Bluegill - Big Bluegill

Do you love big bluegill?

Been goof'n with a cane pole today. It's a 9.5 foot river cane, I sanded and smoothed all the rough places. I made a wine cork handle and butt cap. I put a stainless eye on the tip. What should I seal it with? I was thinking linseed oil or tung oil. Because of the small diameter of the cane the grip should make it comfortable to fish with.

Views: 201

Attachments:

Replies to This Discussion

Either one should be fine.
Commercial canes are finished with urethane or something like it.
Whatever you can do to waterproof it.

Did you hang it vertically with a weight before finishing?

Looks great

Didn't hang it up. What is the purpose? Would like any tips you have.
Well, let me tell you how the old timers did it, from what I know. You can do it if you want.

You season the green cane by hanging it vertically from the tip, with a weight at the butt.
This pulls the fibers lengthwise and the cane dries with this set. This improves both the strength and gives a more supple tip section. If my memory serves, they called this "drawing."

If you don't do this, the cane is likely to dry with a bias due to uneven drying of the fibers - resulting In a bowed cane.
This hanging process is not quick, either. It takes a couple of months, as it should he done slowly. Bamboo is dense and it shouldn't be forced.
In the distant past, I hung mine in a shed well out of the weather.

Do you have to do it this way? Only if you are a perfectionist. I would be pretty rigorous about selecting long canes with the thinnest tips I could find. It strikes me as a waste to lose that effort by not seasoning them well.

But that's me, Keith. The fish don't care, from what I've learned.
I hope this helps clear things up.
This particular one was already dry, got herbicide overspray from a nearby field. Dried standing upright. Has slight bow. I have some green ones but don't have a area out of the weather that I can hang them from that's high enough.
Make the best of it. The fish won't know.

Looks great.

  I'm sure either oil would work just fine.

RSS

Latest Activity

Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
1 hour ago
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
1 hour ago
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
1 hour ago
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
2 hours ago
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.."
2 hours ago
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…"
2 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

augpick

"Distinct colors and markings……pretty chain pickerel……"
2 hours ago
John Sheehan posted photos
3 hours ago
John Sheehan posted a photo
3 hours ago
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

late augspoongill

"Me too ,Jeff!"
17 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a photo

Picture of our Water Level Impacted by Hurricane Erin….8/26/2025

You see where I placed the yellow circle we lost two feet of water level which empties many…
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

late augspoongill

"I enjoy using small tackle…..I always go to it when the water temperature dips below…"
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

late augspoongill

"Having a little fun with the gills….."
yesterday
John Sheehan posted photos
yesterday
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

Mid August shore

"This Bass was wound  , Dick. High 70-80 degree water temp."
Aug 21
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

md august shore 2

"I hear ya Dick ,but its been a long time finding numbers of these great critters for me !"
Aug 21
dick tabbert commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

md august shore 2

"I can take these all night long."
Aug 20
dick tabbert commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

Mid August shore

"Nice LMB."
Aug 20
dick tabbert commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Aug 20
dick tabbert commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

We Dodged a Bullet on This Hurricane……8/20/2025

"I hope you continue being on the lucky side. Best to you Jeffrey."
Aug 20

© 2025   Created by Bluegill.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service