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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,152 Likes: 1
Campfire Tracker
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OP
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,152 Likes: 1 |
I'm looking for a good bluegill and a lightweight bass setup. Recommendations?
BP...
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 11,061
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 11,061 |
Redington CT Classic Trout 3wt on sale at Cabelas.
"There's more to optics than meets the eye."--anon
"...most of us would be better off losing half a pound around the waist than half a pound on our rifle."--dhg
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 6,901
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 6,901 |
I use a 5/6 weight, 9-foot graphite fly-rod with a 6 weight, forward weight fly-line and level line (either standard 6 lb or 8 lb.test fishing line) as my "leader" on which I put my hand-tied white sponge "spider" with rubber band "legs". I tend to get too many "wind-knots" in my leaders to buy those expensive "tippet" leaders... so call me chea... er... ah... I mean "frugal". I fish this set-up over the bluegill's spawning beds in farm ponds in late May which is the most productive time for "blues" in S.W. Ohio and usually catch a new "blue" with each cast. My personal "record" is 217 large (about one pound-sized) "blues" on 217 casts. That's a LOT of fishing for a single morning. Incidentally, I caught an 8 pound large-mouth bass on the same white sponge spider set-up... and after the "fight" was over, I put the nice-sized bass back into my buddy's pond. That's a "lotta fish" when caught on a 5/6 weight fly-rod... and it was the largest fish I ever caught on my 5/6 weight fly-rod !!! I crush the hook's barb down so I can simply lower my rod-tip and let the bluegill off if I don't want to keep 'em since I'm a "catch & release" fisherman. Of course, with no actual "barb" on the hook, one MUST keep pressure on the line at all times as the fish "runs" in the typical bluegill "arc" several times before pooping out and coming to the canoe or boat with little left-over "resistance" to either be released or put in the "fish-box" or "keeper's net" for tonight's dinner or tomorrow's lunch. This set-up will catch about 100 big "blues" before the fish beat the lure to death and the white sponge "spider" must be changed-out for a fresh one. On a windy day, you can go to a 7 weight fly-line on a 5/6 weight fly-rod which will cast into the wind if need be, but the length of your cast will be shortened due to the "over-weight" fly-line. Hope this helps you... Strength & Honor... Ron T.
It's smart to hang around old guys 'cause they know lotsa stuff...
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,229
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,229 |
I like the Berkley Trout Dough spinning rods for panfish and small trout with casting bubbles.
Being that I'm an older guy, I'm still using old reliable Mitchell 308 and 310 spinning reels.
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 23,126 Likes: 2
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 23,126 Likes: 2 |
Depends on how much of a challenge/sport you're looking for, and what kind of flies you'll be offering them.
A lightweight 2 or 3 weight rig using little bitty flies at the end of gossamer leaders makes the game a little more technical/challenging, and a decent size bluegill can feel like a decent size trout on a heavier rig. It's the way I would go.
If the intent is to fill a stringer of fish no matter what, go with a 5-6-7 weight outfit with a thick heavy leader, toss poppers/streamers/terrestrials at them and horse them in.
"You can lead a man to logic, but you cannot make him think." Joe Harz "Always certain, often right." Keith McCafferty
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 17,804 Likes: 2
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 17,804 Likes: 2 |
Most of my fishing these days is done with the old Fenwick Fenglass fly rods.. Very soft action unlike the sticks made from graphite or what have you.. Most of my rods are 6wt since these were seldom produced in anything less than 5wt.
My favorite is an old 8' that is about 45 years old..
Molon Labe
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,306 Likes: 2
Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,306 Likes: 2 |
I agree with others. If you want to have fun, a 6ft/ 3 wt. would be skookum...a 7.5 foot 5 weight would be more versatile. We always used popping bugs on a short ( 3 ft.) leader and used a sloppy presentation...opposite of trout-the more noise it makes hitting the water, the better. Longer leader ( 7.5 ft) for sinking bugs/nymphs. The good part about them is a painfully slow process of stripping them in, so the line always remains taut...makes it easy to hook them!
"...the left considers you vermin, and they'll kill you given the chance..." Bristoe
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 23,126 Likes: 2
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 23,126 Likes: 2 |
One of the best days I ever had on the water was an afternoon on a farm pond in central PA where the sunnies and bluegills were as big as your two hands placed end to end. We had fished Big Spring Creek (a noted Pennsylvania limestone creek) all morning and had fun stalking a mixed bag of small to average browns and brookies when my buddy suggested we hie on over to this pond he had permission to fish. What the heck, why not? Trouble was, the only rod I had with me was a short noodle of a two-weight. I had an old half worn out 3-weight Triangle Taper line buried in my kit with which I reloaded my Hardy Flyweight reel. Using that rig to present #20 Griffith's Gnats and #20-something various colored ants while sneaking around inside the cat-o'-ninetails like a poacher found me asking my pard why the heck we hadn't gone straight there that morning instead of the creek.
A good way to bring out the kid in you.
