Do you love big bluegill?

Rod weight

What weight rod are you guys using when you are on the hunt for big bluegill.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by CHARLES A. VINSON, JR. on August 30, 2009 at 4:37am

Interesting concept.

Permalink Reply by DAVID L EITUTIS on January 20, 2012 at 11:29am

VVVVVVVVVVVVVERY INTERESTING APPROACH!!!!

TOOTY

Permalink Reply by Ray Ditzenberger on February 15, 2013 at 9:24am

I have never heard of such a thing. What prompted you to try such a combo? I fish in a canopy covered creek and I use a 6' 2wt and 3wt DT floating line. I do normal overhead and side arm casting and it keeps me out of all but a few of the lowest overhead limbs. I love my 6 foot TFO.

Permalink Reply by Lord of the Fly , Rods on August 28, 2009 at 7:34pm

Been using the same flyrod for 22 years , an 8 and one half foot graphite in six weight with #6 wt. forward line. It has served me well at catching 5lb smallmouth, catfish up to 14 lbs, and bluegill by the boatload. Several times I thought it would break with the catfish but it has held up. It has great sensitivity and enought backbone to pull the biggest bluegill out of the worst brush with authority with out playing them to exhaustion, and yes I do eat them, the bigger the better, Smallmouth give a pretty good fight also , I like it when they make the line cut the water in a big v and they think they are in charge, but the old flyrod tames them down pretty quick,so ok I'll tell the truth I release every smallmouth I catch, but they dont taste as good as bluegill to me,but you have got to respect their fighting spirit. Thats not so say bluegill are not great fighters, they are, pound for pound probably the best but they also are great eating, so after 22 years of action with the same rod I can honstly tell you I have caught tons of fish with the same rod. I just hope all of you can find a rod that will serve you so well.
I eat bluegill
I eat big bluegill

Permalink Reply by CHARLES A. VINSON, JR. on August 28, 2009 at 9:20pm

Amen to that !

Permalink Reply by Steve Crowder on September 7, 2009 at 4:11am

I use a matching pair of Orvis Far and Fine (old style) 5 wt.'s most of the time I fish. I've had these rods for almost 20 years. They just seem natural to me. Started fly fishing with cheap bamboo rod, so the slower casting stroke suits me better. And the 5wt. seems to throw the weighted flies a little better.

Permalink Reply by Charles Singleton on September 8, 2009 at 4:05pm

Most of the time, I'm flailing with a 5wt, 9ft, 4-pc Albright, with WF5F line, but only because the waters I fish also have some large largemouth! If I'm in an area where I expect ONLY 'gills or I'm throwing dry flies, I use a 3-wt.

Permalink Reply by Copperhead John on January 7, 2010 at 12:41pm

I fish in Panhandle Florida and I used to use a St. Croix 4 piece 9' 5wt. Legend and Rio #5 Select Trout wf line but now use a 4 piece 7'9" 4 wt. Temple Fork Finesse rod with a Scientific Anglers wf 4.5 GPX line. I could cast like a God as far as distance goes with the former but the latter is much more pleasurable and I get plenty of distance. By the way, would it not be a good idea for all of us to report on this site successful line-rod combinations listing all pertinent details? I wish I had all the money back I have spent on premium lines over the years trying to match them with a particular rod only to be disappointed later.

Permalink Reply by shooter on January 9, 2010 at 10:03pm

holey smokes copperhead,i don't want to know how much i have spent on fly lines doing the same thing,
although i have been lucky to find some great line and rod combos that work for me.
a premium line can make a mediocre fly rod preform well,but a cheep line can kill a great rod.

gators don't fly fish

Permalink Reply by jim cosgrove on January 15, 2010 at 3:19pm

i used cheap rods for years,was all i could afford.2 years ago finally broke down got a tfo 3 wt.rod reel & very good line for less than $ 200 at cabelas.all i do is flick my wrist now to cast 30 40 ft. i know bad casting form. also roll casts like a dream.have also landed a 10 lb plus carp on it.

Permalink Reply by Keith Ozarowski on January 17, 2010 at 9:01pm

Hello Charles,
I use 6ft 2wt TFO

Permalink Reply by Jeff Workman on February 14, 2010 at 5:05pm

I've had a 5# 9' Cortland for several years caught several bluegill and a few bass (one that probably weighed around 6#) . Got a 3# 8.6'? TFO? Lefty Kreh Pro 2-3 years ago? Have used just a bit. Got wife a 0# 8'? Sage with Ross reel 1# line while in Montana. Haven't used it much yet. It was kind of an impulse thing. Recommended by guy in fly shop and wife liked feel. Have concerns it might be too light. We'll find out this spring.