I have been thinking of getting a one weight for super bluegill fun. Any suggestions on what would be good.
Thanks
Jason 3DW
I have been thinking along the same lines. A 1wt is too small for the big blue gills and heavy structure in most of my local waters, but there are a few where a 1wt would be a lot of fun. Of the two that I have compared, The Sage TXL 1wt would be great. Fantastic. Very nice. The TFO Finesse series 1wt would be good but at 6’9" is shorter than I like. Its about $400 less than the Sage though. I definitely like the Sage TXL better, primarily because of the length. Enough to consider paying the extra $.
I haven’t tried the Orvis Superfine 1wt. Its probably a very nice rod. Its about the same price as the Sage.
I have a 2wt and there are times that it isn’t enough and I pull out a 4wt on blue gills. A 1 wt would be a blast, but I have also wondered about the TXL in a 00 wt. Let us know what you choose.
The other thing to consider is the size fly you’ll be flinging. I have a pair of 2wt rods I love to death, but on bluegills I’m generally throwing flies big enough it takes a heavier rod to throw them so I spend most of my time with a 4wt.
I have a 2 wt that I love to cast, but it is limited due to wind as well. If you fish in an area where it might be breezy often, you’ll have trouble using it very much. Keep a 4 for a back up just in case.
If I was going to go with a 1 or 0 weight, I’d look at the Dan Craft Sig III line and build one up. He has a 6’10" 3 pc and a 7’ 2 piece available in a 1 weight or a 6’1" 0 weight.
I purchased a 6ft 3wt last year and sold it after 3 trips after gills. Keep in mind, that if you have a 6ft rod & are walking banks…you are going to need a 5ft leader/tippet to keep your line out of the weeds without too much effort. I went back to a 7ft rod and it was a HUGE improvement. Also, much less than a 3wt, and even a decent sized gill in lilly pads will be a tough situation:^) Plus as mentioned, anything more than a slight breeze and a 1-2wt with a hairbug is near useless. I would presonally recommend a faster action 7’ minimum 3wt. I won’t lie though…the lighter lines are fun…for awhile.
Cabelas CC701 is a 7-foot one-weight. I have one of the rod and reel sets with an extra reel for cheating and uplining to a 2-wt, double tape line. I have not used it much and it has been known to whisper to me when we’re along together in the same room. It’s sad when your fly rods can make you feel guilty for not spending enough time with them…
Ed
I built a 1 wt. Great fun to catch gills on, but a pain to cast if there is much wind.
Rick
I’m currently having a 1wt built for me on a TFO Finesse blank. For what I wanted to spend, it was the best blank out there for my purposes. I can’t really justify the dinero they want for a Sage anything, at full price. For less than I’d have spent on a TXL, I’m getting the TFO, decked out with great components and a Sage 3100 reel w/ a DT1F Quiet Double Taper.
Then again, mine will be used primarily for tiny flies, small streams, and mountain brookies, so we’re looking for similar rods but with very different purposes.
I’ll agree with ol’ blue on the Dan Craft suggestion. A lot of bang for the buck. I built up the the sig III 0wt 2 years ago that I absolutely love for bluegills. I only use my 2wt now if the wind is 20mph +. Plus once you learn how to fight fish on it, it can handle just about anything that you will run into in a warm water situation(except carp).
Ed–
The Cabelas Clear Creek series has gone away and been replaced by the Tight Quarters Rod (TQR). I have the 5’ 2wt. in the new series and like it just as much as the old series.
I have an Orvis Trident TLS 8’ 1wt rod that is excellent for perch fishing and with it being an 8.0 flex rod, I was really surprised how far and how big of a fly I can throw. It will haul it out there but when you catch even the smallest of brim, you can for sure feel it on the rod.
I have used it with as large as a 3x tippet and it will still turn it over good. Its an excellent rod!
What I don’t prefer about it is that it is a 2pc. rod and I really want to migrate to all travel rods. The other is I’ve come to enjoy the slower rods better than the mod-fast rods and the one I have is faster than I’d like … but all that is fly fisherman’s preference.
