Custom Bluegill Rod

[Looking for the big one]

I’ve recently had an interest in catching big panfish, really setting my goals on a 2 pounder. Was reading an article that recommended a custom built spinning rod on a 2 weight fly rod blank. I think it said 7 feet. Just wanted to get some input from those of you who build rods, as it sound to me like this rod would be too whippy.

[.ghoti.]

Building spinning rods on fly blanks with a "thing" once upon a time. Maybe it is again? If you like fishing with a limp noodle, this would be the path to take.

 

There are a lot of excellent UL blanks available, at all price points. Why not start with a blank designed for the application?

 

Give Mike, at DVT, a call. He can do it up right for you.

[Looking for the big one]

Thx ghoti for the reply. And yeah if I was gonna go custom... well mike, be ready for a call.

[S Hovanec]

American Tackle Bushido SJ72/4-8 is a nice panfish blank.  I've built a few of them.

[grub_man]

I built a general purpose panfish rod for myself on a Rainshadow IP840 years ago and it is phenomenal for the job.  I use it mostly for casting 1/32 - 1/16 oz jigs and UL crankbaits, but will use it for float fishing on occasion.  It's not as whippy as most UL rods, and has served me well.  The current version is listed below from Batson's Revelation line.  The Immortal would be the upgraded blank, but I really don't find it necessary for the task at hand, unless you really want Ti-Chrome finish, which is stunning.

 

REVIP70UL-SB

Satin Black

7'0"

1

4-6lb.

1/32-3/16oz.

0.380

5.0

MOD-F

UL

1.1oz.

Trout/Panfish light jigs and tube etc.

 

My IP840 is trimmed from the butt to 6'8", though at times I wish I would have kept the extra length for a little more lifting power when using UL cranks for bass.  It has a Quantum Catalyst PTIa 10 wrapped onto a section of woven graphite tubing with an EVA butt grip for a split TN handle.  With 3mm ceramic running guides, I can still pass a well trimmed bobber stop, though I would probably go with 5mm running guides if built for slip float fishing.

[S Hovanec]

55 minutes ago, grub_man said:

I built a general purpose panfish rod for myself on a Rainshadow IP840 years ago and it is phenomenal for the job.

 

Is that one of the old Cascade Composites made Rainshadows?  I have a green 841 that I use for one of my bluegill rigs.  I love that rod.  It was one of my very first builds, and you can tell! Lol

[grub_man]

Nope, unfortunately, it isn't.  It's one sourced from overseas in a matte clear finish.  I started building a year or two after they started sourcing the blanks overseas.  I know the old Cascade blanks had a strong following.  Those early builds may not always be the prettiest, but they sure are good at becoming attached.

 

I used Lumiseal for the first time on that rod as a thread finish, and I loved it.  I just wish I had a good way to keep the moisture cure urethanes fresh for the occasional build.  A few light coats to seal the thread with very little build up really suits what I try to accomplish well.  One of these days I'll get ahold of a little paint can and some permagloss or lumiseal, but I'm sure I'll dump a couple bottles in and still manage to screw it up and have it harden on me.

 

For targeting bigger panfish and perch, I would have recommended something like an SJ781, but Batson doesn't offer those anymore, and I haven't built on another manufacturer's to know how comparable they are.  That blank is phenomenal for light jigs and is not whippy in the least, but is a bit overkill for smaller gills.  I have a couple of guides to replace on mine (built as a casting rod) to get it back into the rotation.  I left the guide foot tunnels unfilled on that one to see what the consequences are.  In case anyone was wondering, it means the guides pull out way easier.

[spoonplugger1]

I wouldn't build on a 2 wt. blank, any spinning guide combo would over power the blank big time let alone any decent blue gill. At best this is a dink rod, unless there is some specific technique that required so limber a rod.

Can you catch bass, crappie, bluegills, etc. on a light fly rod? Yep, I've done it, but everything used to do it had to be downsized and specific to the task, nothing approaching normal tackle would work.

Go with the REVIP70UL mentioned above, kissing cousin to the IP and XP blanks of earlier times and a superb blank for many fish besides blue gills. You pick the technique and fish with like sized tackle this blank will do it. This blank has a faster taper than you'll see in store bought ultralight rods.

 

[Brad in Texas]

Just speaking regarding panfish rod lengths, I have two I use a lot: one is a 6'9" UL and the other is a 5' or 5'4" UL. It goes without saying that the long rod is the clear winner for casting distance.

 

But, when I am panfishing out of my canoe or kayak where I get very close to my targets, I almost always use the shorter rod. This is especially so around boathouses and docks where the accuracy and ease of casting way back underneath in the shadows is easier with a short rod.

