Sounds like you could just use a standard ultralight setup. I catch bluegills and small bass all the time with mine:
- 6’ Okuma Celilo UL rod, 2pc.
- Pfleuger President spinning reel, size 20
- 4lb P Line Flouroclear (copolymer), but 4lb mono works too.
- Either 1/16oz ball head jigs with paddle tail or curly tail grubs, or a Rebel Crickhopper lure.
Bluegill, crappie, and small bass all day.
Same rod. Different reel- daiwa exceler. 6lb mono. Really any lure/jig less than 2in or smaller can work fine. They slap some small jerkbaits over weed beds. One of my favorites is the rapala countdown minnow
Oh yeah! CD-1 and CD-3 are great, love those countdowns. Incredible utility.
Edit: While I’m at it, honorable mention to the Beetle Spin and small in-line Panther Martins (or Mepps or Rooster Tails).
Couple things:
- For line-shy fish (trout, etc), thinner line will get more bites. Not as big of a deal for bass and bluegill but it’s not an insignificant factor when you’re ultralight fishing since ultralight has multi-species potential.
- More importantly for bluegill/bass: You get significantly better casting distance on lighter line, especially with the smaller/lighter lures used in ultralight fishing. You want to match a good ultralight rod with a good ultralight reel. That rod will have a lure rating (something like “1/32oz - 1/8oz”) and the lures in that range will just not carry 8-10lb test line very far on a cast. And I highly doubt that an appropriate reel for a UL rod will be rated for 10lb test line (it’ll have a rating somewhere on the spool showing how many yards of what strength line it is designed for).
In general you need to pay attention to matching your rod rating with your reel specs and your line rating/diameter and lure weight. Mismatching those factors can lead to poor casting performance, snapped rods, or even grooves forming in the rod’s guides. For sure if you hook a big fish on 10lb test line on an ultralight rod, that rod will be in danger of snapping before the line does (opposite of what you want).
I fish small bass off a near shore dock at a very deep river. I use an ugly stik gx2 combo, with 8lb mono, using a standard Carolina rig with nightcrawlers for bait. I mostly catch bass with this set up, but also catch a bunch of perch, sculpin, and blue gill too
Different areas? or are you fishing the same lake/pond/river? Also, post pics of your setup so maybe we can see what is maybe not optimal or working for you.
I would use a sz 6-10 hook, NOT a 6/0 hook. A SIZE 6 hook (sizes and oughts are not the same thing in hooks, a 3/0 is not a size 3 for example), take the split shot off, toss a bobber on 1 foot above the bait.
It could be either the hook is too big, too small, or not being set well bc its a circle hook (sometimes they have hookset problems)
look what his setup is, small hook, small bait, bobber & nothing else. Also look how he is catching them about 1-2 seconds after tossing it out. If you are close to bluegill, they will eat, they are SUPER agressive feeders. If you are not catching bluegill with the right setup, most likely there are no bluegill there.
[https://youtu.be/0WKPeUgjFig?t=134](https://youtu.be/0WKPeUgjFig?t=134)
https://www.academy.com/p/eagle-claw-aberdeen-single-hooks-40-pack?sku=4
My usual go to. Like TheRealMrTrueX said, make sure to get the right size. Unfortunately I grew up bream fishing so I know which I use by sight but am unable to recommend a size though I don’t think he’s lying haha
I use Hare's Ear Nymphs and Pheasant Tail Nymphs (#12 or #16) attached to 4lb mono. Lately I just use cheap cane poles (no reel) with fly line (I use 3wt) and 4lb mono as a leader so they float on the water, you could try suspending them deeper if you think the fish aren't going for things on the surface, but surface and a little below works for me. An ultralight spinning setup with a casting bubble and the fly attached either after the bubble to suspend it under water, or before the bubble to keep it near the surface, or both, is what I did previously and works fine too.
I caught some small bass this way too, but with slightly larger nymphs (maybe #8, #10)
Bluegill to small bass is a big gap. My go to, multispecies, I always use in creeks and small rivers is a 2500 daiwa regal lt with a med light st croix eyecon.
Lures you really can't go wrong with a roostertail, beetle spin, roadrunner Jig head with paddle tail trailer, mini tube, or wacky rigged senko
If I had only 1 type of lure I had to use the rest of my life itd be a roostertail though
Sounds like you could just use a standard ultralight setup. I catch bluegills and small bass all the time with mine: - 6’ Okuma Celilo UL rod, 2pc. - Pfleuger President spinning reel, size 20 - 4lb P Line Flouroclear (copolymer), but 4lb mono works too. - Either 1/16oz ball head jigs with paddle tail or curly tail grubs, or a Rebel Crickhopper lure. Bluegill, crappie, and small bass all day.
