Fly Rod and Bluegills

**auld argonian** · 14th May 10, 06:51 AM

Jock Scot used the phrase, "rise to the fly" in one of the other current threads and it got me thinking that, having procured my State of Illinois fishing license for 2010, I am going to set aside a day next week to get out to the local mini-lake with my 7' 4wt and pester the Bluegills.

Just curious about how many of the other members who fly rod go out for other species. Not too many trout here in Illinois and those that are there are hatchery trout that they dump in every Spring and Fall...the kind of trout that wouldn't know an insect if they saw one so you have to tie flies that look like the Purina Trout Chow that they've been living on since birth.

I've found Bluegills and Crappie (your pronunciation may vary...) to be good alternatives to the more traditional quarry and one of those big, old, dinner plate sized Wisconsin Bluegills can be quite a trip when you've got 'im on light tackle. I have managed to pick up the odd Largemouth but am still trying to find a good Smallmouth river hereabouts.

Any of you folks killing time between actual trout fishing sessions by going out for the local species?

Best

AA

**DougC** · 14th May 10, 06:59 AM

There are big redfish and trout in the gulf that tend to end up on m y line more than trout. Bass are tons of fun too!

**mull** · 14th May 10, 07:11 AM

The kankakee river has some great smallie fishing with fly rods.

I also go over to the I and M canal and fish for carp with a 7 weight fly rod. Once you hook one it can be 45 minutes before you land it, because if you try to bull it it will break off everytime. Not many people fish them, especially on the fly, but it is great fun.

Joe

**sanddog28** · 14th May 10, 07:13 AM

I definitely have enjoyed some fly fishing through the years, I got hooked

when I was stationed in CO with trout fishing. But now that I have settled in FL my gear and what I fish for has gone through a complete change. I have an 8.5' 5wt that I like for bass and some bigger pan fish, but my baby is a 9' 9wt Helios setup for the mangroves and light salt water, fishing for Redfish or Snook or anything else that might to play with the line.

**Lallans** · 14th May 10, 07:20 AM

The fact is, I think, that almost anyone would say that flyfishing for what our British friends call the "coarse" species is the most fun you can have in the water with your waders on. And it's like chess vs checkers: while trout are the most challenging species on the fly, sometimes fun is what is wanted.

For instance, introducing someone to flyfishing with trout (or salmon) is likely to go badly, but crappies (what we in the north call sunfish) are just plain recreation, AKA fun. Which makes up for the novice's tangled lines and backcasts caught 25 feet up a tree, etc etc.

Bass, small- and largemouth, are the trout of warm water, so when I'm looking for a greater challenge, I go for them.

**JSFMACLJR** · 14th May 10, 07:21 AM

I love fishing for bluegill! They rise readily to pretty much any sort of fly:wet, dry, streamer, bass bugs...you name it, they'll bite! On light tackle they are great sport. I fish a number of farm ponds here in Kentucky, using a 5 weight 7 1/2' bamboo rod. The fun part about these farm ponds is that they are loaded with bass and sometimes crappie as well.

Hmmm, now I know what I want to do this afternoon!

**McNulty** · 14th May 10, 07:24 AM

My sons and I used to go to the Kankakee for smallies and tried fishing streamers out on the Fox. But since we moved to Colorado trout fishing is , mostly, the only game in town. There are a couple of small lakes and reservoirs out here that hold bass, pike , and bluegills. Haven't gotten to them yet as most of the rivers and streams by me are open all year long for trout. We used to go up to Wisconsin a lot and fly fished up near Door County. We also had great trout/flyfishing over in Michigan on the AuSable and the Pere Marquette near Baldwin, Mi.
Hit a local bait shop wherever you go and ask them for fly fishing info. If they can't give you any info, try fishing some streamers like the Muddler's Minnow, or a Grey Ghost, then try some attractor pattern like an orange or yellow stimulator, or a caddis in about a size 10. Either way have fun!!!!
Nulty

**JSFMACLJR** · 14th May 10, 07:26 AM

Originally Posted by Canuck of NI

Bass, small- and largemouth, are the trout of warm water, so when I'm looking for a greater challenge, I go for them.

My place in Quebec has some of the BEST smallmouth bass fishing anywhere! They can be just as challenging as a trout on occasion. There is nothing like hooking a 5 or 6 pound smallmouth on a fly for some fun acrobatics.

Hopefully we'll be in Quebec in a couple of months. What makes our property so nice is the variety. We have icy cold lakes full of brook trout and lake trout, as well as the "warmer" (and I use that word very loosely!) lakes with bass, pike, and walleye ( dore, as they are called in Quebec).

**RonnieMac13** · 14th May 10, 07:46 AM

We have wonderful fly fishing in Arkansas; look at this rather large brown trout caught in central Arkansas. http://arkansasroadstories.com/nature/trout.html But I still have more fun catching bluegills and red ears more than any other fish. Ounce for ounce they are the best fighters. All though small mouths are fun too.