Bluegill - Big Bluegill

Do you love big bluegill?

Okay brothers and Sisters, I need some help. I have long been a devotee of the short, ultralight rods - say 5' maximum length. I'm going to try a longer rod this Spring, nearly 7', ultralight fast action, as I'm going for casting distance with negligible weight.

I'm looking for a reel that will handle at the heaviest, 4lb mono or braid,  and has excellent long distance ability, especially with very little weight. I'm just afraid that a traditional ultralight reel, with its diminutive spool, will not serve me well in this regard.

I've been researching long spool reels, and the newer mag spool reels, both of which tout their respective abilities at long distance casting, but have no experience with either one.

Does anyone use these type of reels, or have any suggestions?

Views: 2124

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

great reels for the money. IMO they are very smooth and well built

Yep. I now own three for the past 2 years.

Pro: Nothing but smoothness on the cast. No snag during high drag. Older cheaper reels, major snags and line snapped, even with large amount of maintenance. Shimano reels among my arsenal were the only ones to go the distant without that issue..other than that, fly rod ;)

Con: more expensive than the Browning, Quantum and Pinnacle. Same smoothness as them, but cost more. Durability, the same. Bailer tend to get stuck during your attempt to open it if the revolution does not fully rotate to a certain slot within the revolution. It's a safety anti-seize feature that can be an annoyance at time. But it's a good feature no less. Not enough spool sizes for the same model. Unlike Quantum and Shimano, you can actually replace the smaller spool sizes for the larger one for the same reels. I have three different spools for each reel, loaded with 2lbs (jigging/float), 5lbs (hunting cats and carps), and 10lbs (casting purposes). Love the Pflueger. Very reasonable price for the combos.

Yes Bobby. For the money it is a good quality reel. Its a very smooth running reel with an excellent drag system. It's not that I like them but I changed over all my reels to Pfluegers.  The first was a Trion that's the cheaper one in the Pfluegers line up with 7 bearings but worked great for me. For the money spent I think they are nice reel not that I like Pfluegers. Im\'m now using the Pflueger Presidents ten bearing system again very nice reel a little more money but worth it. I did bring myself up to buying a Pflueger Suprem and again it's a very nice reel. What ever you buy go to Bass Pro or Cabelas take them off the rack and spin them handles. Now this year Pflueger has a new reel with a larger spool. Don't know if Bass pro or Cabelas have then in the stores yet. The advantage to the big spool is longer cast might be something to think about. Hope this helps you not that I like them. GOOD FISHIN..

i want to get my boys a ne
w reel that will last longer and be a little more compact than the 33 classics or smaller zebcos they've been using

Just my experience, but I would stay away from the Pflueger spincast reels.  I bought their premium reel (can't remember the model) on the recommendation of the guy behind the reel counter at Bass Pro (which, unfortunately, these days some of them know a little bit, and some know less than most of us knew the second day we ever fished), last year for a Christmas present, and before the summer was over it had completely come apart, as in literally just fell apart - complete junk.  In my experience the only reliable spincast reel is Diawa's Goldcast series - a much smoother drag than any other spincast, and just generally a more durable and reliable reel.  I don't use spincast personally, but have a couple family members who do, and after the Pflueger debacle I've resigned it will be Goldcast only from here on out when I get someone a spincast. 

i had a similar proplem with  BPS concerning a  reel they referred to me when they "couldnt fix" a reel i sent them to their repairs dept. never ordered from them again .I had them send me back the reel they didnt return that "couldnt be fixed "and I sent them back the reel that was falling apart when I tried it for the first time in the yard before taking it to the lake . This was in the late 90's after being totally happy ordering from them since the mid or late 80's.

 

i think the pfluegers will be the best route to go

Not that I'm parcel to pfluegers but you know I am when you purchase one don't buy one in that plastic junk go to the counter and get one from a box, open the box and see how smooth the reel runs when you turn the handle. when done turn the line spool and see if it's turns free and smooth not jerky.

interesting slip of the tounge Dick(Parcel instead of Partial)

 

Sorry John I'll try to do better on my spelling. 

how bout the zebco omega have any experience with them walt
i just want something that holds up.better for my younguns

RSS

Latest Activity

Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Troy Dorman's photo
Thumbnail

1000003891

"Pretty Northern strain bluegill Troy!"
16 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Troy Dorman's photo
Thumbnail

1000003887

"Great fish….this is the right kind!"
16 hours ago
Troy Dorman posted photos
22 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Picked up Several Nice Yellow Perch Shallow…..4/29/2025

"Thanks John….never get tired of quality perch bites…"
yesterday
John Sheehan posted photos
yesterday
John Sheehan commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
yesterday
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

493726391_10238746707466370_4942384414329687790_n

"Good job ,Jeff! The ones I caught were probably in 5-6 ' but long cast from shore. These…"
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a photo

Picked up Several Nice Yellow Perch Shallow…..4/29/2025

Also caught two nice white perch shallow also…
Tuesday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Tuesday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Tuesday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a photo

Dock Crappie…..4/29/2025

We had blue skies with 81 degrees…strong southwest wind but our water was still blown out from the…
Tuesday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Tuesday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a status
"It was still windy but a friend and I splashed this afternoon, nice mixed bag ….low water at 70 degree surface temperatures…good times…"
Tuesday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

493726391_10238746707466370_4942384414329687790_n

"Nice John….I caught several white perch this afternoon very shallow…"
Tuesday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Troy Dorman's photo
Thumbnail

1000003851

"Pretty specimen Troy!"
Monday
John Sheehan commented on Troy Dorman's photo
Thumbnail

1000003857

"Posting some nice Fish, Troy!"
Sunday
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

492222666_10238698533862060_5336729201480880262_n

"Fish are flopping around like its July up here and we haven't seen May yet! Very weird year!"
Sunday
Bruce Tomaselli commented on Troy Dorman's photo
Thumbnail

1000003857

"I can just taste the fillets!"
Sunday
Troy Dorman posted photos
Sunday
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Saturday

© 2025   Created by Bluegill.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service