Do you love big bluegill?

Pond at Work, 3-21-2015

Saturdays are about the only day I can sample the waters at that pond. Working two jobs bites!

Anyway, I had decided to try what worked early-season last year, a Peacock and Starling micro-jig under a float. As I was walking to my first casting position, I saw a few surface hits. Ok, they're hitting "something" on top. Not sure what, assuming midges.

I would have gone back and retrieved a fly rod out of my vehicle, but my fly vest, with boxes, is still in the house. I decided to stick with Plan A.

Obviously, Plan A was working, as I caught a Gill on the first cast. Yippee!

I had a nice little 45-minute session with the Sunnies. I caught 6 Gills, and 2 small Hybrids. I will tentatively say that I missed/lost as many as I caught. Just like Jim Gronaw yesterday, I was using a 1/80th jighead on a size 12 Aberdeen hook. Not much gap between the eye and point. I did open up the gap a bit, and offset the point. It helped, but not much.

I think I have four 1/80th jigs on size 12 sickles, painted black. I'll have to tie up some using that Peacock and Starling pattern on those hooks.

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Permalink Reply by carl hendrix on March 21, 2015 at 8:37pm

good report Allan !! glad you got a day to go fishing and have some fun!! but--- did you catch them-- on sale? LOL!!

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Permalink Reply by Slip Sinker on March 21, 2015 at 8:57pm

great report Allen... glad you caught fish... could you post a snap of the jig you were using. is black in the pattern popular with you all season long or just under a bobber early in the season? seems Jim was using black also. thanks for sharing

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Permalink Reply by Allen Morgan on March 22, 2015 at 6:50pm

Slip Sinker, here you go:

http://bigbluegill.com/photo/20140303beadheadpeacockstarlingsofthac...

Hopefully that comes through. I tried to link it, and the software says there isn't an image at that address???

Anyway, that pic is actually a bead-head fly. Imagine that with a 90-degree jig hook, about the same size. 1/80th head.

I haven't tried fishing that pattern year-round. Usually just at Spring time. Lots of other things to do during the year :)

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Permalink Reply by Jorge Betancourt on March 25, 2015 at 12:06pm

Very nice sounds like a blast!

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Permalink Reply by R. Michael Charske on March 29, 2015 at 1:56pm

TMC2487 or similar hook. Often described as 'caddis pupae' or 'shrimp' hook. Problem solved. Most in the know use these for tying 'SanJuan Worms" and often used in size 16 for very large Alberta Rainbow trout.