Baitcaster for Gills

[Ryan]

Ive recently been thinking of putting a small baitcast reel on an ultra lite rod to fish for gills. Has anyone tried? Any tips or model reels to use. Thanks!

[Charles Singleton]

I'll go ya one better, Ryan - I put a small (almost ultralight) spinning reel on my 5wt fly rod, pencil bobber about 2.5' up from a #12 longshank hook, baited with nightcrawler piece. That's KILLER on the BGs around here! :-) Oh! Btw, I also caught an 18.5" blue cat on that rig the other day, while trying for BGs.

[jdfish]

Ryan, I use UL tackle for all my fishing. I use an older model Daiwa bait caster from the 1980's a PM100 procaster. Spooled with 8# line and a 5 to 6 ft. light weight graphite rod it will throw 1/16 oz. lures pretty easy. Honestly, I use it mostly for bass and crappie but often catch a nice BG or RESF.

[David Merical]

Often for bluegills, the lighter the weight used when fishing either bait or lures, the better (jigging spoons may be an exception?).
Spinning and fly gear are designed for casting such light lures.

I'm interested to learn why you are considering a baitcasting reel for bluegill. Perhaps you have an innovative technique we could all learn from?

[Ryan]

i wouldnt call it an "innovative technique" but i would you it for pitching around heavy cover with jigs or a float with a jig tied below so i could crank the Bluegills out as fast as possible. But the downside is not having enough weight to be able to cast or pitch.

[James Feasel]

if that is your intended application, skip the reel and get a 16' to 20' long pole. very fun! and will cost less than a reel.

[John Cachel]

Small baitcasting would fit on a large pole or rod for jigging around fallen trees,cribs, rocks or edge of weedbeds OR use heavier line for trolling like serious crappie anglers in the tournaments.
Better use openface spinning for casting small lures. Not tiny reels.....little bigger openface reel like hold 6 lbs for 130 yards is great for 4 lbs line because little bigger spool on 4 lbs for better casting small lure more distance. Small spincast reel like Daiwa Goldcast Series GC80 or PS 80C is also good.
Maybe today best small baitcast reel can handle 6 lbs line but I rather use openface reel.

[Bill "Musky" Modica]

Since the invention of small diameter braided lines, and long cast reels there is really no need to contemplate the use of baitcasting equipment in this realm......even in heavy cover.

[Jeff Soto]

I DO use a tiny baitcaster at times. I have an old Shimano Bantam 100 spooled with 4 lb. mono that I put on an older 4.5 ft "Lightning" casting rod. This is a great outfit for deep jigging while I kick around in my float tube. I even use this for Largemouths because it really casts light line great!