I just got into warmwater ff last summer before that I was just a hard core trout fisherman. I am courious what rod weights everyone prefers for Bluegill and Crappie. I have found that that my 2 and 3 wt work well when fishing a small popper on top, but obviously they do not work well when fishing a weighted nymph or bugger. Anything bigger than a 4 seems kind of overkill for bluegills. Just looking for some different opinions.
My Scott V2 8’ 4wt is my go to rod for most panfish situations because it gives me the most versitility (and because small to medium sized bass and cats are always a possibility most of the places I fish), but I also have a couple 2 and 3 wts for times when the water is small, the fish are, or both.
While I agree that a 4 wt is a very good all around panfish rod, there are times when I like to fish with weighted flies on size 8 or 10 hooks. For that reason, if I could only have one rod for pan fish it would be a 9 ft 5 wt. Since I am not limited to one rod, I have a blast with by 1, 2 and 3 wt rods as well; depending on the fishing conditions.
Jim Smith
I fish mostly 3 wt or 5wt. I built a 1 wt, but I do not do well with it when there is much wind.
Rick
I am thinking 3wt and 5wt also
I like to use my new 5wt. mostly but I will sometimes use my 4wt. If the wind is really horrendous, I may go with my 7wt.
I use a Scott 6wt A2 for topwater and a Scott SAS for sinking flies, but sometimes I use a Cabela’s 3wt for fun. I seem to only be able to cast small(#10 & #12) flies with the 3wt, so I only use it on calm days. Rob
I think you may need a slightly higher-weight rod for crappie than bluegill. Some crappie can get pretty big.
4-6wt for crappie
3-5wt for bluegill
4-5wt could do both I guess.
I fish 3…
8’ 3 wt St Croix Legend Ultra
8 1/2’ 5wt Diamondback
7 1/2’ 5-6 wt Southbend vintage bamboo
I enjoy all of them & frequently use all 3 each time I hit a pond, but the 3 wt is almost always the 1st, unless the wind is real strong…then the Diamondback is uncased 1st. All are great fun with panfish.
Mike
Alan,
Since you wanted some different opinions, I’ll add mine.
I fish for fun. I won’t starve if I don’t catch anything. I’m going to release almost all of what I catch.
A lighter rod is more fun.
For bluegills, crappie, and small bass, I prefer rods in the 2-3 wt. range.
These rods will easily land fish in the 1 to 5 pound class (no crappie or bluegills are likely to exceed that) and if you manage to hook a larger bass, you’ll have an absolute ball.
As far as fly size goes, I routinely fish in wind both from shore and boats. A 3 wt. will cast quite well with unweighted flies up to around 1/0 (deer hair and foam popper/sliders/frogs) and weighted 'buggers and such to size 4. For the fish you mentioned, you won’t need flies this big.
Long casts aren’t an issue with panfish, and 30-40 feet is more than plenty under any reasonable conditions.
I’d rather have a rod that’s bit too light than one that’s too heavy. I’ll just adjust my fly size, casting position, or whatever to make it work.
If it’s ‘too windy’ to cast with my 3 wt. and I can’t move closer or get to a sheltered spot, I’ll go read a book since it’s too nasty to fish anyway…the extra ten or fifteen feet I’d get with a 6 wt. won’t make enough of a difference to bother switching rods…
Good Luck!
Buddy
i grab one of my three weights and that has always sufficed. I often go with my one weight. What a blast that is! A crappie or bluegill on a six or seven weight does not sound like much fun to me, but I have not tried it.
Thanks for all of your suggestions everyone.
With all due respect, I think throwing a 1/0 popper and #4 weighted bugger on a 3wt is too much fly for too small of a rod.
I fish my 3wt for gills if the wind is down, but my go to rod is my 8’ 5wt. And no I do not throw big bugs on that rod either.
Dave,
I’ll have to disagree with you. I do it all the time, and I’m not a particularly accomplished fly caster.
No disrespect, of course, we just have a different opinion on this issue.
Good Luck!
Buddy
I have never tried casting 1/0 poppers with my 3wt but for me I know I can’t cast #4 buggers with it. I think for the bigger flys I am going to use my 5wt. I just ordered a new sinking line for it. :lol:
And how long of a leader and what size tippet are you throwing?
fish4trout;
Go to www.byrdultrafly.com and read “ultralighting” first, then “technical” and finally, “newest articles”.
Think outside of the box…experiment!
That is a great article Jim. I dont think that 000wt would work to well with a bugger though but I bet it is a ton of fun with little poppers though.
Alan,
You don’t have to do like I did and print-out each and every topic, punch them and put them into a 3-ring binder so I have an exhaustive study and manual on ultralighting; but, read the different topics on line choice, reels, wind, etc. Then, practice.
If you stick with the “party line” like I did with “pluggin’ & spinnin’” for 25 years and fly fishing exclusively for the last 8, you’ll miss a lot of fun. The infamous “9’ 6wt. syndrome”.
Know what I’ve caught tons of big bluegill, crappie, yellow perch (fun fish!), pickerel and LMB up to 4lbs. on the past two seasons? A Cabela’s Stowaway5 8 1/2’ 3wt. custom made by dropping the butt section which measures out to 6’ 10" of pure fun! And, like Buddy, I can toss the poppers and streamers where they need to be from the bank or my jon boat.
Wind! Not a problem. I studied Joan’s tapes, Lefty’s tapes, Mel’s tapes and Doug’s tapes then practice almost daily in the yard, not 4-5 times a season when I go fishing!!!
Discovery is not limited to the channel on cable TV…
Alan,
I got a spare quick change reel spool for my sinking line and I keep it in my fanny/belly pack for switching lines quickly when I want to. I am glad I did because now I can cover more water at deeper depth when needed.