Try these quick tips for bluegill fly fishing, a how-to video, and equipment. Catching Bluegill on the Fly is a Great Way to Develop and Practice Fly Fishing Skills.
Even though bluegills aren’t the biggest or most impressive fish to catch with a fly rod, the fundamentals of fly fishing still apply when you go after them: setting up your gear, reading the water, casting, presenting your catch, and choosing the right fly. Catching bluegills and other panfish is the ideal way to hone your fly fishing skills and enjoy being outside because bluegills are plentiful in ponds and lakes all over the country.
For more information on fly fishing for bluegill, read this article.
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Fly Fish Tips/Tactics
There are a few techniques I’ve learned that I believe will greatly improve your chances of success when fly fishing for bluegill, even though it isn’t nearly as difficult as other technical fly fishing methods.
Find the Strike Zone
Bluegills have three different feeding areas: the bottom, the middle, and the surface of the water column. Where you are getting the most bites is something to pay attention to. Then concentrate on maintaining your fly in that area as long as you can.
For instance, choose a sinking fly and a retrieval technique that will keep it in the middle of the water column (subsurface), where you are getting the majority of bites.
For a tip on how to get the nymph to dive deeper or sink more quickly, try adding a micro split shot to your leader. There will almost always be additional Bluegills where there is just one. Make it easy on them, and keep that fly in their face as long as possible.
Check Residential Ponds
I can’t stress this enough: don’t ignore ponds in your neighborhood or in the suburbs! Housing associations typically stock these with bluegill and other sunfish, and they can produce HUGE bluegill!
You don’t need to travel to faraway destinations to find significant bluegill fishing jump on google earth and do some virtual scouting of small ponds and creeks in your area. Take an afternoon and fish each of them for 20 minutes, and you will quickly find which ones are holding big bluegills!
Spot-Hop Frequently
The Bluegill is a very common species that make up a sizable portion of species in a particular body of water, like the majority of sunfish. So, if you are not getting bites in 5-10 minutes, pack up and move. You don’t have to go far; sometimes, the following log, hydrilla bed, or cut may be the one spot holding fish.
Fishing for bluegills is fairly active and aggressive. I keep moving if there are no bites. You will eventually come across a hotspot with fish in it. Pay close attention to what is in that area, then look for this in new places.
Watch Your Line!
Pay close attention to your line when flying fishing for big “gills,” especially when you’re using sub-surface flies. Watch for the tell-tale “tink” or flick of the line. Just scored a hit for you! Even on a 9-foot graphite fly rod, bluegill can be very subtle, though they frequently strike quickly and forcefully. Again, using a bright-colored fly line will help with seeing a hit.
Line watching is one of the many intuitive skills that you’ll develop when flyfishing for Bluegill. It takes a sharp eye and sensitive touch to pick it up, but when you do, you’ll be catching more fish.
Try a Dropper Rig
The consensus amongst most Bluegill anglers is that they prefer to feed below the surface. A surface fly or popper, however, works wonders at grabbing the Bluegill’s interest. Why then not combine them both?
Take into account utilizing a dropper rig. Add a popper, dry fly, or other surface lures after dropping 8 to 10 inches of line, and then add a nymph or sinking fly. The surface lure creates micro ripples to draw attention, and the nymph is waiting below in the strike zone. It doubles your presentations in the water and is a great way to feel out where the fish are feeding.
Casting from a Boat
Using the wind to drift a shoreline or lake edges is one of my favorite ways to fly fish for bluegills in a boat. When the wind is on your side, this technique works well for canals, elongated weed lines, and straight shorelines.
Position your boat upwind and turn it so that it drifts about 18 to 20 feet from the edge.
I released a length of line that was between 12 and 15 feet long, holding it firmly in place with my index finger. I flip out the same amount of fixed-line as I would if I were casting and stripping, and as a result, my fly lands precisely on the edge and target area.
Pull it back immediately, flip it out once more, or if I’m nymphing, let it sink. The key here is quick short casts without having to strip or reel in each cast. Using this technique, you can pound a shoreline or an edge, and the Bluegill almost always bites when your fly first hits the water or when it drops.
Fishing from Land
There are plenty of excellent bluegill along docks and shorelines if you don’t have access to a boat or canoe. Bluegills and other sunfish will probably be present there, too.
Find areas with good cover that are still wide open enough to work a fly. For instance, wading along a shoreline in Florida during the early morning summer hours is a great way to catch bluegills using poppers, spiders, and dry flies.
Another haven for bluegills are docks; try vertical jigging your fly next to pilings or casting along shadow lines.
How Do You Catch Bluegill on a Fly Rod?
