What are some of the best flies/spiders you've had the most success/fun with?

[Craig DuShane]

Hey Big Bluegillers,

I recently discovered the joy of catching bluegill using flies tied on about 4 feet or so behind a float on my spinning rod. By far the most fun I've had fishing so far...there's just something about watching them come up and attacking it and making that lip-smacking-like sound as they snatch it.

I was using mostly floating spiders, but I've had some problems with them sinking instead of floating and also some times they just don't sit right...like they tip on their side or something. I think this makes them less natural looking to the fish as I've seen them come up to them and inspect and then just turn away instead of attacking it.

Do you guys have any suggestions/favorites that I should try? Also, what about slow sinkers for the mid-day bite (or lack thereof)? Is there any method to the madness in retrieval, twitching, colors, different flies/spiders for different times of day or structure? Also, anything else you care to add about this wonderfully fun way of fishing would be awesome!

Thanks,

-Craig

[dick tabbert]

Glad you posted this Craig hope you have lots of replies I would like to know also. I know we have many fly fisherman and of coarse fisherladies out there so hopefully you will get some good input.

[Indiana Mike]

Small yellow poppers or small black spider when the gills are on top. Beadhead nymphs when they are down deeper. If you are liking it now and you can afford it you should get yourself a flyrod and you will love it.

[Craig DuShane]

Oh, a fly rod is most definitely on the to-do list. I just recently discovered this way of fishing and have not had the time to do any serious research on it yet. Any starter/beginner/inexpensive setup suggestions?

[Rick Love]

If you're talking about a water filled spinning bubble I know what you mean about fun.  It's one of the most effective  presentation methods there is for panfish.  You can fish any kind of popper or fly for bluegills.  Wooly worms are good for sub-surface bites and I like using a Gitzit micro little tough guy fished 3' deep.  You can fish them alone or tipped with a Gulp waxworm.  When fishing sub-surface I just use a slow steady retrieve but for poppers of course you'll want to pop them along the surface pausing for the strike.

I've also had good luck with crappies.  I use 1/32 oz. maribou jigs under the spinning bubble with a slow steady retrieve.  It's dynamite when they are shallow.  Bright colors for daytime and black for evening or after sundown.  A crappie will also take a black dryfly that has become too wet and sinks below the surface.  Same with bluegills.  Yes, it's some of the most fun you can have fishing.

[Angelo C Mastrando Jr.]

Popper's are a blast to use and the best action watching them explode on them (Mostly all white popper's and a frog color popper's). But some are my favorite flies are the Mosquito. I like using Nymph's when it's colder and windy out had pretty good success with them caught one of my biggest gill on one. Pretty soon going to purchase some dry fly ant's and damsel's hopefully they will produce some nice gill's. 

[Vince Fusco]

 I don't actually tie flys myself, but I am lucky to have a trout fishing friend that ties them. Several years ago I asked him to tie me a black stonefly nymph to brim fish with. He tied me a few and brought them to me. You can imagine my shock and surprise when I looked at these flies tied on a #6 hook! Not being one to look a gift horse in the mouth, I tried them out the next time I went fishing. I was totally surprised at how well these "oversized" flys worked. The brim loved em! Their size made them easy to get out of the fishes mouth. He later tied me some similar looking ones, only these had rubber legs like a foam spider would. Another favorite of mine is a black ant fly. Cinnamon or red ants work well at times too.  I hope this helps you, Craig. 

[jim cosgrove]

try some dry fly floatant.the kind that is like vaseline.because you are not using a fly rod and false casting to shake the water off the bug is why they sink.the foam is supposed to be closed cell but they do absorb water after time.rub some floatant on them and they should stay on the surface,

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

I had a good time yesterday with Jim Cosgrove foam poppers. It was late in the day and very calm. The fish were rising to take them right off the surface and they DID not like any movement of the lure.
The popper had to sit there, and sit there... only a tiny twitch every minute or so would do. No popping, as odd as that sounds. It would just land, preceded by the large casting float I was using.

"Splash!" went the float and the ripples settled.

The fish would then come up from below and hover near the popper, watching it. Soon they would get below it and just stop. After 30 seconds or so, they would blast it and snatch it right under the surface - if it hadn't moved while they were watching.....

[Greg McWilliams]

Craig, These are flies I will not go to the water without!!!!!!!!  These are ones I shared with Dick!!!!!

I tie my own so these are from the Cabelas Flyfishing catalog!!!!!

Denny Rickards Still water flies, The seal bugger, in black, olive and burnt orange!!!!! Size 8 or size 10!!!!! He ties these on 2x long hooks!!!!!  These are also weighted and sink slow!!!!!! His Stillwater nymphs in olive and olive and burnt orang size 10!!!!!!! these are not weighted!!!! Actually all of his flies are really effective, he ties the for trout but have been good producers of GILL and CRAPPIE!!!

  Prince Nymph and ZUG BUGS size 10!!!!!! These are also good in the bead head nymphs!!!! Those are ones I never LEAVE HOME WITHOUT!!!!!!!

  Soft hackles are great, any trout flies work well but I would go to the larger sized hook!!!!

As far as them tracking right you might try a loop knot, this allow them more free swing than a clinch not!!!!

   If you are having that much fun with the system, I think you are ready for a fly rod especially ad you get into popper and spiders!!!!!

[Ronnie M.]

You have been given some great flies to use. The Elk Hair Caddis & Deer Hair Caddis works great also. There are a lot of floating bugs available that works well but some seem to be over sized for surface fishing. I tied these flies using foam and deer hair on a #10 hook but a #12 hook works great too. The main thing is to have fun fishing and top water flies will add to your enjoyment. Sounds like a fly rod is in your future..

 

[jim cosgrove]

nice flies ronnie-nice buggy look,

[Greg McWilliams]

Ronnie, Those are GREAT looking BUG!!!!! Is  Foam and deer or elk hair the only material ???

Well except for the rubber legs of course!!!!