Now, to Rods !

[steve b]

I've always chased fish with lighter rods/tackle than my friends, or whats considered the norm. Dad-n-law was charter captain and grumbled when I lost a walleye due to light tackle, but didn't notice I got more hook-ups to start ! But anyways..amongst my UL rods in particlar. Have a Dick Swan signature 7ft Browning Syntec rod with longer foregrip I absolutely LOVE. At the other end of the spectrum have a Browning Superlite that makes 6" 'Gills seem like 42" Snook ! If I were to go custom, might start with a @ 7' fly rod blank in oh.. maybe a 2-3wt. steve b

[John Cachel]

I use my St. Croix 6 ft UL rod and Bass Pro Shop Mirco Lite 7 ft 6" UL rod. Bass Pro Shop Micro Lite is IM6 graphite and it is not great feeling as IM8 but not bad for $50! Also much better than a few years ago miro lite rods! I caught lot of bluegills and Green Sunfish between 8" and 9" on this rod. I also have 5 ft and 5 ft 6" UL rods but I don't use it that often! 5 ft UL graphite rod with a small good spinning reel and 1 pound test line is fun to catch sunfishes and rock bass in small creek or tiny ponds!
I think to make my own 7 ft 6" rod made from Sage wt 1 or 2. Or IM8 or better graphite with a Tennessee cork handle. I like to use electric tapes around my open face reel on Tennessee handle! It should give me to feel what my small lure is doing in the water!
I like medlight 7 ft up to 12 ft rods for live bait with slip float! Light or Medlight plus long rod is better to set the hook big bluegills on live bait! 12 ft is easier to set the hook on soft bite panfish during cold openwater season in the late November to early December and right after the ice out!

[steve b]

Its funny, I have surf rods for Assateague, 7ft stand-ups for 50lbs + salt water. Snook rods, etc.. But I get the biggest grin outta shopping for the perfect Bluegill rod. Which how I found my way here. steve b