- Bring the right gear. With a floating fly line, a 3-weight fly rod works well. Any reel will do, but one with a powerful, smooth drag will help you land the occasional bass or pike you may hook into. Read More: How To Select The Best Hooks For Bluegill?
- Find a body of water that is attractive to panfish. Fortunately, bluegills are very widespread in North America, making it easy to locate them. Finding bluegill-holding waters in your area can be done by contacting the fish and game department of your state (like the Natural Resource Commission in Michigan).
- Use the right flies. Bluegills are drawn to a wide variety of small streamers, nymphs, poppers, and dry flies in various sizes. If you’re looking for a go-to bluegill fly, keep reading to see the KILLER fly I use and the reason why I catch more “gills” than anyone else!
- The time it right and position yourself correctly. Early mornings and evenings are when bluegills are most active, but depending on the time of year, the midday bite could be productive, too. If you’re unsure where to position yourself, stand close to drop-offs and weedlines because bluegills frequently hang around structure.
- Once you’ve cracked the bite code, experiment with different bluegill fly fishing methods. Sight casting dry flies and poppers to bluegills that are feeding on the surface is very successful and a great way to improve casting accuracy. As the day (and water) heats up, you can still catch fish by switching to subsurface techniques and tying on a streamer or nymph.
Selecting the Gear to Catch Bluegills
The question of what to bring seems to be the first one asked on every fishing trip. Fortunately, all you need for a panfish outing is a rod, some line, and some flies.
When you’re bluegill fishing, keep things simple. Go light on the equipment and concentrate on going back to the fundamentals. You can focus on casting, observation, and presentation when you have the necessities, which will help you improve your fishing abilities.
Best Fly Rod for Bluegill?
I’ve discovered that the best all-around fly rod for catching bluegills is a 9-foot, 3-weight fast-action rod. An exciting battle with a nice bluegill can be had with a 3-weight, which is still strong enough to handle the occasional bass. Fast-action rods make it easier to cast wind-resistant flies out 30 or 40 feet.
I’ve mentioned the TFO Drift fly rod in other articles. (As I gain a few years of experience with this rod, I continue to heartily recommend it. (Click here to check the price on Amazon.) Ideal for the Stillwater fishing that this article describes.
Best Fly Line for Bluegill?
A weight-forward fly line that is balanced to your rod works well. You can use all the bluegill fly fishing methods I describe below if you use a weight-forward line. A special line for roll casting is not required because bluegill ponds typically have ample backcasting space.
Fly Fishing Leader Setup for Bluegill
Add 16 inches of 5X nylon tippet in addition to a 9-foot, 4Xt tapered leader as a leader. I prefer using this longer setup because I usually start the day casting dry flies before switching to nymphs or small streamers if nothing is happening above the water. This straightforward leader setup takes care of everything.
Why Flyfish for Bluegill?
Most anglers can relate to the experience of fishing for bluegills while perched on a dock and using live crickets or red wigglers as bait. Just like many other anglers, I fell in love with fishing in the exact same way.
Therefore, why not try fly fishing for bluegill? Why leave the spinning gear and bobbers at home? Well, there are a few reasons: It presents a fresh challenge for a fish species that is frequently ignored.
Many people imagine flying fishing in mountain streams for lone trout, salmon, or bonefish on the Bahamas’ tropical flats when they think of fly fishing. However, don’t ignore the powerful Bluegill! They live in a variety of habitats, are easy to catch, and are delicious to eat.
Most likely, not far from your home, there is a place where you can fly fish for bluegill. You’ll truly start to appreciate their place in the angling world once you concentrate on catching these vibrant panfish.
Conclusion: Fly Fishing for Bluegill
Fly fishing is best learned through lake fishing because the open spaces allow for unrestricted backcasts. The presentation’s perfection is unimportant. Bluegill is less likely to reject your splashdown offering than nervous trout are.
The skills you learn and hone through fly fishing for bluegills will directly translate into better fishing on your more exotic fly fishing pursuits.
FAQs
What Weight Fly Rod for Bluegill?
With the same fly gear you would use for trout, the bluegill is enjoyable to catch. I advise using 1-, 2-, or 3-weight rods that are 7 to 8 feet long, have medium or slow action, and light fly reels in order to get the most enjoyment out of these 4- to 10-inch fish.
What Fishing is Used for Bluegill?
Bluegill prefers live bait, in particular. The most common baits are worms and night crawlers because they are readily available and bluegill loves them. Use just a small portion of a worm—enough to cover the hook—to get the desired results. Crickets, grasshoppers, red wrigglers, and mealworms are some other effective bait.
