Long Pole Panfishing 2024
CeeJay reply :
I used to have a 12' telescopic pole and caught many sunfish on it. But that was a long time ago when I was experimenting with pretty much every method of fishing.
But I'm seriously considering getting a new long pole for panfishing the river. As a bank angler and now shallow wader, I'd like to get a pole in the 12-14 foot class. Combined with a small float and hook baited with Gulp or even small artificial flies, I don't see any reason not to try it out again.
There are a surprising amount of options...not just online but even at Walmart. All are dirt cheap...most are fiberglass, and the least expensive are actually made from cane.
Thoughts and/or suggestions on reel-less panfish poles? I've read that many a pro Crappie Tournament has been won on long poles...so even though it seems like a step back to childhood, professional panfish anglers seem to use them successfully.
I don't know, it just seems like it'll be fun to swing out a micro-bait for bluegill on a pole.
Thoughts and/or suggestions on reel-less panfish poles? Experiences? Rigging methods?
CeeJay reply :
Anyone use them? 
Anyway I'm going to pick up a 14' telescopic tomorrow...just to have as an occasional fun option in my panfish arsenal.
The whole not having a reel thing is a little disconcerting though. I remember landing bluegill just fine back in the day, but sometimes a bass or catfish would take my panfish bait and it was intense.
I doubt the long pole will replace anything I have, but I'm kind of excited to hopefully try it out early next week after all this rain stops
clayton86 reply :
I've been thinking bout getting one for when I hit the quarry with the kids just for fun while they fish I can use that. Probably pick one up from Wally World
CeeJay reply :
On 6/28/2015 at 11:33 PM, clayton86 said:I've been thinking bout getting one for when I hit the quarry with the kids just for fun while they fish I can use that. Probably pick one up from Wally World
Cool, yeah I'm heading to Walmart in an hour or two to see which long poles they have.
clayton86 reply :
I kinda want to make one
preach4bass reply :
We call them bream busters down here. They're pretty tough. We've caught plenty of two and three pound bass and catfish off of them, just fine. It's a fight, but nothing the rod can't handle. However, my wife did hook a big cat on one, and she had to let the rod go before either it or the line broke. We just hopped in a canoe and chased it down, until the fish wore itself out. Ended up being about a 10 lb. cat. Fun stuff!!!
CeeJay reply :
On 6/29/2015 at 4:13 AM, preach4bass said:We call them bream busters down here. They're pretty tough. We've caught plenty of two and three pound bass and catfish off of them, just fine. It's a fight, but nothing the rod can't handle. However, my wife did hook a big cat on one, and she had to let the rod go before either it or the line broke. We just hopped in a canoe and chased it down, until the fish wore itself out. Ended up being about a 10 lb. cat. Fun stuff!!!
Awesome! Sounds like tons of fun.
I still haven't hit up Walmart yet, I'm reading reviews of various poles online. I also read something interesting, which was that the line should be spiral wrapped around the pole and then out the tip eye guide...rather than tying strait to the tip eye. How do you normally rig yours?
I'm also considering length...like maybe 14'. That way I can really reach out from the river bank. If I'm getting a panfish pole/bream buster, I might as well go all out and get a long one Apparently some of the brands have 17' poles(!)...that might be a bit awkward to use though.
preach4bass reply :
I have a couple of 10s, mainly for my little girls. The longer they are, the more awkward they are. The longest I've owned is a 12, and it was fine for open spaces, but I don't typically fish for bream in open spaces. I like the shorter rod for getting up close to the bushes and trees.
I've never spiral wrapped them, simply because breaking them down for storage would be a pain. Never had a problem with tying the line straight to the reel, but like I mentioned earlier, when a big fish hits it, let the rod go. They float. Chase it down with your boat, or if you're bank fishing, keep a regular rod and reel with you so you can cast out and "catch" the bream buster.
Darren. reply :
On 6/28/2015 at 1:04 PM, CeeJay said:Anyone use them?
Anyway I'm going to pick up a 14' telescopic tomorrow...just to have as an occasional fun option in my panfish arsenal.
The whole not having a reel thing is a little disconcerting though. I remember landing bluegill just fine back in the day, but sometimes a bass or catfish would take my panfish bait and it was intense.
I doubt the long pole will replace anything I have, but I'm kind of excited to hopefully try it out early next week after all this rain stops
Yes!! LOVE using these from time to time. I learned different
types of long pole fishing from an elderly Korean gentleman
who used to fish at the local reservoir. I would watch how he
fished with 3 or 4 long poles at the end of a dock. He had
unusual pole floats, and always bottom fished.
