Bluegill - Big Bluegill

Do you love big bluegill?

This fly was introduced to me by BBG'S Dave Kensinger. It is a fun tie and great little fly!!!! Flyfishers need this one in their arsonal!!!!!

Size 8 nymph or dryfly hook dressed with 2 biots tied in for a tail

Body material pearl braid. I used pearl flashabou til I got some of the braid. Tie in on top of the hook shank.

Wrap material 2/3's of the way up the shank!!!!

Dave uses chenille tied in at this point for the thorax. I use black rabbit dubbing and build up the thorax!!!

Tie in a saddle hackle

Wrap several turns to form a collar

Whip finish and the lighning bug is born!!! I also add lead wraps if i want to get it down quicker. I fish it on floating and sinking line both the redear love it in the evening!!!! This one is tied in black and pearl, but there are a lot of colors combos out there that would work really well!!!!

Thank You Dave Kensinger for this fly it is in my go to box, Fun to fish and tie!!!!

Views: 980

Replies to This Discussion

Guys, Be sure to thank Dave Kensinger!!!!!! He is one who introduced it to me!!!!! He was chasing steelhead with a fly rod and asked me to do it!!!!!! I have a feeling he has several that would be a nice addition to a flybox!!!!!!

Well  the creeks are starting to ice up  Greg , so ill be back at the fly bench tying up for panfish. Ill post some flies that never let me down later.

Dave, look forward to those got to's!!!!! The lightningbug is fun to tie and fish!!!!!! The redear hammered it late in the evening in the shallows!!!!!!

Hey Greg any idea where I can get more of the colored braid used in the lightening bug?

Jen , I get mine at the local fly shops because we use it in steelhead flies but bass pro carries it in all the colors but blue and purple it runs about 2.49  Its called sparkle braid,hope this helps

Greg, here's a bit of something I yanked of my dusty fly box, and made one myself. The first is the old fly that I used to catch trouts because the flashabou attract the fishes as it drops, and the wide elk hair created a drowning victim wake as it falls. Very deceptive for being a clunky fly.

The second one, I created to mimic your lightning bug. Small tail using biots won't create attention unless it's in clear water. My is stained. Thing that can cast a shadow from above as it drops is a good lunch time for the boys below. Olive green braid will attract them, since they like the color of green-black. Added a bit of gold pixie dust into the mix by lightly applying gloss over the belly and upper body, giving a shimmering glow as the sun hits it just right. The elk hair simulate moving leg fragments, creating a deceptive appearance of a drowning victim.

Attachments:

I've used something very similar to this before, except it had marabou instead of biots for the tail, awesome little Fly, I'm gonna have to pick up some biots and tie up a few of these

Here's a little different version of this fly. This is a great gill getter!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.sfotf.ca/fly-tying/2009/7/15/lightning-bug.html

Nice variation of the late dragonfly nymph. Thanks for the info. Will use it.

Thank you Greg. It is a neat looking fly and I can see why a fish would like it.

RSS

Latest Activity

Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
15 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
15 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
16 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
16 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a status
"I found an influx of salt water in some creeks and the bite was muted, moved inland to locate better water conditions and it paid off.."
16 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a status
"We finally started settling down from crazy water level swings from Hurricane Erin, coolest surface temps in August in 15 years here…"
16 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

augpick

"Distinct colors and markings……pretty chain pickerel……"
16 hours ago
John Sheehan posted photos
17 hours ago
John Sheehan posted a photo
18 hours ago
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

late augspoongill

"Me too ,Jeff!"
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a photo

Picture of our Water Level Impacted by Hurricane Erin….8/26/2025

You see where I placed the yellow circle we lost two feet of water level which empties many…
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

late augspoongill

"I enjoy using small tackle…..I always go to it when the water temperature dips below…"
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

late augspoongill

"Having a little fun with the gills….."
yesterday
John Sheehan posted photos
yesterday
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

Mid August shore

"This Bass was wound  , Dick. High 70-80 degree water temp."
Aug 21
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

md august shore 2

"I hear ya Dick ,but its been a long time finding numbers of these great critters for me !"
Aug 21
dick tabbert commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

md august shore 2

"I can take these all night long."
Aug 20
dick tabbert commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

Mid August shore

"Nice LMB."
Aug 20
dick tabbert commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Aug 20
dick tabbert commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

We Dodged a Bullet on This Hurricane……8/20/2025

"I hope you continue being on the lucky side. Best to you Jeffrey."
Aug 20

© 2025   Created by Bluegill.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service