July Bully jig/crawler piece

"Fun….my biggest fish yesterday was a three pound bullhead…..couldn’t believe he…"
Sunday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on DAVID L EITUTIS's photo
Thumbnail

THIS COLOR COMBINATION SEEMS TO WORK THIS YEAR

"Glad you’ve had success with it………I always use pink to locate…"
Sunday
DAVID L EITUTIS commented on DAVID L EITUTIS's photo
Thumbnail

THIS COLOR COMBINATION SEEMS TO WORK THIS YEAR

"Thanks for the  comment jeffrey, it has worked in the past but seems to work berret this year…"
Sunday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a photo

Great Habitat on the Albemarle Estuary…….7/20/2025

Always search for clues to why you’re catching fish in the area you’re in when so many areas look…
Sunday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a photo

Beautiful 9” Class Warmouth……7/19/2025

Growing up in southeastern Louisiana the two most abundant species of sunfish in the bayous and…
Sunday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Saturday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on DAVID L EITUTIS's photo
Thumbnail

THIS COLOR COMBINATION SEEMS TO WORK THIS YEAR

"Bleeding pink Silent Stinger and all pink jigs work on multi species in brackish water…..I…"
Saturday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a photo

Nice Round Specimen…..7/19/2025

Bleeding 🩸 tail working in the cypress roots……all of the coastal counties in the northeastern part…
Saturday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Saturday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Saturday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Some Bleeding 🩸 Coppernose Behind Last Week’s Buck Moon…7/19/2025

"The busted fins are also a dead giveaway to colonizing gills….."
Saturday

© 2025   Created by Bluegill.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service