Gills on tiny flies

[Bill Dodger]

I recently caught some dandy gills in cold water.They went for about a size 16 wet fly.Black with a tiny red tail.They bit in the evening,and no live bait on it.What a blast.8to9 inch gills.23 to be exact.I am making some of those flies today!!

[Charles Singleton]

#16 is a little small for someone like me to tie - I'm fumble-fingered! ;-) Pls post the recipe or a pic, so we can try it out. Thanks.

[Bill Dodger]

Sorry,Idon't have a picture,but these can be purchased at sport shops like Bass Pro,Cabelas,or your local ones.I think that is where I bought my first ones.Size 12 or 14 will work also,because I caught 15 today on bigger flies.As the water warms,they hit bigger meals.Ants work to.Water was 60 degrees today.

[Don Swearingen]

Can you give it a name? Black with a tiny red tail tells me wooly worm?

[Bill Dodger]

I will try to post a picture of the 2 hottest flies tomorrow.This evening was phenominel.I used a black spider,with yellow and black stripes.My friend Dennis was using the black fly with red tail,and we put 50 gills in the cooler.All 8&9 incher's.Water is now 65.I also sell rubber spiders,in 4 colors.Size 12&14. I have 400 for sale at 1dollar each.Will give extra for larger orders. Good Fishing,get out there!!!

[Jay Fogle]

I have discovered the "wonder" of flies this spring. I have fished for years with poppers and had pretty good success (not sure there's much more fun that having a nice sized sunnie smash a popper).

This year though I have tried other flies and have caught more and bigger fish than ever before. In fact, I would estimate I have caught more "bigger" bluegill in 2009 than I have the total of all of the rest of my life that I have fished. (I am 48 years old so I have been fishing about 44 years or so with a few years "off" from bluegill while living in Germany in the US Air Force - (they have trout there : ) )

I am in a flytying class and the first fly we learned was the rubber spider. I've had a lot of luck on it! And you still get that topwater thrill just like poppers. However, the larger fish I've caught have all been on either soft hackle wet flys or nymphs, with the nymphs usually tied to the hook of a popper of dry fly which is used as an "indicator."

I suspect that where I fish the fish are accustomed to poppers - but not necessarily "droppers" (my son calls it the popper n dropper system).

Copper Jons and Princes Nymphs do the trick tied 2 - 3 feet behind the main fly from the hook bend.

I also have used some midges in size 22 and 24 - caught fish - but didn't see much improvement and those things are HARD to see to tie on so I am sticking with size 12 - 16 nymphs and soft hackles for now...