Bluegill - Big Bluegill

Do you love big bluegill?

Went fishing this afternoon with the Fountain Head Caddis rod and decided to use the Sawyer Killer Bug in size 12 for this trip. Temperature dropped over the last few days and we had a bit of rain. Was able to see beds but the gills must have gone a bit deeper. Still managed to C&R about 8 gills in a 1.5 hour period.  All were about average size. 

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Tied up a few of those, but haven't given them a try yet.  Took out my Tenkara USA Iwana 12' last Wednesday and wrecked the 'gills and crappie at a local lake. In 4 hours C&R 30 'gills and crappie, few small (small) bass and of all things a catfish, around 3lbs.  All this one on 1 wet fly.  It was done after a day of hard service.  Can't wait to hit it again later this week, if I can.

 

Craig

Nice work, the bass must have been amazing on the line. I never caught anything that size. 

Tied up some killer bugs last week and tried them on Monday at a small local lake.  Caught around 16-18 'gills and couple of crappie.

 

Craig

Craig

Sounds like a very nice day. I hope to start tying this year. Taking a mental health day on Friday and hope to get out with the Caddis. I will be trying something a bit different. I plan on using the rod with a aberdeen hook, small bb shot  and no float. I'm hoping the rod will allow me to control the bait and help me get in down into the water column

I read that some anglers use this setup  and have had very good results. 

I use mostly wet flies for 'gills and have been knocking them dead.  The Killer Bug with the wire base sinks nice.  I use it on the Tenkara rod which is easy to adjust depth by lifting or lowering the rod tip.  Gotta get some more size 12 hooks to tie a few.

 

Craig

Don't neglect to try a small topwater foam popper or spider on your Tenkara rod.  You may have to up your line size a bit due to the wind resistance of the flies, but there is nothing more exciting than seeing that swirl as a big gill sucks in your fly.

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