I've got several of the long floats now (he gave me 2) and have
done his style of fishing as well as using slip floats to put the
baits in different water levels.
My sons and I used to do it a lot. Talk about simplicity and FUN.
Anyhow, I did buy an "expensive" graphite pole, 12' long from a
company that imports Japanese gear. Caught some great bass
on it over the years. Don't do a lot anymore, but sometimes I
long for a simple day of relaxing fishing and watching floats
either sink, or move (bottom fishing).
If you're interested in the site I bought some of my gear from,
let me know.
CeeJay reply :
On 6/29/2015 at 4:11 AM, clayton86 said:I kinda want to make one
A bamboo cane pole?
I read about an old time angler who used nothing but cane poles that he cut and cured himself. Apparently the one piece homemade poles are a bit tougher than the multi-piece canes with metal ferulles.
It would be fun making one for sure. From what I've read, the longer the bamboo cane is allowed to dry/cure the straighter and stronger it'll be. Unfortunately I lack patience
CeeJay reply :
On 6/29/2015 at 5:37 AM, Darren. said:Yes!! LOVE using these from time to time. I learned different
types of long pole fishing from an elderly Korean gentleman
who used to fish at the local reservoir. I would watch how he
fished with 3 or 4 long poles at the end of a dock. He had
unusual pole floats, and always bottom fished.
I've got several of the long floats now (he gave me 2) and have
done his style of fishing as well as using slip floats to put the
baits in different water levels.
My sons and I used to do it a lot. Talk about simplicity and FUN.
Anyhow, I did buy an "expensive" graphite pole, 12' long from a
company that imports Japanese gear. Caught some great bass
on it over the years. Don't do a lot anymore, but sometimes I
long for a simple day of relaxing fishing and watching floats
either sink, or move (bottom fishing).
If you're interested in the site I bought some of my gear from,
let me know.
Hey Darren that's really cool how you learned some pole fishing
Can you describe the floats he used? I'm curious, as I often use Euro "match fishing" style floats (wagglers, sticks, etc). Fun to make your own out of balsa wood too Now I mainly use Thill's shy bite floats as they're more easy to find.
And yes, I'm very interested in the site you mentioned
Yeah, I often long for those simple days as well....and what's more simple than a pole and float?
Bluegill, rock bass and other sunfish have always ranked high on my "fun to catch" list...and a new long pole should prove to be a great (and fun!) way to catch them where I now fish.
clayton86 reply :
On 6/29/2015 at 5:39 AM, CeeJay said:A bamboo cane pole?
I read about an old time angler who used nothing but cane poles that he cut and cured himself. Apparently the one piece homemade poles are a bit tougher than the multi-piece canes with metal ferulles.
It would be fun making one for sure. From what I've read, the longer the bamboo cane is allowed to dry/cure the straighter and stronger it'll be. Unfortunately I lack patience
Any thing really I already make all my other rods I got a 7wt fly rod build going currently and a 3wt on the way for panfish and pond hoping.
I even considered going out back in my woods and looking for some trees to fashion something up. I do have some bamboo growing on the side of the house idk if I could use that.
Darren. reply :
On 6/29/2015 at 5:54 AM, CeeJay said:Hey Darren that's really cool how you learned some pole fishing
Can you describe the floats he used? I'm curious, as I often use Euro "match fishing" style floats (wagglers, sticks, etc). Fun to make your own out of balsa wood too
Now I mainly use Thill's shy bite floats as they're more easy to find.
And yes, I'm very interested in the site you mentioned
Yeah, I often long for those simple days as well....and what's more simple than a pole and float?
Bluegill, rock bass and other sunfish have always ranked high on my "fun to catch" list...and a new long pole should prove to be a great (and fun!) way to catch them where I now fish.
Probably the same or similar style of floats.
http://www.allfishingbuy.com/Pole-Floats.htm
I sent them pictures (many years ago) of the type
of floats I was looking for, and they found these
for me from a supplier.
CeeJay reply :
On 6/29/2015 at 6:02 AM, clayton86 said:Any thing really I already make all my other rods I got a 7wt fly rod build going currently and a 3wt on the way for panfish and pond hoping.
I even considered going out back in my woods and looking for some trees to fashion something up. I do have some bamboo growing on the side of the house idk if I could use that.
That's great. If I could afford the initial investment in supplies I'd be making my own rods without a doubt. My fly casting left a lot to be desired haha, but I enjoyed the experiences catching bass and bluegill, and even grass carp on the fly.
