Do you love big bluegill?

What rod length do you prefer?

I have used ultralights for years and I started out with the usual 5 footers. They work great and they surely have their place. However, the past year or so I have stepped up to rods measuring between 7 to 8 feet long. I feel that they have definitely improved my overall feel of the bite and control of the fish once they are hooked. In addition, they have greatly increased my casting distance when it is needed. Shoot, it also looks pretty cool to see that long rod bending down to the handle. What size rods do you guys prefer?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Mo Fish on February 20, 2015 at 2:45pm

Dick,

I call a day of fly fishing with no wind knots a good day. Even if I don' t get a bite as long as I don' t get any wind knots I' m cool with it.

Permalink Reply by carl hendrix on February 20, 2015 at 9:38am

I;ll be glad to help you Dicky-- generally-- if the wind is not blowing -- or little wind;; i rarely use a shoulder-- to punch it thru in roll casting. only when the wind gets up is when i use shoulder- elbow-- to roll cast. The REAL fun--is when you learn to turn a roll cast sideways;; to make it shoot under boat docks;; tree snags and anything just above water. but that trick-- takes a LONG time to get it right!! judging distance is the real key in doing it!!

Permalink Reply by Andy is OptiMystic on February 20, 2015 at 9:49am

Sign me up for that lesson also! I would love to be able to roll cast sideways for one very specific situation i run into a lot - Weeping Willow.

Permalink Reply by dick tabbert on February 20, 2015 at 10:07am

Thanks Carl I know you will help me when I ask and lord know I'll be starting with a clean slate just hope I can get out and give it a try.

Permalink Reply by Slip Sinker on February 21, 2015 at 10:14am

HERE IS THE LIST OF MY ULTRA LIGHTS AND THEIR INTENDED PURPOSES:

BRAND MODEL	ACTION	PURPOSE	FUN FACTOR

Berkley Lightning Rod 24" ICE	UL	Ulta light panfishing 2# mono ICE	*****
Celsius CEL-FL24UL 24" ICE	UL	Ultra light ice panfishing 2# flourcarbon ICE	*****
OKUMA Celilo CE-S462UL - 4-6	UL	Ultra light panfishing vertical jigging/bobber	****
Eagle Claw Feather light Fl203-5 5-0	UL	Ultra light panfishing 5# Power Pro fixed/slip bobber	***
Eagle Claw Power light IM-7 5-0	UL	Ultralight panfishing Bobber	*****
Diawa Crossfire 562ULFS 5-6	UL	Ulta light panfishing 6# braid microdropshotting	*****
OKUMA Celilo CE-S602UL - 6-0	UL	Ultra light panfishing 6# Berkley Nanofil slip bobber	*****
OKUMA Celilo CE-S662UL - 6-6	UL	Ultra Light jig panfishing drop shotting	*****
Diawa SPINMATIC802ULFS 8-0	UL	Ultra light panfishing/trout slip/fixed bobber	*****

they all are my favorites when they are catching fish as they are optimally intended. Take for example my dedicated Diawa Crossfire 562ULFS 5-6 was specifically rigged and has a special feel for micro dropshotting for gills... so i dedicated this rig for this purpose. sure i could rig another but it doesnt have the feel for the purpose as this rod. im constantly tweaking rigs all the time... and that is a significant part of my hobby/sport of fishing.

Permalink Reply by Joe Angelucci on February 21, 2015 at 10:37am

Wow - Looks like you have this down to a science . Have you ever looked at fixed line rigs.

Permalink Reply by Slip Sinker on February 21, 2015 at 10:41am

i intend to this summer Joe... sounds like fun and you have me convinced

Permalink Reply by Slip Sinker on February 21, 2015 at 11:24am

...and of course fishing is a multifaceted sport and fishermen will feel accomplished if they are happy doing one method of fishing with one setup to the other guy like me who takes it to the other end ... constantly testing new equipment , rigging etc... if its what makes you happy do it. if fishing is a top priority in your life then live it that way. ten years ago i bought a 5-6 Berkley lightning rod, a Quantum spinning reel and 8# braid. i did everything with this rod in fact i keep this setup in my car at all times during the season. i fished flys with it behind a bubble, i bait fished ... i drop shotted... i made casts with that thing that would sometimes make a 7-0 footer jealous. my game has changed though and im keeping happy.

Permalink Reply by Mo Fish on February 23, 2015 at 8:00pm

Slip,

I love the analogy you gave about one rod for all your techniques or using an arsenal. I think it is so important that everyone fish their "style" or whatever way makes them feel comfortable. I am a gearhead, like yourself, and I get great satisfaction from shopping, buying and testing new outfits and equipment. However, other fishermen are quite content at using one technique or outfit and becoming experts with it. My dad used two fly rods rigged identically throughout my entire childhood and adult life. In addition, he used only one color of tube jig for crappie and only crickets for bream. He was also a bluegill and crappie assassin. I can' t remember one instance that he ever came home empty handed. More often than not, he came home with a mess. Many times I had the unfortunate experience of witnessing his onslaught while I tossed my third Beetle Spin into the top of another cypress tree. O.K., I never said I was a genius. I guess the beauty of fishing or rather the beauty of panfishing is that everyone can pursue it at whatever level they wish. You can fish from a kayak or a $50k bass boat. You can have a slew of IMX rods or one hand cut cane pole. The only thing that matters is that you enjoy your experience and hopefully share it with others.

Permalink Reply by Slip Sinker on March 3, 2015 at 10:11am

my dad and i fished like that through my learning years... one setup did it all... i owned a Shakespeare 2062 spinning reel and fished everything with it. one day i went to Kmart with my lawn cutting money and came back with an ultra light Shakespeare 2052 rod and reel that i proceeded to use for gills and crappie with light 4lb test... my Dad then bought a spare spool and put lighter line on it for his one setup that he then used for crappies and gills. he would swap out right in the boat. for him to Rig" made him happy. ...

Permalink Reply by Mo Fish on February 23, 2015 at 8:03pm

I love my Okuma Celilos. I own several ranging from 7ft to 8ft in ultra light and light actions. IMHO they are great rods for the money.

Permalink Reply by Slip Sinker on March 3, 2015 at 10:05am

i went shopping about 3.5 years ago for a specific "had in mind" kind of action UL rod... i needed one 5-5 ft in length and 6lb braid to fish for white bass that were slamming the bridge embankments and rip rap in early spring around me. i needed to feel and hold this rod before i bought. i went to a large wholesale supplier that handled many rods and they were always on display. i came across the Okuma Celilo section and that was it. love at first feel. now thru the years i own the whole series.