 

We have really big bluegills, redbreasts and others here on Lake Athens. So much fun to target!

 

Brad

[MickD]

The reason fly rod blanks were used for light spin rods was that at one time all the Ultra Light blanks were no longer than 5 or 5 1/2 feet, and many wanted longer rods.  Longer rods give better casting distance and much  better hook sets.  Fast action fly rods, about 3 wt, 7 1/2 feet long made much better rods, but they are pretty whippy and sloppy feeling.  As stated above, there are many great ultra light 7-7 1/2 foot rod blanks available today, so one doesn't have to put up with the fly rod's sloppy action any more.  Walleye blanks of light power work well as panfish blanks, too.

 

I would not, unless special circumstances like small streams or kayak fishing dictate, build on a blank shorter than 7 feet.

[AC870]

Personally, think building a rod is overkill for this application. 

I have the Walmart Abu Vendetta 5-6 Light, not ultralight, and it is a fine gill rod. 

My other panfish rod is a 6-6 medium Shimano Sojourn.

I spool both with 6 or 8 lb mono, preferably 8. I got tired of bass hitting my cricket and breaking me off.   

[Looking for the big one]

@AC870 I agree with you, it’s definitely overkill. But if I can get exactly what I specifically want and support a sponsor of our great forum then personally I’m willing to spend a bit extra.

[grub_man]

Custom rods aren't necessary very often these days.  Rod manufacturers now offer enough actions and powers to cover most fishing scenarios, but mass producers are still mass producers.  As such, they are taking a stab at what most people might want, and use some build practices that may add extra weight to a rod making it more inefficient, and less pleasurable to use.

 

When it comes to something like an UL spinning rod, particularly a longer one, the guide train chosen by manufacturers generally adds way more weight than necessary, taking a great blank and making it feel whippy.

 

From there, handle design and ergonomics are probably the most important features of custom rods if you ask me.  As rods go past 6'6", most manufacturers will start using handle that are too long and get in the way while I'm fishing.  Being able to take control of this part of the build means that I can have a rod that I will actually fish.  Rods I bought with handles that were too long just never got used.

 

As looking for the big one says, being able to get exactly what I want is what makes custom rods a great option.  Once I got to the point that I started looking at factory rods that carried a custom rod price tag, I looked into rod building and learned to build my own.  It makes for a fantastic hobby!

[kickerfish1]

What are you looking to spend? If you have never had a custom built before you are going to be in for sticker shock.

 

Better be prepared to spend a minimum of $200-250. You won't get a quote for anything under that unless the builder is a friend of yours charging nill for labor/shipping, and supplies.

[Capt.Bob]

If anyone thinks custom rods for any purpose are a waste, don't put much thought in what custom rods offer! I think big panfish are a very good reason to have a rod made for exactly that purpose. I have a 6' and 5' avid in Ultra light, I had a 6'6' and much prefer the 6'. But I do a lot of panfishingm from Redears to Perch, and when you get a big gill, (over 1.5#) on in the environment where they are likely to be,, around weeds! Control can be an isue with to wimpy of a rod, and trust me I've lost enough on 2 & 4# test line to know.

 

I think one thing grub man said is especially important not only for weight to balance a longer rod with a smaller lighter reel, but also to add the most sensativity as possible. I Built my big gill and perch rod on a, Avid blank, but I wanted the 6' light Fast tip, with a bit more length, so had it built with 3" graphite extension in the handle. I wanted a small contoured grip, and chose different colored cork rings to be snded down and contoured to my liking to the same length the 6' factory Avid UL had, this hid the extension, but kept the sensativity, and the tip and backbone I wanted. Then to account for the 1000 CI4+ and help take weight off the rod at the tip and farther out the blank, I went with Recoil Guides! I have 5 custom rods built with these guides and today will never build another rod with anything but, lightest, most sensitive guides made, and indestructible, from Pike to bluegill, and 4# test line to 65# 832, they are bullet proof and show no abuse to the line.

 

This rod blank is not what I would have chosen for a dedicated custom Crappie rod, but for Bluegill,,,, or Perch, they have a tough enough mouth to take the slightly less forgiving tip, and you can be sure I have more often than not when I wrestle the bigger gills around and out of weeds, been happy chose this blank over using the UL blank. 

 

These are just a few reasons I have for building a custom rod, it is perfectly balanced with a short handle and super light real, with enough backbone to wrestle fish outa weeds and still lighter than any rod you can buy factory made close to this length, and sensitive beyond belief to feel the lightest of bights when tight lining, and great for casting weightless baited hooks and tiny jigs. Go for it, but take everything into your decision, from what reel you choose, to where it may be used, and don't cut corners, a few dollars today may be what it takes to still be a favorite in 15 or 20 years!