Bluegill - Big Bluegill

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Big Bear Lake in Southern California reported in with good bites. So, armed with $100, went to the local Bass Pro (where all my fun money seem to be siphoned out on a regular basis) and grabbed some cheap replacement toys:

Bass Pro brand two-pieces Ultralite Glass 5'6" rod. Man, can that rod flex. Remember Kencor magnaglass series? Holy crap, this thing can do the same for $20, rather than $50. Same price can get a 7'6" rod for some major whipping action (crazier than the fly rod any day). 1lb gill are going to feel like 20lbs+ monsters. The reel is the the Quantum Micro for $20. Yeah yeah..I'm cheap. Love the reel's smoothness from the Signature Series combo without any snag during dragging, so, it's a good replacement. The flexibility of the rod is just..just..unreal.

Berkley Trout Dough Series (green) 7'6" ultralight for casting small flies with open reel, $35. Got a Browning ultra light reel for $25. Freaking awesome combo to cast flies with. Just sick! I can outcast my fly rod using a series of 3 nymph weights 10" above the fly, and wham! X mark the spot on every cast up to 30ft.

Okay..I'm itching to head out to one of the lake and give the rods the test run..Casting into a pool is not fun any more.

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Please do! Would love to learn from the master. You would give great mastery insights on flies.

I don't know about being a master at anything Leo, but after making 20,000 bugs anyone has to get good at something I guess. The pics are about a week away I hope and am going to try taking some pics of old pictures taken with an old 35 mm I got in japan in 1969. Can't buy hundred speed film anymore so I'm going high tech.
 Probably the best advise is to keep it simple on the flies anyway.
 TOOTY

Anyone has more than five thousands of those flies under his/her belt, that is enough experience to call him/her a master. I have yet to even reach a thousand, and I have discover tons of insights to fly tying. I will truly like to learn anything you have to offer. I talked to the local fly tyers at the Bass Pro shop for hours. They gave me so much info to work on, I simply got astounded by the wisdom they've gained for every scenario.

An experienced person like you is truly a valuable asset to have, and be friend with.

You are the man Leo - Ive been looking for some long, light casting rods.

David, only if you can see what I saw as a sale's selection at Bass Pro..man, that glass rod is sick to the core for $20. Need to go back and get the 8' one. There's also a 12' crappie for $35, and the whipping action is lke a real whip. Bass Pro brand, Maxx Series.

Thanks, buddy - I already logged one!

Bass Pro Shops has a pretty nice inexpensive graphite panfish rod, which comes in different lengths and different line size ratings.  I like the "Micro-Lite" ML60ULS-2, a 6 foot spinning rod that is rated for 1 to 6 lb test line.  A little longer rod will let you cast tiny lures or baits out farther than a short rod.  Though this is a two-piece rod, and some people (me included) prefer the action that one-piece rods have, it is difficult to find ultralight spinning rods of 6 feet long or longer that are not two-piece.  Some of the more expensive rods builders like G. Loomis, St. Croix, and Phenix offer one-piece, long ultralight spinning rods.

I was pondering on a few one piece myself, but at $70 and more, I went cheap this time out because I have to get two for the three that was decimated on the road..but, will get one later as the wife purchases as a birthday present..or is that the anniversary..hahahaha..i don't know.

Valentines Day, Leo. Thats a good one, too. You really gain points for that! ;-)

I just discovered yesterday that St.Croix has a new Panfish series of rods due out in February.... They're going to have one piece models in lengths from 5-7', light and ultralight actions, and 2 piece models from 8-11' in light action.

One of those 6'- 9" models was whispering my name as I slept.

ROFL..you sure it's not your wife doing the whispering? "Baby..I need a new car..BMW..yes..BMW.."

THAT's why I have this compulsion to go shoe shopping!!   I thought I was cracking up!

 

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