Thread: Beginner Bluegill Hunter. Need Favorite rod suggestions.

A question that I haven’t seen addressed as yet is what does the action look and feel like. Some UL rods start to bend as soon as they leave the handle. I’ve heard reference to a noodle rod and that’s what I’ve always associated with the term parabolic. It seems that you could easily touch them end to end. I’m not smart enough to fight a good fish on a rod like this. Others hardly bend at all in the lower section of a two piece rod and the top delivers all the flex. Keep in mind that all manufacturers aren’t on the same page of rating their actions. UL from one may be light from another, which is why I say to handle before you buy. My preference is light weight, two piece handle, good balance and some backbone in the lower section of the rod. Surprise fish will be difficult without this firmer area. As you feel different rods from different makers you’ll begin to see the difference I speak of. Some are downright pleasant and others make you wonder how it could be described as whatever. I will tell you that when you find a good one there will be no doubt in your mind that you have to have one. Good luck in the search.

While you’re looking you may pickup some rods that look like they might be light in action, but they’re listed as medium. I’m surprised at some of these I pick up that have almost no flex and are listed as a medium action. They resemble a broomstick to me.

When I was young, if I wanted, usually needed, a new rod I went out and bought a rod. Little rods and reels were for little fish. Today the call them Ultra Lite! Med fish, ie bass, generally required some what bigger rod and reel. Actually that next up past UL is what I generally got. Knew for sure most my early days I was going to catch something I needed a big rod and reel for. Discovered UL while stationed in Germany and was amazed how well it worked on the smaller trout we got over there.

Blue gill to me fall into the class of smaller fish! use heavier rod and reel and line on them and your gonna lose a lot of fun in favor of ripping a fish out of the water, not that you can't rip a blue gill out with an UL rod and reel. But in My opinion, UL requires light line also. I like 2# line but hard to find around here so mostly use 4# line. Haven't fished for Blue gill in a long long time but started in on crappie a couple years ago and found an UL set up was perfect. Might add that out crappie around here are normally pretty small. But for fish up to maybe 3 or 4 pounds, I like UL. Another thing about UL is it ability to cast really light jigs. Larger spinning reels with heavier line aren't as good at that as UL.

Now digging through the selection of rods and reels and listening to other praise the rod and reel they prefer will drive you nut's! Bottom line is I have never met a person that has tested every brand rod and reel and today most of the rods and reels are more than adequate for what your looking for. But keep in mind part of the enjoyment of fishing is getting the rod and reel that suits you! Don't rush it to much. Go into a sporting goods store and look at all the rod and reel combo they have and find one you like for whatever reason. if it's not a high dollar set up, no sweat. Your probably gonna want to try something else next year any way! And those small fish are simply not gonna tear a UL setup apart! use it for heavier fish and maybe the bigger fish will tear it up but in that case, go buy a new one. Decent rod reel combo's can be very inexpensive and you can afford to try a number of different one looking for just the right one for you. Don't buy into the buy once cry once theory, good equipment is so inexpensive today that that simply doesn't work! You should pay what you can afford but low cost doesn't mean you getting ripped off and in all likely hood, your probably not gonna be satisfied with one rod and reel the rest of your life no matter how good it may or may not be. I like fishing but guarantee you I don't need all the rods and reels I have but I'll probably get more anyway, nature of the sport! I don't know one fisherman that doesn't have a min of several rod and reels so look for something you like the feel of, the looks of and price and try it. Won't matter much as in all likely hood, next year your gonna think you need a new one! Get something that put's you on pretty much even terms with the size fish your after!

Well said Don. I had a pair of Shakespeare rods that cost me about $10 each and loved them. One got broke and I made someone very happy when I gave them the other. They were one piece and 5’6”.

just curious about a little stiffer rod that the okuma 6.6 UL model, i find it a bit too noodly or whippy, looking for something with a bit more back bone with a similar tip


chet

I got a Ugly Stick,6' med action for 6-12 pound line for a casting reel and it works a lot better than I though it would. Probably find the same thing in a spinning rod!