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Gear checklist · 10 items

What to Bring Bluegill and Panfish Fishing in Tennessee

The easiest fishing in the state and the best way to start a kid.

The checklistAll gear checklists

The checklist

Bluegill and Panfish gear checklist

The easiest fishing in the state and the best way to start a kid. Small hooks, a bobber and a cricket or worm from the bait shop. Redear want the bait on the bottom; bluegill want it just under the float.

ComboZebco 33 spincast comboThe rod and reel most Tennessee anglers started on. Works.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list
RodUgly Stik Elite ultralight spinning rodMakes a half-pound bluegill feel like a fish.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list
LineBerkley Trilene XL, 4 lbLight line casts a split shot and a cricket without a weight.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list
HooksEagle Claw Aberdeen hooks, size 6 and 8Long shank so you can get it back out of a small mouth.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list
WeightsWater Gremlin removable split shotOne or two shot a foot above the hook.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list
FloatsThill Mini Shy Bite floatsSmall enough that a bluegill can pull it under.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list
BaitBerkley PowerBait Power Honey WormsWhen the bait shop is out of crickets.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list
JigTrout Magnet kitA tiny jig under a float that bluegill and shellcracker cannot leave alone.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list
BucketFrabill cricket cageCrickets stay alive and you can shake one out at a time.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list
CoolerIgloo Playmate 16 qt coolerFillets on ice on the way home.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list

These are affiliate links. Buying through them pays this site a small commission at no extra cost to you, and it is how the site stays free.

Where to use it

Tennessee water for bluegill and panfish

58 lakes and rivers on this site hold bluegill or panfish. These are a few; each page lists every public access point.

Where to use itBarren ForkPublic access, limits and what else swims in Barren Fork.See the spots →Where to use itBarren Fork RiverPublic access, limits and what else swims in Barren Fork River.See the spots →Where to use itBuffalo RiverPublic access, limits and what else swims in Buffalo River.See the spots →Where to use itCalf Killer RiverPublic access, limits and what else swims in Calf Killer River.See the spots →Where to use itCenter Hill LakePublic access, limits and what else swims in Center Hill Lake.See the spots →Where to use itCherokee LakePublic access, limits and what else swims in Cherokee Lake.See the spots →

Bigger purchases

Gear compared for bluegill and panfish trips

The electronics, motors, boats and batteries that cost real money, compared side by side with the Tennessee water each one suits. Affiliate links.

Fish Finders
BudgetGarmin Striker 4$120MiddleHumminbird HELIX 7 CHIRP MEGA SI GPS G4N$700TopGarmin LiveScope Plus LVS34 bundle$1,500
Compare all 6 →
Trolling Motors
BudgetMinn Kota Endura C2 30$150MiddleMotorGuide Xi3 55 lb Freshwater GPS$1,150TopMinn Kota Ultrex QUEST 90/115$3,500
Compare all 6 →
Lithium Marine Batteries
BudgetLiTime 12V 100Ah LiFePO4$250MiddleBattle Born 12V 100Ah$850TopDakota Lithium 36V 63Ah$1,700
Compare all 6 →
All gear compared

Other checklists

Gear for other Tennessee fishing

Largemouth BassSmallmouth BassCrappieCatfishStriper and HybridWalleye and SaugerTroutMuskyKayak and Float TripBank and Pier Fishing

Common questions

Bluegill and Panfish gear questions

What do I need to go bluegill and panfish fishing in Tennessee?

The 10 items on this page: Zebco 33 spincast combo, Ugly Stik Elite ultralight spinning rod, Berkley Trilene XL, 4 lb, Eagle Claw Aberdeen hooks, size 6 and 8, Water Gremlin removable split shot, Thill Mini Shy Bite floats and the rest of the list above. A Tennessee fishing license for anyone 13 or older.

What rod for bluegill and panfish?

Zebco 33 spincast combo. The rod and reel most Tennessee anglers started on. Works.

What bait is best for bluegill in Tennessee?

Crickets, then red worms. Buy them at the bait shop on the way. Artificial honey worms and a Trout Magnet work when live bait is not an option.

How do I catch redear sunfish?

Fish a worm on the bottom with a split shot, no float, around spawning beds in April and May and over mussel beds in summer.

How much does a bluegill and panfish setup cost?

A rod, reel, line and the first three or four baits on this list is a modest start; the rest can be added a trip at a time. Prices are on Amazon, and bait shops in the county you fish carry most of it too.

Are these affiliate links?

Yes. Each link goes to Amazon with this site’s tag. It costs you nothing extra and pays for the site. Nothing on the list was chosen for commission; it is what works on Tennessee water.

Can I buy this gear locally instead?

Yes. Every county page on this site lists the bait shops, marinas and big box stores that carry tackle, with phone numbers and directions.

Keep going

More Tennessee water, and who fishes it

Every guide and charter on this site is listed by the water they run, so you can call the captain direct. Licences, limits and the state record list are one click away too.

Guides by waterLicence and limits