Thread: What's the best rod/reel/hook setup for big redear?

... it could be your hook size is too small, and you really aren't getting a good/deep hook penetration. I use #4 bronze Aberdeen lite wire hooks for Redear/Gill fishing (usually with pinch of nightcrawler as bait), and I don't lose many fish.
New line is always a good idea, especially if you fish alot ... fish in the sunshine alot ... fish cover alot (wood/rocks/etc) ... or store your rods in the trunk, bed, or backseat of your vehicle. Heat and sunlight will damage your line, over time.

I'm using Mr Crappie Super Hi-vis 4lb test line (old version, not the newer "chinese" made version) ... and I'm handling Crappie over 2lbs, Bass, Cats, Drum, Hybrids, etc. w/o fear of breakage. I've used the Improved Clinch knot about all of my life, on mono from 4lb test to 20lb test, and never had a problem with the knot. Improper cinching down of the knot, dry cinching of the knot, nicked/freyed line (from contact with cover), or kinked up line (from picked out birdsnests & professional overwinds) ... now those will cause problems

I'd change my line, first ... then, if I still lost fish (as before), I'd change hooks

... cp

I'm not sure that hook size is the problem. You can land pretty big fish on small hooks.

For bait fishing, the biggest hooks I use are #10's, and those are my carp hooks! :D (My biggest carp -- a 20-pounder -- came on a #14 fly hook.)

For gills/crackers, I normally use a #14 or #16. My biggest brown trout (a 20-incher) came on a #20 nymph.

As long as the line and rod are matched to the hook, small hooks hold just fine.

Originally Posted by crappiepappy

I've used the Improved Clinch knot about all of my life, on mono from 4lb test to 20lb test, and never had a problem with the knot. Improper cinching down of the knot, dry cinching of the knot, nicked/freyed line (from contact with cover), or kinked up line (from picked out birdsnests & professional overwinds) ... now those will cause problems

I'm still working on my improved clinch skills, CP.

Originally Posted by deathb4disco

I'm not sure that hook size is the problem. You can land pretty big fish on small hooks.

For bait fishing, the biggest hooks I use are #10's, and those are my carp hooks! :D (My biggest carp -- a 20-pounder -- came on a #14 fly hook.)

For gills/crackers, I normally use a #14 or #16. My biggest brown trout (a 20-incher) came on a #20 nymph.

As long as the line and rod are matched to the hook, small hooks hold just fine.

Exactly. People even catch large trout on #28 midge patterns....

Sure small hooks will hold...if hooked in the right place etc. With a larger gap hook you have a better chance of hooking up more solid.

I haven't had bluegill break 4 lb. test, but had a big one break 2 lb. test once. The reason I know it was a bluegill is I caught the fish the next day and it still had my jig and line in its mouth.

Originally Posted by Festus_Haggen

I haven't had bluegill break 4 lb. test, but had a big one break 2 lb. test once. The reason I know it was a bluegill is I caught the fish the next day and it still had my jig and line in its mouth.

So how big was it? did you weigh it?

redear are powerful fish, make no mistake about that. the best redear fisherman I know uses 10 lb line, two rods that are 8 1/2' long. they are st. croix float and fly rods meant for smallmouth fishing. he uses size 2 eagle claw aberdeen crappie hooks. he had a 2lb plus redear break his 8lb. line at the boat a couple yrs. ago. I use 9-11 foot rods, 6 lb. line and size 2 extra lite aberdeen hooks, so I can get some of them back when snagged. alot of times a redear will have you wrapped around some wood before you can even pick the rod up. this happened to me a couple mos. ago with a 1lb. 12oz. redear, I was lucky to get that fish in. the size 8 hooks are too small for consistent hookup when using 2 redworms on the hook. If the worms are small I'll put more on there. the long rods really help when you get the fish up close to the boat to keep them away from the anchor lines, and also to help keep them out of the wood etc. I always try to wear them down some before bringing them close to the boat, this nixes alot of problems. and when they are close to the boat I'll back off the drag too, because they are gonna lunge for the bottom. you can readjust the drag after you have him in the cooler.

Originally Posted by redear

redear are powerful fish, make no mistake about that. the best redear fisherman I know uses 10 lb line, two rods that are 8 1/2' long. they are st. croix float and fly rods meant for smallmouth fishing. he uses size 2 eagle claw aberdeen crappie hooks. he had a 2lb plus redear break his 8lb. line at the boat a couple yrs. ago. I use 9-11 foot rods, 6 lb. line and size 2 extra lite aberdeen hooks, so I can get some of them back when snagged. alot of times a redear will have you wrapped around some wood before you can even pick the rod up. this happened to me a couple mos. ago with a 1lb. 12oz. redear, I was lucky to get that fish in. the size 8 hooks are too small for consistent hookup when using 2 redworms on the hook. If the worms are small I'll put more on there. the long rods really help when you get the fish up close to the boat to keep them away from the anchor lines, and also to help keep them out of the wood etc. I always try to wear them down some before bringing them close to the boat, this nixes alot of problems. and when they are close to the boat I'll back off the drag too, because they are gonna lunge for the bottom. you can readjust the drag after you have him in the cooler.

Wow, great post, this is the type of information I was looking for. I'm gradually going towards longer poles, six foot poles and better. I bought two the other day that were six foot, medium and medium light action. I've learned the hard way that those five foot ultra light poles I grew up on really struggle to consistently land these fish. The nine foot pole seems a bit much but again, these rascals are a totally different hookup than most bluegill. It's that final dive at the boat where I lose lots of nice redear, even a good nine inch ear fights like a prize fighter when he sees the boat.

I personally am using four pound test line, but will upgrade to six pound line for next year. I'm also experimenting with several different knots, the palomer and jansik knot in particular. The palomer seems like a great knot and fairly easy to tie.

I spend a lot of time and money chasing these fish and when losing a good one, I feel cheated out of my money. My goal is to land a 1.8-2.0 pounder and have it mounted, but those fish are smart and not caught easily. I know they're out there though, the game warden showed me a picture of a fourteen inch redear caught at the lake I frequent a couple of weeks ago.

You don't have to use the 9 foot rods, and you'll do fine, but I like the fact that the long rod bowed over acts like a big shock absorber, when he lunges for the bottom at the boat, I will let him have some rod, by bowing my rod down to him, I would rather do that than rely on the drag only. the other reason is that the longer rod allows you to take up more line when you are getting a bite and the wind has blown slack in the line. when I am in closer quarters tho, I like to use a 7 1/2 foot rod by ozark. I do on occasion use 4 lb. line while casting 1/16 jigs and roadrunners etc. but I use an 8 1/2 foot micro lite from bps. try a chartruese roadrunner head 1/16, with a grasshopper color tiny bass assassin, plastic body with the little straight tail, and keep it close to the bottom. pm me with your luck, good or bad. kip