Thread: Latest Bluegill Trip

Nothing like getting into beds of big male BG's, one of my fav things to do, except for spawning crappie. hand fishing? that's different

it's not uncommon for me to get into an 8-10 lb channel cat while out bluegill fishing....I wouldn't want to be hanging onto that line with only my fingers when one took off.

You have to set the drag right. I've caught plenty of big fish on handlines. People catch tuna all the time on handlines. You never hold a death grip on the line. You let the fish run. In fact I've scaled it down so I can catch bluegill.

Most videos on handline fishing are catching big saltwater fish. That's not to mention that people handline via jugs and trotline everyday with no problems.

My mainline is 30 lbs line anyway. That is very easy on the hands. I don't even have to fight the fish on the leader if I don't want. I got tired of building rods all winter just to have them break in spring. So I threw rod and reel away and started handline fishing. This is how most people around the world fish anyway.

30 lbs backing > 27 lbs lead core line > 20 lbs shank > 8 lbs furled leader. By the time reel in to the leader the fish is already played out. You can always wear a glove to protect your hands.

Here's how to fight big fish on a handline without hurting yourself:

Originally Posted by funbun

I got tired of building rods all winter just to have them break in spring.

I have been fishing for about forty years and have never broken a rod. (Knock on wood.)

How are you breaking all these rods?

I've been fishing for forty years as well, and these graphite rods aren't tough enough for me. Almost all my rods are broken. My dad's rods as well. Only my Phillipson 7 wt fiberglass flyrod isn't.

I don't mistreat my gear, but I don't want to baby it either. It hardly matters now: I don't use them any more. Handline is all I do. Honestly rods and reels slow me down too much. I'm done with them. I've caught more fish with the handline than I ever did with rod and reel.

Here's the video where my last rod broke:

Originally Posted by funbun

I've been fishing for forty years as well, and these graphite rods aren't tough enough for me. Almost all my rods are broken. My dad's rods as well. Only my Phillipson 7 wt fiberglass flyrod isn't.

I don't mistreat my gear, but I don't want to baby it either. It hardly matters now: I don't use them any more. Handline is all I do. Honestly rods and reels slow me down too much. I'm done with them. I've caught more fish with the handline than I ever did with rod and reel.

Here's the video where my last rod broke:

I think you're exactly right on why they're breaking: they're riding around in the back of your truck. The constant vibrations will create a weak spot that's bound to break eventually.

Yup, Disco, That's the only thing that makes sense. Of all the rods I've made this is my favorite type: a 7 wt fly rod blank built to use spinning gear. I did one like this in a nine weight and it got caught into some trees while trolling and the tip broke. After breaking so many I figured I was meant to fish in a different way.

It's pretty cool man I tip my hat to you.