"You can lead a man to logic, but you cannot make him think." Joe Harz "Always certain, often right." Keith McCafferty
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Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 10
New Member
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New Member
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 10 |
Get yourself a spider with rubber legs and twitch it on the surface. Bluegill in my lake destroy this setup!
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,865 Likes: 4
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,865 Likes: 4 |
Ok! Here is my opinion for what it is worth. If you are just talking bluegills I would agree with a 3wt rod of what ever length would work in your environment, I would recommend a 8'-0" as a good all round 3 wt.
But, you said lightweight bass. I am not exactly sure what that means, but if it is bass that will weight less than 2 lbs. then the 3wt will also work for them. If you are talking about catching good bass that will exceed 16" and over 2 lbs. then I suggest a heavier rod.
I fished on July 26th in a farm pond in Pa. and I used a 9'-0" 6wt and had a ball catching blue gills and some bass that approached 16" in length.
Choose a fly rod for the size of the fly you expect to use and a rod heavy enough to land the fish quickly to assure its survival.
To catch large bass requires large flies and a large bass needs a rod with the backbone to land him quickly.
So, I suggest a 6wt as a do all bluegill/lightweight bass rod, and I can assure you the bluegills will still be a blast to catch on it, plus it will land your bass.
I fish smallmouths with 7 & 8 wts. due to the fact I throw large flies for 20" 4 lb. plus fish.
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,152 Likes: 1
Campfire Tracker
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OP
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,152 Likes: 1 |
Thanks for all your replies. Y'all have given me much to work with. When I get this done I'll post back. And I used to kill'em with green rubber floating spiders. BP...
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 31,285 Likes: 9
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 31,285 Likes: 9 |
One again, the nearly universal 5# 9-ft rod with a WF line proves its worth.
Don't forget to add a nymph dropper to your popping bug or spider. A #16 hare's ear or anything similar on a 12" dropper will more than double your catch rate. Either tie the dropper to the popper hook bend, or tie the popper on and leave a long tag end for the nymph.
Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult.
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,306 Likes: 2
Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,306 Likes: 2 |
Don't forget to add a nymph dropper to your popping bug or spider. A #16 hare's ear or anything similar on a 12" dropper will more than double your catch rate. Either tie the dropper to the popper hook bend, or tie the popper on and leave a long tag end for the nymph.
THIS....is a good tip!
"...the left considers you vermin, and they'll kill you given the chance..." Bristoe
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 31,285 Likes: 9
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 31,285 Likes: 9 |
Thanks. Learned it the fun way, too! I usually use a small soft hackle wet fly for this. Moving the popper causes that soft hackle to "breathe" just a bit - and that's all it takes!
Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult.
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,306 Likes: 2
Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,306 Likes: 2 |
Used to do exactly the same thing with a Grey Hackle Peacock!
"...the left considers you vermin, and they'll kill you given the chance..." Bristoe
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 3,891
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 3,891 |
The 3 wts are fine if you want little fish. Just remember though th if you are pond fishing there is a good chance for some 5 lb plus bass being there . most ponds have cat tails and submerged snags so being able to apply some pressure is not a bad thing. I use to use a glass fenwick 7 wt but now have a 81/2 ft 6 wt Using 3 wt leaders to throw # 6&8 bugs as well as wooly buggers hoppers and muddlers
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 29,929 Likes: 10
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 29,929 Likes: 10 |
Set-up is whatever floats ones boat. A comment though on bluegills. I don't normally chase them but had opportunity this past summer when I was back in Pa on a Pocono pond. I did not have any poppers, so was tossing a mix of nymph patterns (mostly hare's ears). I was picking up a good number of bluegills, but always hooking up on the casting lift, rarely sensing a take.
My sister has a two story boathouse, so I went to the upper deck and made a few casts. The bluegill would race to the fly, stop, hover, and then simply inhale the fly and sit there. The only evidence if any of a take was maybe some slight movement of 1 to 2 inches of leader. Still water trout typically move some line as they cruise and inhale bugs, but those bluegills were really subtle.
The learning portion for me was that I really needed to keep the leader straight and respond to the slightest hint of a fish. Started picking up a lot more fish after that lesson.
Last edited by 1minute; 10/13/15.
1Minute
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 69,337 Likes: 19
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 69,337 Likes: 19 |
I prefer a 8' 4 wgt, as the stock tanks I fish also have large bass and big channel cats, too.
Most fun I've had recently with a fly rod is in a buddy's tank that's filled with channel cat and bluegills that get fed with pea sized pellets of Purina Fish food every other day. Just tie on a size 12 foam spider with rubber band legs and start casting as the catfish come up to feed, and hang on to your rod!!! A 5 to 7 lb channel cat can put up quite a fight on a 4 wt fly rod!
"Allways speak the truth and you will never have to remember what you said before..." Sam Houston Texans, "We say Grace, We Say Mam, If You Don't Like it, We Don't Give a Damn!"
~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~
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