Winter Gills?

[Eddie Mathis]

What are your tactics for winter time gills on the fly? Haven't been having a lot of luck, fishing smaller lakes that are not real deep. Water here about 50 deg or so, fishing from my yak. So any suggestions?.

[Joe DiStefano]

For whatever its worth, I know that Trout are feeding on Little Black Stonefly Nymphs this time of year in my local waters. It might be worth tossing a few from land and working them toward the bank to see if the gills feed on them too.

[Eddie Mathis]

Thanks Joe will give that a try, have several trout sized stones and midges tied up. I have been trying them also but not much interest in them. I do get trout to bite them though. We have a fishing education center here that was a old hatchery and wee put trout in the ponds for our cold water fly fishing clinics. The trout or hiting the midges just fine , they also take small buggers too.

[Steve Totten]

Down here I started catching a few 'gills last month by throwing a size 14 or 12 bead head caddis or scud near wood.  Let the bug sit till it gets to bottom, then just hand twist a few times and stop, repeat.  Often the strike comes on the first movement after it hits bottom.

[Eddie Mathis]

Thanks have to try that.

[Ralph King]

I have been catching some bluegills here in the Atlanta area, using an olive #10 cone wholly bugger. Fishing fairly slow.

[Eddie Mathis]

That olive woolly bugger is always a hit. I guess I should get busy and tie some up. Thanks Ralph