Help with Bluegill Fly Rod for Kayak

[Stephen Ermak]

I got a Hobie Pro Angler kayak last spring and had a blast chasing gills with it using light spinning tackle. I want to get fly rod to use in the kayak this year. So I'm looking for suggestions for the best all-around fly rod (if there is such a thing) to use for gills while in a kayak. I'll throw nymphs, spiders and small poppers and will fish lakes exclusively. I'm an experienced fly caster with many 5/6 wt rods but think I should go lighter for gills.

Please let me know your suggestions. Thanks.

[oldduckcoat]

Steve, In your experience with the rods you fish now ( 5/6 wt ) do you prefer slow or fast action rods? I think rod action is as important as line weight when choosing a Popper and Weighted Fly rod. If you think you will be fishing mostly poppers I would recommend you lean to the 4 wt unless you you prefer a very fast action rod. I fish slow glass rods and I prefer a 5 wt for poppers and weighted wets.

Cheers,

ODC 

[carl hendrix]

Steve-- i cast everything with my 3 wt.  poppers-- droppers on poppers- hair bugs - you name it. with just a bit of practise; you can cast just as easy as with a 5 wt..  my much pfrefered way is-- roll casting-- a porkupine quill float and a fly of some sort!!

[robert b reid]

hi steve go with a 3 wgt fly rod for fishing gills from a kayak. its a blast catching them on a light weight fly rod and as for your spinning rods.  all i use is ultra lights nothing over 6 ft and nothing over 6lb line. i like mr crappie line that way i can see it when the gill takes the jig or worm.hope this helps and welcome to the plastic navy and the new addiction

[R. Michael Charske]

2 or 3 weight in a 7.6 footer. I have found from a pontoon that the longer length is more difficult to get the fish right next to the boat for release or keeping. Especially when there is water movement and boat control involved. Every inch counts. Roll cast ing is THE preferred cast for me.

[Phill Morse]

Steve,
My setup for flyfishing gills is a Ten ft 4wt 4 piece. It really helps get the line up off water from tube or kayak. If it is windy I'll go up in line weight to 5wt to get better control. I tried a 9ft 3wt but it didn't have the power to handle the wind or heavier flies. If you've ever targeted big gills in the pencil reeds you're gonna need straight 10# leaders and no tippet. I use #6-#12 foam spiders with white rubber legs.
Favorite choices for fly would be foam beetles, hoppers, ants, spiders, poppers, mini leech, PT (pheasant tail) nymph.
Almost all of my bluegill chasing is done on small to medium sized inland public lakes, with the exception of ice fishing on Lake St. Clair.
Hope this helps ya get into em a little better.

[paul sach]

After much research I ended up with a very useful combination fly/spin made by TFO it's a medium fast
Fly rod, I've used 4-5 weight lines effectively, what I like the best is if they are not hitting fly pattern offerings I just switched reels to spinnng, best of both world, the rod is 6'0 good flexing rod, I was so impressed with the fly/spin combo I had another rod built thats a four piece ...takes up no room easily packable great for yak and canoe fishing. ....,
Paul

[Stephen Ermak]

Just to wrap this up.....I got the Redington 3 wt. Looks like it is going to work out great. Thanks everyone for your ideas and suggestions! Just waiting for the warmer weather to arrive here in MI.

[carl hendrix]

Steve-- you cant go wrong with a 3 wt buddy!!   the fun is about to begin for you now!!