I need help making a decesion on a good fly blank for bluegill fishing on small rivers, right now I am using a g loomis 4wt but i want to build someting of my own. Do you guys have any suggestions on a decent blank, reel seat, guides, etc, that would foot the bill without breaking the bank? All suggestions are welcome but just so you know sage and loomis are out of my budget. Also I am not sure if i need to step up to a 5wt are keep to a 4wt, also the loomis i am using is 7'6 so its short not sure if length would be a good thing,

Has anyone tried the new mudhole MHX 4 piece blanks



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/12/2011 12:32PM by Bryan McPherson.

Bryan,
My favorite bluegill rods are 8' 4 and 5 weights.
If you want to cast poppers the 5 is a little better choice in a light breeze.
St Croix has a 42F805.2 or the 2F805.2
Looks like the 8' length has become harder to find over the last several years.
If you go to 9' the options improve a great deal, but you have to handle a longer rod.
At first glance the MHX 904 and 905 appear as good candidates but I haven't cast one yet.
Additionally look at the Cabela's PT+ 905

Eugene Moore

The MHX are very good blanks. I have built and fished them and like them a lot. Batson also has very fine blanks! Can't go wrong with either one!!

I second the Batson blanks, they have a very wide variety and the areexcellent to fish with.

Ron Weber

If you have not ventured into the 'glass arena, I would recommend you take a glance. They make bluegill fishing so much fun. Lamiglas makes a very reasonably-priced glass blank, and they are quite tough as well.

Matthew Elrod
www.ElrodCustomRods.com

I use a St Croix 42F764 ... IMO, a great little bluegill rod, especiallly for river fishing.

If that is all you catch - Try a 2 wt - A lot more fun fast action.

Bill - willierods.com

bill boettcher Wrote:
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> If that is all you catch - Try a 2 wt - A lot more
> fun fast action.


Pound for pound, I don't know if ANYTHING fights harder. A 2wt would be underpowered IMO ... unless these are some mighty small bluegill.

Yes they are - fighters - but that is what it is all about Usually smaller then trout.

Play when they hit. That is the whole idea --- Unless you want to just - Hale them in .

Bill - willierods.com

Batson IF804 8' 4 weight is one of my favorite bluegill rods.

Greg I agree on your chosen Batson blank. Never fished Blue Gill But that blank makes a great Cutthroat and Brown Fly Rod

Good Wraps Bob

Thanks guys one more question, on the mhx blanks is a 4wt a 4wt line I ask this because i know people seem to think that the numbering system is off, so will a 4wt line cast well on the mhx 4wt blank

there are plenty of nice blanks out there....take a good look at how you are fishing, where you are fishing, what wt do you need for the flies used,, length, etc. i have seen some people want a 2wt, but then aren't happy when it can't throw the flies they want to use(mostly poppers)...just make sure you know what you want unless you want another excuse to build more rods then make as many different ones as you want

Take a look at the CCS data on Mudholes MHX web page. It looks like the 8' 4 wt is a little more moderate action and less powerful than the 9' 4wt, so you might want to upline the 9' for fishing in close if that's your choice.