Bluegill - Big Bluegill

Do you love big bluegill?

I have very limited experience with the fly rod but enjoy the technique .I would like to see folks list their top fly choices . I have caught Gills and Red Breasted Sunfish on Poppers and Beaded Nymphs, but would like to score on Streamers, and other Wet and Dry flies and learn the Art and Craft more .I hope to learn a lot from you guys!

Views: 1626

Replies to This Discussion

At least one authority suggests
these two:

Improved McGinty
Black gnat

He suggests you can do with these two alone.
Others add the Woolly Bugger often enough, and foam
spiders/beetles get a lot of billing. Poppers get a lot of traction, too, although
my guess is their effectiveness is limited more than we admit.
Big bluegill do feed on minnows and fry,.especially in summer. So small streamers probably should be
in your fly box.
Here at the beginning of this discussion, let me recommend a book for the fly
enthusiast:
"Bluegill... Fly Fishing & Fly's" by Terry & Roxanne Wilson

Now I'll be quiet. This should get interesting.

Thanks David .I forget foam spiders, yes Gills and RBS like them .Gonna try the Wooly Bugger ,I have some of those .I have some black ants ,not sure about gnats. I'll look up the improved Ginty . I could use a good book on Bluegill/ panfish  fly fishing .Thanks for your suggestions!

Yep that's the "noted authority" I referred to earlier. I didn't remember his
name, our where I'd read it. LOL

Much has to do with seasonal food preference and presentation, too.
In summer, when small fry are available, big bluegill will take
small minnow streamers. But in the early part of the year, they may shun them
because they don't "belong" in their forage base yet.

But some designs just seem to be producers all the time. The McGinty
seems to be one of these, ditto Black Gnats. Its not that they
"match" any one thing, but that they have the "right" elements for any season.
Others that come to mind are ant patterns, damsel and mayfly nymphae,
and the many popular, rubbery legged patterns.

If that authority tries to take my poppers or craft foam spiders away from me he will have one heck of a time doing anymore fly fishing for several weeks with his broken arms.

Easy there, Ray. We're on your side!
LOL!
here are a bunch of flies I got John, must of which
could entice bluegill under the right circumstances.
Some may look familiar, others not.
Couple nice streamers.... if your want a closer view of
any of then, let me know and I'll get some shots.
Many of the members will be able to identify them,
and it would be fun and educational learning what they are.
Attachments:

My fishing partner and I have been doing real well lately on unweighted slow  sinking nymphs, the kind like Gold Ribbed Hair Ears and Cap flys.  They ride just below the water surface and the Gills usually fight over them.  Natural colors like Black or Brown early before the sun hits the water and Greys as the day lightens up seem to work the best.  They seem to hit them as soon as the fly first hits the water or on a very slow overhand strip.    

Thanks Richard .I look in my boxes for these .

Where do you fish these, Richard?
What kind of cover, structure, etc.?

We've been wade fishing a small creek near my house which is loaded with Gills and a growing number of Rio Grand Cichlids.  (Rios as we call them, really put of scrap especially on Ultra Light Fly poles).  We just cast up against the Moss or near ripples near pools and have a blast.  Not uncommon to catch 60+ during a 4 hour wade here lately.  I am going to throw a McGinty in the morning to see what happens.  I really enjoy tying and trying different flys  just to see what's on the menu.  LOL

RSS

Latest Activity

Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
11 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney replied to Jeffrey D. Abney's discussion Panfish Species of North America- Which Ones Have You Caught?
"Some quality Warmouth I caught in my early years on the Albemarle….."
12 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney replied to Jeffrey D. Abney's discussion Panfish Species of North America- Which Ones Have You Caught?
12 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney replied to Jeffrey D. Abney's discussion Panfish Species of North America- Which Ones Have You Caught?
12 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
16 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney replied to Jeffrey D. Abney's discussion Panfish Species of North America- Which Ones Have You Caught?
"Thanks for sharing John……you have patterned your available species pretty good over…"
16 hours ago
John Sheehan replied to Jeffrey D. Abney's discussion Panfish Species of North America- Which Ones Have You Caught?
"Only caught five of these Species up here in New Jersey. Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Red Breasted…"
16 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a photo

Crackers Saved This Morning Behind A Cold Front…..7/23/2025

If I get out the remainder of July it will probably be a crappie stalk on the coastal marsh……
16 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
16 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
16 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a status
"Slow Moving Cold Front Went Through Overnight and Shifted the Wind to the North so our rivers were dumped, but we wanted to go anyway…."
16 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney replied to Jeffrey D. Abney's discussion Panfish Species of North America- Which Ones Have You Caught?
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney replied to Jeffrey D. Abney's discussion Panfish Species of North America- Which Ones Have You Caught?
"There’s multiple variations in the Spotted Sunfish….in Louisiana the Red Spotted…"
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney replied to Jeffrey D. Abney's discussion Panfish Species of North America- Which Ones Have You Caught?
"Growing up in Louisiana into a fishing family I got many introductions to the Sportsman’s…"
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney replied to Jeffrey D. Abney's discussion Panfish Species of North America- Which Ones Have You Caught?
"I have personally caught 11 of the 12 panfish featured in this discussion. I have never lived in…"
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a discussion
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Monday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Monday
DAVID L EITUTIS commented on DAVID L EITUTIS's photo
Thumbnail

THIS COLOR COMBINATION SEEMS TO WORK THIS YEAR

"Yup blue and white is an essential with my oldest son......."
Monday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a status
"My glass boat is going to the shop tomorrow, need an ignition system tune up, figured I would give it up during this extended heat wave.."
Sunday

© 2025   Created by Bluegill.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service