Any spots to fly fish for bluegills in southern california?

[jerry]

Hey guys,

I just finished building my new fly rod and want to go catch some bluegills.  Anyone in southern california know of any shallow spots? 

Also does anyone want to join in fly fishing for bluegills?  I own a small airplane and can carry 2 passengers as long as they are under 200 lbs each.  or we can drive.

[Ryan McCaw]

Head over to Lake Havasu City. They have a small airport and the world record redear.

[jerry]

I fly there now and then didn't know where to fish. Any spots there?

[JBplusThuy]

I caught 8 BG plus a 17" LMB on a copperjohn (mealworm-tipped, and man is it hard to keep a mealworn on when flycasting :p) under an indicator while wading in Lake Murray (San Diego) last weekend in 2 - 3 hours. Most lakes in the greater SD area allow tubing (with wader, no wet tubing) and if they allow tubes, they also usually allow wading.

Lake Cuyamaca, in the mountains east of San Diego, tends to be a good fly lake. I'm told that there aren't many spots over 10 feet deep in the whole lake. Has BG, crappie, LMB, sturgeon(!), year-round trout, and maybe SMB (C&R only, and not sure if any are left in the lake).  Water temp is still a bit cool up there, it's at 4600 feet or so.

Perris is supposed to be great, but I have no experience with it. Also want to try fly fishing some of the desert canals in Imperial County.

[jerry]

I fish the canals all the time and catch tons of smallmouth bass. Use chartreuse/white cloussers or orange cloussers. Also purple wooley beaded wooley buggers work incredibly well.

[JBplusThuy]

Wow, I didn't even know they had SMB in the IV canals, how do they survive the summer heat? I used to fish out there once in a while when I was young and caught BG, LMB once in a while, and once accidentally caught a 20" flathead while bluegill fishing, but had no idea there were smallmouths. Where should I go for them?

I've never fished the east side places like the Highline, just stuff west of El Centro. I have a few purple wooly buggers, gonna have to get some clousers. What size do you like?

Jonathan

[Craig Stockton]

There are BG every where. If you go to havasu I know a few guides that can put you on lots of 'gills and size,  they have bigun's there. What area do you live?  San Diego lakes have great BG fishing.

 

Craig