I actually have mine on here for sale as I am wanting to get one of those Superfine trout bum rods (1wt or 2wt) as I was very novice (still am) when I purchased my Orvis rods but have come to enjoy a slower rod more. I would rate my Orvis 1wt as a moderatly fast rod.
I took my 1wt to BassPro to compare it with the TFO Finesse rod and found it to be more like a TFO 2 or even 3wt finesse rod in its feel.
One thing that took me by surprise was TFO’s professional series rod. It felt to me more limber than TFO’s finesse series rod. If it would have came in a 4 piece rod, I would have bought it and for sure would have preferred it over their finesse series.
As for the wt of the rod and pulling out the perch with it, I guess its all in what you want and the conditions you fish in. The guys who have commented before me as sure to have more knowledge and experience than I do but when I have a fish on, I want to have something of a rod bending fight on my hands no matter how small the fish is … that is why I prefer the 1 or 2wt rods. I dont fish in heavy cover though much. The ponds and small rock rivers I fish are usually fairly clean without much brush in it so I don’t have to worry about hauling a large perch out before it trys to wrap up.
My 1wt. rod was very hard to find. My Orvis dealer called the Orvis rep and he spent two weeks trying to find a store in which there was one. Finally one was found in Houston and shipped to my local dealer. Its paired with an Orvis Battenkill Large Arbor I reel and its great!
I also would like to get a Sage 000wt rod but finding one I can afford is another issue, lol!
Good luck on your quest and let us know which one you picked up and how its working for you,
Dan
I would also put in another plug for Cabela’s 7 foot, one or two weight rods. I own and regularly fish both. They are a lot of fun and a real hoot to fish as long as you keep in mind their limitations like fish size and WIND. Try 'um, you’ll like 'um! 8T 
I use a 6’ and 8’ 2wt. for bluegills with 4wt. backup for windy days. Love them and its a blast to catch bluegills. I’ve also landed a 15’’ bass with the 6’ 2wt. Enjoy the ultra light fly fishing it is a thrill a minute when they are hitting. The spawn should be close and the action fast. Take care, John.
I have a superfine 1wt. It’s a 2 piece, 7’6". I have a hard time casting in wind with it, but it will throw a gurgle-pop without problem.
Bluegill222, thanks for the update. I couldn’t use a 5’ long flyrod. I’d hook myself even more often than the trees, and that’s saying something…
Ed
Well I always say go cast different rods and see what YOU like the best.
I have several ultra light rods that I do most of my fly fishing with. They are as follows: Sage 000710-3 TXL (000wt), Sage 080-3 SPL (0wt), Sage 080-3 SLT (0wt) and a TFO 3wt. I also used to have an Orvis Superfine 761-4 (1wt). I sold the Orvis rod this year though as I really did not fish it anymore. I do own rods that throw heavier line, however most of my fly fishing is done with the rods listed above except the TFO. Don’t get me wrong some people like TFO rods it is just that rod was a gift and it does not suite me that well.
I have fished these rods in various conditions, with different setups (mostly for trout). I never have felt “under gunned” in the conditions I have fished these rods in so far. Granted I mostly fish them in small remote creeks. I do also fish them in larger waters for larger fish with the same success as with my 5wt rods. Here is a thread of a few of my trips this year. I threw my light lined rods in all of those reports except 1 (I never specifically mention the rods I throw as I bring several). I also bring other rods incase I feel like not messing around with nymphing with a 000wt all day.
http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/showthread.php?33116-My-2010-fishing-report-thread
I have a Cabelas Clear Creek one weight that has been delightful. Unfortunately they seem to have discontinued that line but I am going to drill down into their site further just in case I missed something.
I can’t imagine anyone giving up their’s but you might find one on eBay.
Ah, dang it! Another good thing gone away. Well, a two weight might be an option. Only slightly bigger and thoroughly more available than a one or zero.
I’ve got a 7.5 ft 3wt Three Forks from Cabela’s and a 8.5 ft 5wt Pfluger Summit. Both are good rods but the 3wt is a blast.