bluegill outfits.......

bug got me thinking about gills on the redds in another thread. i am sure that this has been posted before, but what types of outfits do you guys and gals use for bluegills and or crappies?

for gills, i use a 6',1pc., light action st. croix premier with a quantum catalyst pt 10 reel spooled with 4lb. test trilene xl.

for crappies, i like a st. croix 6.6 or 7 foot rod matched to a shimano symetre or sahara 2500 reel spooled with either 4 or 6 lb. test trilene xl.

I use a 5'6" UL ugly stik and a Shimano Axulsa reel spooled w/ 4# fireline.
Makes landing a 9" gill seem like fighting fresh water shark! lol
It can get tough pulling them out of thick cover though.
I opt for a 6' med. in the thick stuff.

Field and stream UL noodle rod for all small fish such as bluegills, and Bass pro shop tiny lite reel, with 4 pound fluro and trout magnets

I've used a 9 crappie rod for gills and a 9' 4wt rod. I like the extra reach factor with the longer rods.

12' Buck's Best Ultra-Lite Pole with the smallest President Pflueger loaded with 2lb test. Up the mono to 4lb and used it on stocked pelletheadz also.

yeah I use the same rod I use for spring steelhead once they are worn out fish, plus these UL are a blast with the smallies when jigging small baits

I use ultra light setups from the big box stores spooled with 4lb Trilene XL.  

7' light rod, Daiwa reel, 2# line unless I'm fishing weeds when I switch to 4# line. A good 80 percent of the time (unless I'm fly fishing) I'm using a Case Trout Worm on a Gold jig head under either a Thill Shy Bite type float or if I need distance, a weighted float. No weight on the line. 

As a matter of fact, I put pics on my blog:  http://adventureswithfish.blogspot.com/2009/04/my-panfish-go-to-rig.html

i like the advantage crappie rod from gander if i remember right it is 13.6 it is awsome for hitting the tought to reach brush piles and will rip the fish clean out of the water before they have a chance to tangle you in the brush...

Are bluegills and sunfish pretty active this time of year/early spring? i never targeted them this early but i am really itching to fish.