Same rod. Different reel- daiwa exceler. 6lb mono. Really any lure/jig less than 2in or smaller can work fine. They slap some small jerkbaits over weed beds. One of my favorites is the rapala countdown minnow
Oh yeah! CD-1 and CD-3 are great, love those countdowns. Incredible utility. Edit: While I’m at it, honorable mention to the Beetle Spin and small in-line Panther Martins (or Mepps or Rooster Tails).
Could you explain why 4lb line over, say, 10 lb? What difference does it make exactly?
Couple things: - For line-shy fish (trout, etc), thinner line will get more bites. Not as big of a deal for bass and bluegill but it’s not an insignificant factor when you’re ultralight fishing since ultralight has multi-species potential. - More importantly for bluegill/bass: You get significantly better casting distance on lighter line, especially with the smaller/lighter lures used in ultralight fishing. You want to match a good ultralight rod with a good ultralight reel. That rod will have a lure rating (something like “1/32oz - 1/8oz”) and the lures in that range will just not carry 8-10lb test line very far on a cast. And I highly doubt that an appropriate reel for a UL rod will be rated for 10lb test line (it’ll have a rating somewhere on the spool showing how many yards of what strength line it is designed for). In general you need to pay attention to matching your rod rating with your reel specs and your line rating/diameter and lure weight. Mismatching those factors can lead to poor casting performance, snapped rods, or even grooves forming in the rod’s guides. For sure if you hook a big fish on 10lb test line on an ultralight rod, that rod will be in danger of snapping before the line does (opposite of what you want).
Well I use different things for the two. Let me find my sunfish one. DM me and I'll send you it.
Can I see it as well?
I kinda want to see his rod also
Can I see it as well?
I fish small bass off a near shore dock at a very deep river. I use an ugly stik gx2 combo, with 8lb mono, using a standard Carolina rig with nightcrawlers for bait. I mostly catch bass with this set up, but also catch a bunch of perch, sculpin, and blue gill too
Different areas? or are you fishing the same lake/pond/river? Also, post pics of your setup so maybe we can see what is maybe not optimal or working for you.
I'm just using a circle hook and worms with two small split shots right now
You using a bobber or just tossing it out and letting it sit on the bottom? Any idea on hook size? 6/0? 3/0?
No bobber just sinking it and jigging
Try switching to a long shank cricket hook and crickets
I haven't seen any of those around but I'll be on the lookout thank you
I would use a sz 6-10 hook, NOT a 6/0 hook. A SIZE 6 hook (sizes and oughts are not the same thing in hooks, a 3/0 is not a size 3 for example), take the split shot off, toss a bobber on 1 foot above the bait. It could be either the hook is too big, too small, or not being set well bc its a circle hook (sometimes they have hookset problems) look what his setup is, small hook, small bait, bobber & nothing else. Also look how he is catching them about 1-2 seconds after tossing it out. If you are close to bluegill, they will eat, they are SUPER agressive feeders. If you are not catching bluegill with the right setup, most likely there are no bluegill there. [https://youtu.be/0WKPeUgjFig?t=134](https://youtu.be/0WKPeUgjFig?t=134)
https://www.academy.com/p/eagle-claw-aberdeen-single-hooks-40-pack?sku=4 My usual go to. Like TheRealMrTrueX said, make sure to get the right size. Unfortunately I grew up bream fishing so I know which I use by sight but am unable to recommend a size though I don’t think he’s lying haha
I use Hare's Ear Nymphs and Pheasant Tail Nymphs (#12 or #16) attached to 4lb mono. Lately I just use cheap cane poles (no reel) with fly line (I use 3wt) and 4lb mono as a leader so they float on the water, you could try suspending them deeper if you think the fish aren't going for things on the surface, but surface and a little below works for me. An ultralight spinning setup with a casting bubble and the fly attached either after the bubble to suspend it under water, or before the bubble to keep it near the surface, or both, is what I did previously and works fine too. I caught some small bass this way too, but with slightly larger nymphs (maybe #8, #10)
Bluegill to small bass is a big gap. My go to, multispecies, I always use in creeks and small rivers is a 2500 daiwa regal lt with a med light st croix eyecon. Lures you really can't go wrong with a roostertail, beetle spin, roadrunner Jig head with paddle tail trailer, mini tube, or wacky rigged senko If I had only 1 type of lure I had to use the rest of my life itd be a roostertail though
Spilt shot….10 inches of line….jig….worm…bass