I once had a mediocre quality 6'6" ft, 6wt fly rod that I would always underline down to 4 wt line for panfish and small bass. Great memories on the small lakes and ponds from back then...
Unfortunately my old fly rods (I also had an 8wt bass fly rod that I didn't use very often, and one more that I can't remember) disappeared/broke/stolen when I took time off from fishing.
clayton86 reply :
On 6/29/2015 at 6:16 AM, CeeJay said:That's great. If I could afford the initial investment in supplies I'd be making my own rods without a doubt. My fly casting left a lot to be desired haha, but I enjoyed the experiences catching bass and bluegill, and even grass carp on the fly.
I once had a mediocre quality 6'6" ft, 6wt fly rod that I would always underline down to 4 wt line for panfish and small bass. Great memories on the small lakes and ponds from back then...
Unfortunately my old fly rods (I also had an 8wt bass fly rod that I didn't use very often, and one more that I can't remember) disappeared/broke/stolen when I took time off from fishing.
Mine still leaves some to be desired but I've hit the creek with it everyday rain or shine since Mother's Day without skipping a beat other then for drill weekends. I've gotten it down with some flies just load the rod so nice I feel like a pro haha others meh not so much or I catch the trees behind me.
I've been surfing that site some the poles are more then higher end conventional set ups
CeeJay reply :
On 6/29/2015 at 6:02 AM, Darren. said:Probably the same or similar style of floats.
http://www.allfishingbuy.com/Pole-Floats.htm
I sent them pictures (many years ago) of the type
of floats I was looking for, and they found these
for me from a supplier.
Oh yeah thanks, I have that site bookmarked, stumbled upon it while looking up floats on Google.
European floats are extremely sophisticated, it's an art form really. A far cry from the round red and white bobbers.
Here's another good one based in America with their own designs: http://www.bentleyfishing.com/products/Expert-Floats/index.htm
CeeJay reply :
On 6/29/2015 at 6:22 AM, clayton86 said:Mine still leaves some to be desired but I've hit the creek with it everyday rain or shine since Mother's Day without skipping a beat other then for drill weekends. I've gotten it down with some flies just load the rod so nice I feel like a pro haha others meh not so much or I catch the trees behind me.
I've been surfing that site some the poles are more then higher end conventional set ups
That's really cool.
At one time I perfected the roll cast...well maybe not perfected haha...but I could do it passably I suppose, the trees and brush forced me to Otherwise my fly casting was not very pretty to watch.
Even without a fly rod now, I use casting bubble floats (and other floats, for nymphs and wets) on my spinning gear to toss out flies for panfish.
And I'll definitely be using a new fiberglass long pole for dapping dry flies for bluegills near shore.
Darren. reply :
On 6/29/2015 at 6:41 AM, CeeJay said:Oh yeah thanks, I have that site bookmarked, stumbled upon it while looking up floats on Google.
European floats are extremely sophisticated, it's an art form really. A far cry from the round red and white bobbers.
Here's another good one based in America with their own designs: http://www.bentleyfishing.com/products/Expert-Floats/index.htm
Come across them, as well as a number of others.
My faves by far are the Japanese style. But that's me 
Totally agree. Red/white "bobbers" are so ... yesterday, LOL.
CeeJay reply :
On 6/29/2015 at 7:10 AM, Darren. said:Come across them, as well as a number of others.
My faves by far are the Japanese style. But that's me
Totally agree. Red/white "bobbers" are so ... yesterday, LOL.
Sorry I meant to say "non-American" rather than European...as those Japanese floats appear to be awesome as well.
I need to restock some balsa wood and cane stems soon, float making provided me with many hours of enjoyment.
Its fun to test them out and see how much weight is needed to balance the float. I never quite figured out a formula for that, but have a little chart I keep in my tackle box.
I don't feel like driving into town to visit Walmart this evening...so I'll pick up my panfish telescopic pole tomorrow
And I'm going to get the South Bend 10' bamboo cane rod as well....no reason not to haha.
Darren. reply :
On 6/29/2015 at 7:41 AM, CeeJay said:Sorry I meant to say "non-American" rather than European...as those Japanese floats appear to be awesome as well.
I need to restock some balsa wood and cane stems soon, float making provided me with many hours of enjoyment.
Its fun to test them out and see how much weight is needed to balance the float. I never quite figured out a formula for that, but have a little chart I keep in my tackle box.
