Beginner Setup Question for Bluegill / Crappie
Hey all, first post here as a newcomer to thefishing world. This past year myself and my kindergartener got involved in theboy scouts and one of the events was a fishing night and I’m not sure whoenjoyed it more, myself or my boy. Needless to say after that night I went overto my dad’s house and dusted off my old spin cast rod (about 18 years old) and another one of mydad’s that’s probably older than me. My old rod is a MH action and probably6' if I had to guess and after using it for bluegills for a couple weeks withnot great results I tried to get some bass on it, and I’ve gottena few so far which has just hooked me in further … pun intended.
So it’s time to take the plunge into bettergear, after all better / proper gear should help offer somewhat better results and in turn,more fun for me and my boys. After talking with a couple friends they told meto jump straight into a baitcaster for a bass setup so after a lot of researchI settled on the Lews TP-1 rod at 7’ with a MH / Fast action. For the reel Igot the Kastking Assassin and so far they seem like an awesome pair … thoughI’ve only been casting in the back yard to practice but it seems prettystraightforward and I’ve only had one bad birds nest so next chance I get I’mtaking it to the water.
So all that to finally get to my question –what would be a good setup for pan fishing. Like I said when I take my boys outwe’re only trying to get bluegill at a local pond, but crappie is high on mylist as well and will be heading over to the IL river this coming weekend witha friend to go after them. In my excitement last night I hastily ordered a rodand reel for a spinning setup and now I’m second guessing my choices … well forthe rod at least.
I liked the Lews casting rod so much I ordered another Lews TP-1 rod, this time a spinning rod at 6’7” with aML / fast action. After doing more research it sounds like a Light action, ifnot even an Ultra Light rod is preferred by many for panfish. For the reel I ordered theKastking Summer 2000 and Kastkings 4# mono green line. Will this setup workwell for bluegill and crappie or would I be better off going with a lighteraction rod. For bluegill I’m always fishing with a bobber and earth / wax worm,for crappie I’ll probably be using live minnows and maybe some small jigs hereand there.
Part of me thinks I’m being a little stupid considering this rod / reelcombo was about $125 for a newbie when any old spinning combo at walmart for$25 would probably be just as good. Am I putting too much thought and money into thisfor a beginner?
