What's your favorite Bluegill outfit(s)..Rod, reel & line?

[Jeff Soto]

  My rods and reels are not expensive, but they do a great job of catching large, strong fighting panfish. Part of their success is accomplished by using good quality-made reels that have smooth drags and can handle very light lines. Reels that have a drag that grabs and binds are of no use to me. A 1 pound Redear will take off and run like crazy and if you are using 2 pound test line and your drag binds a little... SNAP!...There goes a good fish with your lure in it's mouth..

Here's my current favorite outfits:

1. Rod- Daiwa "Spinmatic" #602 1-4 lb test line 6 ft long 1 piece
Reel- Abu Garcia 301 ultralight spinning (great smooth drag)

2. Rod- Daiwa "Heartland" trout rod 5 ft 2 piece 1-6 lb test line
Reel- Daiwa "Crossfire" 1000 ultralight spinning reel

3. Rod- Quantum "Micro" MS-54UL 4' 6" super ultralight Rated for 1-2 lb test line  (This is an older rod, bought it around 1993)
Reel- Daiwa "Spinmatic-X 500T This is my favorite set up for Bluegills because it is so tiny, even small fish are fun to catch. I have landed several 3 to 4 lb bass and Channel Catfish with this tiny rod.

4. Rod- Daiwa "Spinmatic #SMC 401ULFS 4ft  1-4 lb test line
Reel- Pflueger "President" #6920 ultralight spinning reel
This is my close-in brush and dock jigging rod.  Also is nice to use while vertical fishing jigs, spoons and bait from a float tube.

I use various 2 lb test lines, either Trilene XL , Maxima, Izoreline XXX, or Yo-Zuri Hybrid brands. A couple of these rods are older models, but I keep them clean and take care of them. Remember too that with a longer rod, you can cast tiny spoons and jigs farther, but fishing from a float tube like I do, you don't need to make very long casts.

[Mike Roberts]

My main reel is a Shimano Vanquish 1000s spooled with 2 lb test

Pflueger Patriarch 9525 sits on the shelf  spooled with 2 lb test

Daiwa Fuego 1000a sits on the shelf spooled with 2 lb test

only line i use anymore is Dam Tectan superior 2.2 lb test mono

7 foot avid one piece ultralight rod is main rod for the time being

[Townie]

Very modest rigs there Mike lol The Vanquish makes a Stella look like an South Bend plastic special!--Geeez!