Long Pole use

[Zig]

Since Josh had me going back to days past, I happened to come across a few trips back when I fished for spawning 'gills. (Just a personal preference, but I prefer to stay away from active bedding areas nowadays)
One of my favorite ways of presenting bait to these fish was with a 20' telescoping pole.
No reel, no eyelets (minus the tip), and just a section of line.
Walk along the shoreline, and just vertically present a bait right smack in front of a 'gill. It was very rare that you wouldn't get an instant response.

While it doesn't get used for 'gills as much anymore, the pole does still get applied to "the other" panfish family members - great tool for plucking crappie from inside wood structure.

Anyone else enjoy the simple life?

[Ken G]

Absolutely.

The great thing is that these 12-20 foot fiberglass poles only cost $5-$10. I use a line that is about the length of the rod. For the top half, I use 20-30 lb. line. The remaining length, like leader or tippet, is usually 4 lb. test line. I normally just use a #2 long shank hook baited with part of a night crawler or some redworms. Sometimes I'll puta small split shot sinker 12-16 inches above the hook.

I find it very effective, and it allows a bluegill to be pulled out very quickly without spooking the rest of the school.

Ken

[Bruce Condello]

I've got a pair of them long poles. I absolutely love 'em. They are so easy to drop presentations down right in between two lilly pads if you have to. There are tons of times that bluegill are hanging out in the deepest recesses of the weeds. This could be the one and only ticket for reaches shy bluegill.

[Jeff Mullins]

YES I ALSO USE A 21 FT. FIBERGLASS ROD I USE 2 LB. TEST AND A SMALL SPLITSHOT SINKER AND DRIFT FISH SOME OF THE SMALLER LAKES AROUND MY AREA .. WOW ITZ A BLAST CATCHIN SOME BIG GILLS AND CRAPPIES . THINK ITS A LITTLE MORE QUIET AND YOU CAN SNEAK UP ON THEM A LITTLE EASIER JEFF

[John Cachel]

I love my old 20 ft graphite Class Tackle pole in the late 1980's. Lot of bluegills in cold water! Can hold still for a long time in one spot in the windy or cold weather in late November and December! Happened a large carp pulled so quickly and my pole broken! Class Tackle was out of business .....hard to find a good and light graphite pole in USA! England sell lot kind of poles to catch tiny minnows up to large carp. Some best 8 to 14 meters pole in England would cost at least 2000 dollars....ouch!
A month ago that I bought a 14 ft Cabela's graphite pole. Its light and good feeling pole. Will try it in this Spring for big bluegills!

[James Feasel]

long poles rock! I have 2 Bruin 14' and 1 grey falcon 16'.

[sharpfisher]

I rember as a kid my Grandfather would put guides on a 14 ft glass pole and a spincast reel. We would use them all summer long with an ice fishing bobber. You could fish deep and cast them a mile. Have always thought I would build a set up like that again.

[James Feasel]

This thread got me excited enough that I went out to my upper pond this afternoon and long poled some bluegill and little bass. Ice is about 1/4th off and the air temp was 39 degrees. Fish are thick on the north bank trying to warm up. They're skittish but hungry. 14 foot pole won't quite fit in the picture.