Bluegill - Big Bluegill

Do you love big bluegill?

Hello all,

I signed up for this site a while back, then had a kid (well, my wife did), so I've not been out fishing much since (not complaining at all though!). I'm taking my kayak out tomorrow and plan to do some bluegill fishing on my 3 wt. I'm in South Carolina, and the lake I plan on fishing is probably somewhere in the mid 80 range in terms of temperature.


Anyone else fly fishing for bluegills right now? Any tips on depth, types of flies, etc. I plan on going out pretty early (I probably should have posted this yesterday) so I can maybe catch them a bit closer to the shore.

Thanks for any input and I look forward to contributing some to this site!

Views: 542

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

WELCOME TO THE SITE RYAN, I'D suggest real early and last two hours before dark . Take a nap mid day .......

OH BY THE WAY CONGRATS AND THE BABY !!!!!!!! LOTS MORE IMPORTANT THAN FISHING .........

I'll be fly fishing for bluegill in a couple weeks, here in San Diego. I know exactly what you mean about time to fish when you have kids :-) I have three, the oldest going into 7th grade in the fall, and I haven't been fishing in a year :p They all went to Vietnam for the summer with my wife, to visit her family, and in about 2 weeks I figure I'll be caught up enough on things to go fishing at last, woohoo!

I did manage to get out for a few hours. Caught about 30 or 40 I'd guess. All were around 6 or 7 inches. Had a great time.

Bluegills around my area will pretty much hit anything. Depending on what type of water I am fishing dicatates what type of flies I am using. I really like to use bluegill bullies but only for bigger gills and clear water where I can see my fly. For bank fishing I love to fish caddis or other bug immitations that lay just under the surface, I strip them in quickly in sets of 2-6 and then let sit which in a pond with a lot of bluegill produces just about every cast. Weather over here has been really weird though and it has thrown the fish off big time, my last trip only produced a few fish on poppers.

Bluegills will hit anything that looks like a bug.  The key to successful fly fishing is finding out what they are feeding on.

There is a Hex hatch coming off one of my home lakes.  Gills will take cripples and spinners, but the action is slow.  Now, throw something that looks like a Mosquito in there, and it gets slaughtered.  The reason is that there is a floating crappie dock here, that has a fluorescent light on 24/7.  Thousands of skeeters on the walls and ceiling.

If I go someplace more "natural", then whatever they are feeding on becomes more apparent.  I have luck with Deer Hair Caddis, Muddler Minnows, Purple and Starling soft hackles (no idea what that mimics, but it works), Gurgle Pops, etc. 

Yup, matching the hatch is always good. Don't forget to un-match the hatch though sometimes. Just as an example lets say theres a big midge hatch and fish are actively feeding on it, well I'll throw a big ant or hopper, something that makes a bigger splash and gets their attention off the midges, usually produces some fish! :)

Thanks for all the tips. Took my son out hiking today and saw a ton of beds with fish on them. I figured it was probably too hot for them to still be on the beds but then again I don't know a whole lot about bluegill (which is why I signed up for this forum!). I'm going out in my kayak tomorrow evening so hopefully I can get a few. 

they do spawn more than once some years ryan.full moon this weekend so right on schedule.i have caught a few monsters in july off beds even tho they had already spawned in june.dont get too close and if they spook give them some time they will return.have fun and take some pics

Bluegill spawn multiple times every year in the South.  The largest spawn usually happens in April or May, but there will be some percentage of the population of most water bodies spawning throughout the summer.

That is good to know!

Thanks for the info. Will definitely take some pictures (if I catch some good ones)

RSS

Latest Activity

John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
1 hour ago
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

491348751_10238683890455984_2672104245638727985_n

"Yes and very aggressive that Day!"
1 hour ago
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
1 hour ago
John Sheehan replied to Bruce Tomaselli's discussion Unable to Log in
"No idea ,Bruce . It doesn't happen from my end! Hope it gets straightened out for you ."
1 hour ago
Bruce Tomaselli posted a discussion

Unable to Log in

It's curious. I can go for 3 to 5 days straight without being able to log in here. It happens quite…See More
1 hour ago
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

Ringwood Brook Rainbow Trout

"Smoker time…..enjoy John!"
16 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on John Sheehan's photo
16 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

489926224_10238683871295505_5852549182092207622_n

"Seeds always come to the party if they are in the area.,,,"
16 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

492222666_10238698533862060_5336729201480880262_n

"Nice gill John…..on the little rap……..my dad loved putting that bait on a fly…"
16 hours ago
John Sheehan posted photos
yesterday
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's status
"Somewhat surprised because it seemed like a quick turn on."
Thursday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on John Sheehan's status
"Good deal John…..were you confident or somewhat surprised by today’s success from…"
Wednesday
John Sheehan posted a status
"Some decent Gills and Crappie today from shore. Wish I got a Water temp. They were active between 11-noon!"
Wednesday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

In the Net….4/20/2025

"Look how little my popeye jig looks by the tail.......catch so many bass every year on these small…"
Monday
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

491836771_10238604253985122_2836813665102144302_n

"Mid-May is a guess without checking my records, Jeff. "
Sunday
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

wacky Bass on the Flats

"Thanks Dick, this lake is not producing like it has for Greg and I like it has in the past. We hope…"
Sunday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a photo

Pretty Colors to the East Minutes Before Sunrise…..4/20/2025

Beautiful sights fishing so close to the ocean…..
Sunday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Sunday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Sunday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a status
"Finally had winds below 20 knots this am so I splashed for three hours ….found 66 degree surface temps…..20 bites, caught 19 bass on jigs"
Sunday

© 2025   Created by Bluegill.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service