Thread: Panfish rods

Here's a tip I learned from one of John Gierach's books. If you're thinking about getting a lighter rod, buy the line first and cast that line on your current rod.

For example, say you typically use a 4wt and want to drop down to a 2wt. Buy a 2wt line and cast that line and the flies you want to use with your 4wt rod. You might find that the line does not have the mass to carry your flies. If that's the case, you're only out the price of the line.

Most of the time, I use a 4 or 5wt for gills, and I don't feel "overgunned". It's a personal decision, though. Just get the rod that's best for you.

I have a 2wt TFO fly rod that I use for bream fishing occasionally. It makes fighting the biggest bluegill and shellcracker into a major battle, but it does restrict you to the lightest and smallest flies, and the wind has a stronger effect on casting distance.

I do end up picking it up most of the time when I decide to use a fly rod though.

5'6" Shimano Sensilite w/Daiwa UL 500T reel

I was just wondering if anyone has tried these rods before and if so what your thoughts are on the rods, the one I am particularly interested in is the EXC 802 model. Would like to try a lighter rod for gills and I know a place where I can get the EXC802 at a really good price.

These are Gallatin Rods made by of course Gallatin Rod Company

This is the 2nd Rod that I have been considering but dont know a whole lot about it. But I have used Okuma products in the past and have never had any problems.

Features Okuma Celilo:
· 2-piece precision graphite rod
· High modulus graphite blanks
· Aluminum oxide stripper guides
· Stainless steel snake guides
· High-quality cork handle
· Rosewood reel seat



Any ifo you might know you think would be helpful please post

Doc,

I don't know anything about those two rods. They might be great, but I'm just not familiar with either of them. In that price range, I would take a look at these also:

Cabela's -- Redington™ Crosswater Fly Rod


The 7'6" 3wt gets rave reviews:

Cabela's Three Forks Fly Rods


GP Fly Rods | AlbrightFlyFish.com

Topwater Fly Rods | AlbrightFlyFish.com


It's hard to find good rods that are:

(1) lighter than 5wt and
(2) less than $100

In that price range, most people are looking for more "general purpose" rods like 5 and 6wts.

Originally Posted by Doc Crappie

Thanks for the link .... some pretty nice rods there thinking of maybe a 2/3 wt instead of the 4 wt... that would have to be fun catching fish on

I copied this quote from another fly fishing board:

"I still like the 2wt I built, but, I won't do it again. I have finally come to the realization that 99% of the flies I ever use require a 4 wt line or better, and I honestly haven't seen that much difference in fish play on a 2 vs. 4. The other thing is that short rods don't feel like the fish fights as much (leverage).... if a guy could get away with it, what he really needs in a panfish rod is about a 20 foot long, semi-fast 0 weight. Since that's not practical I'll settle for a 9x4wt."

That's pretty much what I think, too.

Browning Super light rod & reel combo from bass pro.
Browning Fishing Superlight Spinning Rod and Reel Combo

The bass pro in Nashville has these for 29.99 right now. I have a 4'9 & 5'2 that I use for the big gills.

I have a custom built 6'0 gloomis light action with a diawa reel & a 5'6 UL lews rod with a browning super light reel (same reel as the combo above) for crappie.