Quest, With a little help from my Friends

[Greg McWilliams]

This quest began with Tommy Winton, of Florida. He was posting pictures of MASS QUANTITIES of Blue Gill and Red Ears. The picture that got the ball rolling was his picture titled "86 Gill and Shells". Reading thru the comment found out he had caught them on crickets fished in 12" of water on bottom. One of Tommy's quotes is " If they not hitting CRICKET they are not going to touch anything!"

I am a flyrodder so live bait is not an option and began working on a sinking cricket pattern. Without much success.

I turned to another Cricket Man, the Cricketmiester, Bluegillboogieman from Alabama. We had discussions and asked him if he would send me pictures of cricket for a pattern. His quote "Cricket rule down south! I wouldn't be caught dead near the water without them." He is the Cricketmiester because he got them to pose for some SEXY pics. They can be seen on my wall of comments on page 2.

Zack Thomasson, from New Jersy started Bluegill Fly Tying, a forum for tiers to come together and share ideas and tips.

Shooter from Loisiana starts a discussion " What is you most favorite bluegill fly"

John Welch of Wisconsin, replied to this discussion with Skip Morris's "Morrisfoam Preditor". Finally found the fly with a little tweeking this could be it.

Jen of Oklahoma, came up with material suggestions and technical support.

The results were this

This is not a real pretty fly or even an original. I don't even know if it will catch fish, but it and the dozen or more prototypes will be hitting the water.

It was a group effort of 7 people from 7 states that have contibuted to this endevor an I thank you.

This is the best WEB SITE on the internet, with the best folk, who are willing to share ideas, tips and encourage us to catch more and bigger BLUEGILL.

Last but not least is to 2lbgill, Who inspired Bruce Condello to start this web. That gives us this forum, and new FRIENDS. Thank You!!!!!!

[Lord of the Fly , Rods]

Greg, I'm tied up on a couple construction projects for the next 2 weeks , but after that it time to hit the water, I'm planning to photo lots this spring. Porcupine quills are the most sensitive float I've ever found and been using them for 40 years , the fish feel no resistance because of the pointy ends, you add split shot above the hook to balance the quill so about 2 inches sticks above the water's surface, as a depth finder, it will float on it's side if your hook is on the bottom, so just slide it up on the leader till you want your presentation at the depth above the bottom. Quills are so sensitive you can tell when a fish is licking your cricket, sure they are a little harder to cast, and you lose a little distance but after you run out of crickets and you put a fly on you are now a black belt when it come to fly casting, it's a wax on, wax off kind of thing. I use 10 lb flouracarbon as my leader and a #8 wire hook,if you get hung up just pull straight on the line and bend the hook to retrive, then just bend the hook back. I've caught 14 lb catfish on flyrod with the same rig.Fat cricket in their face= fish in the cooler,grease,tummy. If you cant find any porcupine quills let me know, last year we found a bunch of raw quills and been rigging them up ourselves, so I could send you one to try if you cant find any.

[bluegillboogieman]

[bluegillboogieman]

They don't teach us much of anything, except to pay attention! You have messed up His Lordships' name again. You left out a space before the comma. No wonder your cricket is pink. You don't look to good! Just kidding Greg. I think it's hard to offend His Lordship. We're just serfs and don't count.

A video or pics would be nice. I wonder how nice he really is?

Boogieman

[Greg McWilliams]

Hey Boogie , I tried to put the pictures of the "Sexy Dixie Crickets" on there,but it took up 2 puter screens. I not puter smart much yet but learning. Your Lordship I apologise if I offended you. Lord of the Fly, Rods, I would love to see that video. Come on Boogie , you never heard annygoglin before. What kind of language do they teach down there?

[bluegillboogieman]

annygoglin?????? Greg, be careful with His Lordship, It's Lord of the Fly RODS. I think Mayo is probably Lord of the FLIES. I say that 'cause he's a "stinkin' Auburn fan". Me and him is plannin' on hookin' up real soon down at Escambia where the big boys are supposed to be. I'm sittin' upwind!

Boogieman

[Greg McWilliams]

Boogie, the body is a brown furry foam , maybe I need new film for my camera. The other might have gone annygoglin on me I will check into it. Get those cricket into the stawberries I have got a brand new bottle of chocolate that turns into a shell like the old dip top cones. Mr. Lord of the Flies you need to do a video on live cricket flyrodin, and tell me more about the porcupine quills.

[bluegillboogieman]

Hey Mayo. I wish you coulda seen the photo shoot too! Them crickets was everywhere. I didn't know which way to turn. It reminded me of last years Iron Bowl when Auburn was jumpin' all over Alabama. Up 2 touchdowns afore I knew what was happenin'. That hurry up onside kick floored me! Then Bama did to Auburn what I did to the photo shoot crickets...... EUTHANIZED!!!!!! Go look at 'em on Greg's page, wall of comments. page 2. So peaceful and still.

Hey Greg, how about namin' your creation somethin' cool? Like... Like...Like... Auburn Post Bama! Call it APB for short!

Boogieman

[bluegillboogieman]

Your Lordship. I heard you were going to post more pics this season. How about a short video of the live cricket on a flyrod technique? At least some pics of the way it's rigged and some 'splainin' about line weight for the extra bulk and weight of the quill? Those of us who are just "serfs" of the fly rods need more 'splainin".

Meanwhile, Greg is sold on that hundreds of casts aspect of his little leggy beauty! It could be like a repeater rifle vs them muzzle loader single shot live crickets. I've caught more than one on the same live cricket, but after the first one even I am assuming that's a cricket on my hook. It sure don't look like one anymore. Greg's might just take a lickin' and keep on tickin'! The "Energizer Bunny" of crickets. Just keeps going and going. I do like them "Betty Grable" legs his has. It still has to prove it's a serial killer though. Give it a fair shot where the gills are eatin' Greg. Watch out for gators 'cause they are attracted to crickets for some reason. They don't mess with 'em, they just look at their legs I guess. Float tuber's legs too!

Boogieman

[Lord of the Fly , Rods]

Hey , I'm a flyroder and use crickets all the time , about the only time I use artificial flys is when I run out of crickets or I'm fishing for smallmouths. The only limitation is it's harder to fish deeper than your flyrod is long but it is possible, it's just a different techinque, 10 to 12 ft down is no problem, get the cricket in their face, they'll eat it. porcupine quills are the answer, it's like using a net on them.

[Jeremy R. Mayo]

Will somebody get me some distilled water! I just licked my screen! Thats one awsume lookin fly! Like boggie man said it must be a labor of love because just like his other suggestion. I just use live crickets on a fly rod! HAHA! I wish I coulda seen the photo shoot!