Ultra-light or Light for my new gill setup.

[Eric Eilers]

Alright, I am new here so I'm sure this has probably been discussed. I'm looking at getting one or two new rods for gill fishing. I have never owned a rod under Medium light power so I wanted to get some advise. I'm really not fixed to a budget but don't want to get crazy, say max around $250.

I'm looking at St. Croix panfish series or avid series rods. I just don't know what power I want. Will I be upset going UL for general bluegill fishing?

Any other recommendations? I'm a big fan of St. Croix so I think I'm sticking to that but persuade me otherwise if you would like, I'm all ears (or eyes).

[chris kowaleski]

Walt Foreman on here makes some incredibly nice custom rods. Here is mine that he made.

[Eric Eilers]

Thanks.  I had just seen that Walt accepted my friend request so now I can contact him.  Does the wood handle get uncomfortable after a while?

[chris kowaleski]

Where i hold the rod is cork, so it feels fine. It goes ebony wood, holly wood, copano cork, burnt cork, then birch bark, then more burnt cork, then AAAA cork, then cork checkers, then AAAA cork again, then reverse that order. Phew i think i got all of that haha. It's a 7ft slow action rod built on a 3wt fiberglass fly rod blank.

[Eric Eilers]

Wow, that is pretty sweet.  I'm gonna give Walt a call and get a quote.

[chris kowaleski]

[Greg McWilliams]

BEAUTIFUL ROD, that WALT DOES BEAUTIFUL WORK!!!!!!

ERIC, You will not be UPSET, with ultra light set up!!!! I use a 2 weight fly rod most of the time and love the BEAUTIFUL VIBRATIONS,ULTRA LIGHT rods and BLUEGILL PRODUCE!!!!!!

[LedHed]

Just started fishing the St. Croix panfish series and I am very impressed. I got the 6' 9"  with Shimano Stradic (2 lb Yo-Zuri)  &  the 7' with a Pfleuger Patriarch (2 lb XXX izorline). Both rods are one piece. Fishing these in deep water right now but I am sure I will not be disappointed when I can fish staging areas.

[Eric Eilers]

Those are the two rods I'm trying to decide what to get.  I might just get them both.  does the 7' light rod over power the gills?

[Walt Foreman]

Thanks for the shout out, Chris!  Eric, I'll send you a PM.  I make cork handles as well as wood, can make whatever you want.  

[Joe Angelucci]

Eric

Not sure if your ever heard of Tenkara but it's Japanese fixed line fly fishing. I've been using a Fountainhead Caddis pole for the last two years and my hook up ratio increased over my use of a UL rig. The average Tenkara telescopic pole ( 2 - 3 oz) is about 11 -14 feet with 14 feet of line and about about 4 feet of tippet. You can cast dry flies, wets and nymphs. Direct casting without a reel  allows for very good presentation and near perfect drifts and no drag means you really need to work to control the fish. Entry level rods run from $55.00 to about $150.00. The experience hunting the fish  and direct connection on the take is amazing. The type of fishing is compared to 000 weight fly fishing. 

[Eric Eilers]

I have heard of this and am quite interested but I do want to get set up with a spinning rig first but plan on Tenkara when I get more budget for it.  Thanks for the recommendation though.

[wag]

     

       Walt ------>  Very  nice  work  &  good  looking  rod