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Don't know much about fly fishing but I've learned how to cast and I'm going to give it a try. I've been given access to some farm ponds. They look to be a couple of acres in size maybe 15/20 feet deep. Bluegills and bass. Some of the bass will go 4/5 lbs. Got a 4 pound plus last year on a Senko. There's plenty in the 1/3 lb. range.

I'm hoping to keep it simple. Would an 8ft.5wt.rod and 5wt-wf-f line be a good compromise here or is it overkill? From what I've seen there's as good a chance of catching a bass here as a bluegill. Thanks.

it might be a little tricky casting bass bugs in the wind with a five weight. not only does the rod have to match the fish it also has to cast a line heavy enough to carry your fly.

It'll work fine and even better with practice!

That'll be fine...better for smaller bugs for bluegills, but it'll work on bass bugs with a little heave-ho..
Helpful hint...topwater bugs need a shorter heavier leader, sinking bugs for bluegills on beds can be done with your floating line and a longer tapered leader.
Unlike trout, there is no delicate topwater presentation wanted...or needed....a little splash down actually helps..

Ingwe

make sure you have plenty of wooly buggers (olive, black and brown size 10 to 2), you'll be glad you do. Top water will be fun but sinking flies will produce some big fish.

+1


Ingwe

The 5wt. + some smallish (#10,12,14) Muddler Minnows= great fun on a farm pond. Fish them wet, or grease them up and fish them dry to make a fair grasshopper imitation. I try to remember to tie a couple of unweighted ones when doing that pattern for just that purpose. Might need to bone up on the double-haul to build a little more power into the cast to fling the big bass bugs.

The farm ponds sound fun! I'd think a 5 wt will do fine. I use a 6wt for my general purpose rod, but have landed big fish just fine with a 5 wt.

Think I gravitated towards the 6wt because I like throwing streamers so well.

Regards, Guy

A 5 wt could be fine if it has sufficient spine. My wife is fond of my 9 ft 6 inch 5 wt Sage. She rigs it with a 7 wt weight forward line to beat heavier winds and takes on 8 to 15 lb steelhead. She does run about 200 yds of backing though.