Fly Fishing Tips & Tackle

Few things stir the imagination like the thought of a trout on a fly rod.
In my case, a bull bluegill will do just nicely.
Anglers have chased fish with a fly rod for more than 500 years. Most any fisherman looks at fly fishing with awe.
The mystic beauty of wading a stream creates a vision of solitude and excitement unmatched. Fly fishing has survived for centuries because it’s often the only way to land a trout.
Learning how to fly fish for bluegill is not all that difficult. A five- or six-weight fly line and a matching rod gets you started quickly. You don’t need an expensive outfit when starting out. If you really want a challenge, then a three- or four-weight rod and line is best.
An hour or two in the backyard practicing the casting motion is sufficient enough for a first timer. Mastering all of the various casts, rolls and subtle patterns on a stream might take a season or two, but you will land plenty of bluegill with a basic understanding.
For a fast lesson on fly rod panfish, hit your nearest pond or lake and load up on bluegills. Some basic skills are required, and because bluegills are not as nervous as a trout, valuable casting and floating techniques can be perfected.
Excellent bluegill fishing occurs each spring and early summer. Colonies of bluegills will make saucer shaped beds in the shallows with the males guarding the nest. Virtually anything coming in contact with the nest will result in a strike for the protective male bulls.
Rubber spiders are the most popular choice, followed up with small poppers and floating ants. A few anglers like a slow-sinking fly to lure the males or spawning females off of the beds.
A popper makes a popping sound when gently pulled across the surface. Often the only indicator of a bluegill hitting your offering is the slurping sucking sound. A gill will suck in the fly, and if you listen closely, you will hear it.
After the spawn, many bluegill anglers miss out on some of the most enjoyable fly fishing of the year. When summer kicks into high gear, the bluegills move to the edge of the weeds or suspend over the deep water.
Under low-light periods, with the evenings being the best, ripples will appear on the surface.

Hundreds of feeding gills will smack the surface regardless of the depth. On a calm evening, you can see these ripples a hundred yards away.
Slide in quietly and work the surface. A floating fly or spider works very well, as does a slow sinking fly. At times, a slow-sinking fly will hammer the gills like there’s no tomorrow.
Just remember that most of the fish will be caught within the top 18 inches of the surface. Limits come quick, and the fish will stay in the same general area for a month or more.
A tippet or leader should be tied to your fly line. I use either a 2X or a 3X, depending on the size of the fly/spider and the type of cover that I’m casting into. The larger the X number, the smaller the tippet. Tippets come tapered or straight, and the straight is fine for bluegill.
Some of the better lakes in the area include Baseline, Hutchins, Eagle and Miner in Allegan County; Crockery and Cranberry in Ottawa County; Mona and Muskegon in Muskegon County; and Fremont, Kimball and Sylvan in Newaygo County.
The fishing will only get better over the next few weeks, and this is the prime time for spawning gills and a fly rod angler.