Long or Short pole? Ultra light....Light?

[Nathanael Deloach]

     I am wondering what my fellow Blugillers thoughts are on the rods used?  I am finding after 10+ years of being a Bluegill fanatic that I am becoming more selective with the gear I use to fish for gills.  I have some formulated opinions based on the way I like to fish but my thoughts on rods are starting to change.  Please share your thoughts and reasoning for the rods you use, I would like to hear the opinions of my gill peers....:-) 

[chris kowaleski]

I was recently torn by the long or short pole decision myself, but i ended up getting a 5ft ultralight, and a 6ft light.  The way i see it, is that they're both really fun, and i can use the shorter one in tighter spaces, then use the 6ft one when it's more wide open and i can cast further.

[Nathanael Deloach]

My thoughts of pole size are going a long this reasoning as well.  What I struggled with for the long pole choices available here are 1: there aren't many choices and 2: the ones found were 6' ultra light poles that are like rubber or 6' light poles that are a bit to stiff (for me anyway)......:-/  I do not want to order a pole on line that I can't put in my hands and see how it feels.....I am starting to get picky that way. :-)

[James Sullivan aka Jimmy/Sully]

Rod lenght for me................. I like the 6.5-7' UL ..BUT, it has to be a better quality rod.

I NEVER buy a rod I can't feel the backbone and tip flex in person, for sure... !  there are a lot of medium priced rods in that category.. ALL of the major tackle stores have them.. MY personal best rod is a GLoomis 7' UL  AND it's baby brother at 5'..... NO these are not the mid priced models just MY fav's.. BassPro has several great UL's and well as Cabela's and Gander..around $40 their house brands.. that I also have in my collection..

Load 'em up w/4-6# braid for sensitivity and have a ball ! !

The longer rods give you a much better feel of the fight.. I personally enjoy playing them somewhat bringing them in... rather then the dredge process... ;-)

[Nathanael Deloach]

    I would love to get my hands on a 6.5' or 7' Ultra light pole......but, all I have within 50+ miles from where I live is a Gander Mt., Wallmart and local bait shops. I live in Walleye country so none of these places have 6' or longer ultra lights available.....:-/  I would have to take a road trip to the Cabellas in the Minneapolis area in order to get one in my hands, needless to say my current season of life with family doesn't afford me to make those kind of trips..... your thoughts sure make me want to check those rods out though! 

[jim cosgrove]

i like the softer ultra light rods as it is easier to throw the small stuff with.i am liking some of the old glass rods ,the light tubular ones.gotten a few at flea markets.with the small braid available you can feel anything.i have read the ultimate gill rod is a spinning rod made from a 6-7 foot 2or3wt flyrod blank.

[Tony Livingston]

I look forward to putting this theory to the test shortly..........

[Nathanael Deloach]

I like this idea as well (2-3wt fly rod turned to spinning rod) It looks like I would have to make one though.....that wouldn't be the end of the world....:-)

[Allen Morgan]

I have two different poles that I use specifically to enjoy fishing for sunfish with. 

One is a 4' 6" UL spinning outfit with 4 lbs test mono line.  I use that one in tight quarters, like brushing creeks, and in the local crappie dock, because it's SMALL inside there.

The other pole is a 7' Berkley Torsion (I think that's the brand name), IM6 graphite spinning rod.  I found it at Wal-Mart last year.  That same store has one or two left, on clearance.  I may have to go buy them and store them away for future use.  I've got a Shimano Syncopate reel, with 10 lbs test PowerPro braid on it.

I originally put that thing together for White Bass fishing; to chuck lighter jigs and spinnerbaits out further.  But, because of the length and action, good-sized Bluegills, Greenies, and Shellcrackers are fun to play with as well.

Remember, shorter rods give the advantage to the angler; longer rods give the fish more leverage.  A longer rod will definitely let you feel the fight more.

[Walt Foreman]

Nathanael, I make longer custom bluegill rods, 6'6" to 9", on fly rod blanks, both spinning and spincasting.  But of course you wouldn't be able to try it out first since I'm in TN.

[Nathanael Deloach]

Thats to bad too, If I was still living in NC I would have made the trip over to see them... :-).... Is there any way you could put a 5-10min video together on how to make one and post it?  I have never explored this possibility but think it could be a "long rod" answer for me as I like the feel of fly rods but preferr spinning gear for the lakes/style that I fish.....

 

[Gerome Hilliard]

Walt, where are you in TN? Do you have a
show room? What are your hours? I live in
North Ala and would love to see some of
your rods. If you wish you can email me at
[e-mail]

[Walt Foreman]

Hey, thanks for the interest in my rods.  I'll send you an e-mail.