I would like to know your prefered fly rod, Wt. and length, for bluegills. Additionally, a list of your favorite flys, surface and wet, would be helpful.
My favorite is an 8' 2 wt. One week ago today the tip was broken by a small bass. I have had this rod several years. Have caught several channel catfish in the 20" range. I package it up on Tuesday, sent it to the Temple Fork Outfitters Hospital with a check for $25. On Friday I had a brand new TFO fly rod. It is great on Bluegill and will handle larger fish as well. TFO took real good care of me!!!!
I have been a "bluegill", "Shellcracker" addict my whole life. My dad never took me fishing so I had to learn by trial and error. I am 52 now and just found a book from Barns and Nobel "Bluegill.....Fly Fishing and Flies". by Terry and Roxanne Wilson. The book is $14.95 for members and covers ever fly, season and type of water. This book is a "keeper" Cabela's offers a 32 assortment by Betts ($44) but I found K-Mart has the same Betts flys for $0.99 each.
I am a fan of the 9’ 5wt, all around good rod. I bought a Redington CPX 9’ 5wt fly rod this spring and I love it. The CPX is a fast action rod (faster then most) so it can handle the mid west wind and still present a fly with finesse. The 9’ helps out when fishing from the float tube, and when throwing the sink tip for those deep water gills! As with any quality product Redington offers a lifetime warranty on the CPX line, so there is on worries with your investment while you use it.