I don't feel like driving into town to visit Walmart this evening...so I'll pick up my panfish telescopic pole tomorrow
And I'm going to get the South Bend 10' bamboo cane rod as well....no reason not to haha.
We've got telescopic poles from 10' to 20'. The 20 is a little much,
but it's also fiberglass, not graphite, so fairly heavy. But we've
caught plenty of fish on it.
I've had bamboo poles, but just not for me. Guess I'm not a purist,
LOL. I think it's cool for anyone who wants to make their own. I just
prefer to buy pre-made poles.
Bought a number of poles at Walmart. My graphite is the only one I
bought online (allfishingbuy.com). Of course, it's the lightest and best
of all of the poles I have....
blackmax135 reply :
I love my bream busters. I have a few of the cane poles to. But I mostly just get a small cork and cricket. I love fishing places with low hanging trees and sling shot the bait up under the trees. My grandfather has fished for bass many a time with a stiff cane pole and a small jig type thing and sling shot those jigs up in the trees.
CeeJay reply :
On 6/29/2015 at 7:46 AM, Darren. said:We've got telescopic poles from 10' to 20'. The 20 is a little much,
but it's also fiberglass, not graphite, so fairly heavy. But we've
caught plenty of fish on it.
I've had bamboo poles, but just not for me. Guess I'm not a purist,
LOL. I think it's cool for anyone who wants to make their own. I just
prefer to buy pre-made poles.
Bought a number of poles at Walmart. My graphite is the only one I
bought online (allfishingbuy.com). Of course, it's the lightest and best
of all of the poles I have....
Those graphite poles on that site look great, lots of good info on pole fishing as well. Which model pole do you have if I may ask? It looks like they have a piece of braid secured to the tip for attaching line, which is a cool idea.
CeeJay reply :
On 6/30/2015 at 4:13 AM, blackmax135 said:I love my bream busters. I have a few of the cane poles to. But I mostly just get a small cork and cricket. I love fishing places with low hanging trees and sling shot the bait up under the trees. My grandfather has fished for bass many a time with a stiff cane pole and a small jig type thing and sling shot those jigs up in the trees.
Crickets and poles...I bet it doesn't get more simple and fun than that
There was an article I read somewhere discussing various old techniques for catching bass on long poles...skittering (?), I believe it was called. Interesting stuff.
Darren. reply :
On 6/30/2015 at 8:00 AM, CeeJay said:Those graphite poles on that site look great, lots of good info on pole fishing as well. Which model pole do you have if I may ask? It looks like they have a piece of braid secured to the tip for attaching line, which is a cool idea.
I really don't know if my pole is listed anymore.
It is a Hera rod, so a M ro ML - was one of the
$70-80 models, I believe.
The "braid" at the tip needs to be knotted, then you
tie a special knot for each length of line you use.
I usually keep each 12' section of line in a Rx
bottle - one for a slip float, another for a bottom
setup, etc.
CeeJay reply :
On 6/30/2015 at 8:24 AM, Darren. said:I really don't know if my pole is listed anymore.
It is a Hera rod, so a M ro ML - was one of the
$70-80 models, I believe.
The "braid" at the tip needs to be knotted, then you
tie a special knot for each length of line you use.
I usually keep each 12' section of line in a Rx
bottle - one for a slip float, another for a bottom
setup, etc.
Oh ok thanks. I'm looking at those Hera poles and they seem very, very nice. Like under 4.5oz for a 12 foot pole...wow that's light!
I wish I had the cash at the moment (I'm poor haha) because I'd be getting one of those Japanese poles. Until then I'll make do with the cheaper fiberglass
Good idea to store line in medicine bottles. The amount of tackle I bring out with me these days keeps getting more and more simple. I love having lots of tackle at home to sort through, but it's a pain to lug around much more than a very simple selection on a river bank.
CeeJay reply :
Tenkara looks fun too...
CeeJay reply :
Just a quick update. I ended up purchasing the B'n'M Black Widow 10 ft telescopic pole. After extending the 10 and 13 foot poles in store, the 10 ft just felt more "right" in my hands than the longer models, so I bought it.
After bringing it home I took it apart to search for any flaws and it looks good to go. As for how to attach line....I'm still experimenting. That eye tip looks awfully fragile, but I'll figure out something.
Anyway it's going to be a fun panfish pole. I also picked up some Berkley Gulp maggots to spice up my flies and jigs. Now if only this holiday weekend would end so I can do some bluegill and rock bass fishing
Have a great weekend everyone. Stay safe.
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