Tip 2: Fly Fishing for Bluegill
To begin fly fishing for bluegill, you'll want to use a single-action reel equipped with a clicker drag, something lightweight to attach to a seven- to nine-foot fly rod. Your rod should be made to cast four- to six-weight lines. Before you purchase line, however, check the manufacturer's suggestions for the proper line weight for your rod. Generally, a weight-forward taper floating fly line or a double taper line works best. Use three- to six-pound test tippets on 7.5- to nine-foot taper leaders. You may prefer to use about 6 feet (1.8 meters) of two- or four-pound monofilament line in place of a leader [source: Schwartz, Kruse].
Baby, It's Cold Outside Bluegill can still be caught during winter freezes. Ice fishing works
best just after the ice forms on the water's surface, rather than when
the ice has thickened. Dawn and dusk are the best times of day for ice
fishing. Use a spud bar or ice auger to get through the ice. Clear the
hole of ice chips with a dipper. You'll find a sled useful for hauling
gear and catch. Because fish feed less in the winter, use tear drops (small, brightly-colored hooks), a small bobber and live bait [source: Missouri Department of Conservation]. |
Choose a fly that looks like an insect, and move it as though that insect were struggling or injured. Males are very aggressive during the spring spawn, so small flutters are likely to end in a strike. Later in the season, choose the edges of weed beds. Try ultra-light leadheads or wet flies. On a size 10 to 14 hook, place deer hair poppers, sponge bugs, jigs, streamers or nymphs. Small black flies are good choices. Remember that bluegill have small mouths, so there's no point in tossing out a huge piece of shad or other bait.
Now it's time for the feast. But wait -- how do you clean that catch of bluegills? Sharpen your knife and fear not, the next section will have you filleting like a pro.
