Bluegill - Big Bluegill

Do you love big bluegill?

20180305-While rod shopping (summer period 2017)

at my favorite local fishing supplier I came across a display of rods... I was not familiar with by name… “Hellbent”… peculiar name I thought. I picked up a 6-0’er and started doing the normal shaking and twitching of the rod in space… I instantly fell in love with its extreme fast action… I quickly went to the reel aisle and affixed one of my favorite series to the handle… a Shimano 1000 series Siena RD… a match made in heaven I thought. I needed to test these rods out on the water!

Within a period of 2 weeks I owned 4 model lengths of the rods and immediately began showing positive performance results out in the field. The 6-0’er slowly began to be the favorite of the bunch. 5 out of the next 6 Master anglers sized B.Gills were caught on these series.

The rods proved very sensitive and added some distance to the very tiny presentations I was utilizing. I was settling in on a fishing performance curve at the time with the tiniest presentations were getting the most and largest fish. These rods thru tiny baits at better distances.

In the short trial period I ended up taking the 7-0’er back to the supplier. The length added leveraged weight to its task and I was not satisfied with the “fly rod” softer action due to its length.

Towards the end of the post summer season I started going extreme on the line diameter and spooled on 3# Nanofil on the 6-0’er… this stuff is so thin its tough tying a knot!

With cold water season 2018 just around the corner I’ll start with this combo twitching the tiny ice fishing sized presentations in their faces. I have a feeling its going to be another incredible year with these combos!

I’ll keep everyone posted!

Views: 290

Replies to This Discussion

20180305…work in progress continues! (discussion amended)

RSS

Latest Activity

Jeffrey D. Abney posted a status
"Got 15 medium gills scaled for Sunday supper…..my wife’s favorite way to enjoy a fish fry, fresh and fried whole in crispy corn meal…"
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a photo

Rose Skimmer…..8/29/2025

I’ve seen these guys in Louisiana and North Carolina…..one of the reasons I like pink jigs, the…
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a photo

Check Out The Emerald Green Cheeks on this Flier……8/29/2025

They kind of have a distinctive black line under the eye similar to a chain pickerel but not as…
Friday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Friday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a photo

One of a Dozen Largemouth in a Feeding Frenzy….8/29/2025

This river was pretty steady around 76 degrees for surface temperatures…..
Friday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Friday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Friday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Soaking Live Cricket Tipped Jigs on Bridge Pilings….8/29/2025

"Zoom in to see those popping emerald colors at the base of the tail……this pod of…"
Friday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Friday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a status
"Hit a different river today, this time working beavers are more beneficial than river otters……surface temperatures at 76.4 degrees"
Friday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

augpick

"The black under the eye and a business mouth……..👍, a true predator!"
Thursday
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

augpick

"Yes, and mean eyes, Jeff. A bandit with the black across the Eye!"
Thursday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Wednesday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Wednesday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Wednesday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Wednesday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a status
"I found an influx of salt water in some creeks and the bite was muted, moved inland to locate better water conditions and it paid off.."
Wednesday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a status
"We finally started settling down from crazy water level swings from Hurricane Erin, coolest surface temps in August in 15 years here…"
Wednesday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

augpick

"Distinct colors and markings……pretty chain pickerel……"
Wednesday
John Sheehan posted photos
Wednesday

© 2025   Created by Bluegill.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service