Fly Fishing
The fly rod is an ideal outfit for pan fish. A trout rod and reel can serve double duty during the season when the angler seeks pan fish. A sevenand-a-half- to nine-foot fly rod of fiberglass, graphite, or boron are all acceptable, providing they cast a four- or five-weight line. The angler's casts will not need to be long, therefore a double taper (DT5F) or a weight-forward (WF5F) line is a good choice. To save money on a line, a level fly line will do the job. Merely add a heavier butt to the leader when attaching it to the line. Long leaders are not needed when fly fishing for pan fish. A ten-foot leader with a five- or six-pound tippet is all that is necessary.
Bluegills like flies. Normally a woolly worm or a small cork bug will entice them to hit and only a change in color is needed to overcome any reluctance. Tie up or buy woolly worms size 10 in red, brown,white, yellow, green, or black. An angler who knows where the fish school is needs only to cast the fly into the area, allow it to sink slightly, and begin the retrieve. The bluegill is sure to hit the moving fly. Then there are the times when the bluegill becomes a fussy feeder. It can be as selective as trout. Not only must the angler find the fly to use but he also must adopt careful tactics. As in trout fishing, keep a low silhouette and, above all, keep quiet.
In early spring, before the bluegill begins to spawn, drift along the shallow portions of a south-facing shoreline. This area receives the greatest concentrations of sunlight, which prods shallow-water insects into life. Bluegills will move into the shallows to feed on the sluggish insects. Mayfly and dragonfly nymphs, caddis larvae, scud, freshwater shrimp, and water beetles become active. All of these aquatic creatures can be imitated by fly patterns.
A gold-ribbed hare's ear nymph pattern, size 12, is a good general purpose fly with which to start. Cast the fly almost onto shore. You should be wading or drifting in a boat 20 to 30 feet off shore. The vibration created by shore-bound anglers walking the edges can frighten the fish back into deeper water. Since you are casting into shallow water, try to cast to allow the line to straighten three feet above the water, and then the fly will probably land before the line splashes and spooks the fish. Allow the fly to sink to the bottom before starting the retrieve. Remember that in the spring, before spawning, the water is very cold. Fish are lethargic. They will not move far or fast. A slow retrieve is best.
However, on a warm, sunny day in spring, when insects such as water boatmen are active on the surface, an angler must imitate the action of the insects for success. These insects leave the water like small polaris missiles, fly off to another part of the lake, and dive-bomb through the surface to swim quickly to the bottom. The angler must create a splashy entrance into the water with a fast retrieve.
A favorite fly in late May and early June, just as the bluegill are starting to spawn, is the damsel fly nymph. These creatures are very wiggly swimmers. During the period when they swim to shore and climb out on water vegetation to emerge from the nymph state, they entice the bluegill and other fish to feed voraciously. A green nymph with a marabou tail to simulate their wiggle is a good bet.
When the bluegill begins to spawn and the fish are over the nests, the angler must remember to allow the fly lure or bait to sink to the level of the nest or redd. These fish defend their eggs and fry from predators and other members of their own species. They will not move far from the nest site and will hit anything which ventures too close and threatens the young. Drop a black woolly worm or a dragonfly nymph on the redd and you have a fish. Mini streamers are good flies for this kind of fishing as are the smallest size Rapala type lures.
After eggs hatch, the larger bluegills can be found in deeper, cooler water, so fish the shaded side of deep holes on a sunny day. Where there are drowned treetops, cast a small popper with a monofilament weed guard into the partially submerged branches. Cast, let the bug sit for a few moments, then move it. Repeat the process several times to attract the attention of the fish.
If the water temperature becomes too warm during the summer, fish the mouth of a river or creek, or check the lake for spring holes where the fish will gather. You may need a weighted nymph or lure to go deep in order to take fish there. Quite often the biggest fish are found in these situations.
If night fishing, cast a wriggle nymph pattern towards the sound of feeding fish and work it very slowly just under the surface. Fish can detect the movement from quite a distance
