Bluegill - Big Bluegill

Do you love big bluegill?

This fly continues to amaze me, it isn't so much different than a lot of other sub-surface flies, yet it will catch a wide variety of fish. When top-water isn't working....this  fly gets the call. When the wind seems to mess-up surface fishing...this one can save the day. I have changed the way I tie it over the last year or so and decided to pass along my changes....so here goes.
  8/0 thread (you can use 6/0)   size 8 or 10 hook   Two different colors of marabou 'your choice' (green/black, green/red, green/orange, black/red, and pink/black) work well   Flash...(either siver or gold)   Bead-chain eyes  (small dumbell eyes would work too)   Ca glue (or head-cement)
    I normally use a wet or streamer hook  size 10.....this example is a Daiichi 1280 size 8 (dry fly hook)     I used one size larger bead-chain than normal because this one is intended for smallies in the river current.
  01. Thread base back to the bend
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  02. Tie in a contrasting tail of marabou / cut off excess
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  03. Tie in the bead-chain eyes (figure eight)...drop of CA on hook between eyes helps to stop eye twisting
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  04. Fold a 6" piece of flash in half and tie the center on the side of the hook behind the eyes
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  05. Fold the front part of the flash over to the other side of the hook and tie in
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  06. Tie in the marabou body/wing on top of the hook behind the eyes  (do not trim off excess)
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  07. Twist excess marabou into a rope and pull between eyes and tie off just in front of eyes (do not trim)
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  08. Pull marabou rope back over eyes and tie off behind eyes (neck)
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  09. Cut away excess marabou
  10. Build a small nose then whip-finish just behind the eyes (neck)
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  11. Trim flash just a little longer than the fly
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  12.  CA glue (or head-cement) thread wraps underside of neck
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  13.  I made the tail on this one just a bit shorter than I normally do (for river current)
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  Those of you that fish droppers....This would make an execellent one (size 10 or 12 w/smaller bead-chain eyes)
  My favorite color and size 10 is pictured below. (These flys hold up very well....don't often come apart !!)
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Replies to This Discussion

Donald,

I'm glad you like my M&M fly! I'll bet you saw it in a posting by my friend Rich McElligott, it's his favorite fly to fish and he's on every warm water fly site around. I swear he uses it more than I do. Its gotten around in the last twenty-five years but it still works as good as ever. I've changed it a few years back and now tie it on a 90 degree size #8 jig hook. The bead chain eye is tied to the outer portion of the jig eye shank (in line with the main hook shank) and acts as a counter balance holding the fly perfectly horizontal when set under an indicator. As good as it is as a cast and strip pattern, it is even more effective when fished like live bait under an indicator. Keeps it in the strike zone a lot longer (and over the weeds and logs). If you like the M & M you'll as love my Wee Willy Wiggler. It fishes the same way but the plastic body vibrates as it sinks (similar to a Senko Worm) It's my new favorite fly. You can find a video of me tying it on youtube (craig riendeau tying the wee willy wiggler). I'm happy to see some of you fish at Santee-Cooper Reservoir, one of my favorite places. I was just there a couple of months ago and got some 16 -17 inch crappie, a dozen two to four lb bass and some shellcracker all on Wee Willy Wigglers. Give them a try. It's nice to find a bunch of warm water fly fishermen!

Got a bunch of WW fly folks around here, Craig. Great Minnow pattern. Thanks!

David in SC

NEATO

Very nice, Donald. A really first class tie-up. I like that it uses pretty much all marabou; helps minimize the logistics.

I think even I may be able to manage this. Its going to the files.

PS You mentioned smallies - you catching those in the river below Lake Murray?

I like that and great pictures. Can you give me an idea of what camera your using. Nice fly for sure

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