FLY FISHING FOR BLUEGILLS
Trout fishermen already know what a blast it is to catch fish on a fly rod, but there is no reason you can't go after other freshwater fish. In May through early June (maybe later this year), Sunnies and Bluegills will be spawning in shallow water. It will never be easier to catch the big ones all year.
If you've never fly fished before you will need to do a few simple things. Obviously you will need a fly rod. Rods are sold by fly line weight, two being the lightest and going all the way past twelve. Anything between two and six is a good choice, use your own judgement. They also come in various lengths, nine feet is average. You don't need to spend a lot of money on a reel, even though they can go for big bucks. It just isn't worth it, you're not going after trophy Steelhead.
Using waders and wading through the water is a popular way to fly fish, but you can do it from a boat or a dock, or even from shore if you have enough room behind you.
If you've never fly fished before you will need to do a few simple things. Obviously you will need a fly rod. Rods are sold by fly line weight, two being the lightest and going all the way past twelve. Anything between two and six is a good choice, use your own judgement. They also come in various lengths, nine feet is average. You don't need to spend a lot of money on a reel, even though they can go for big bucks. It just isn't worth it, you're not going after trophy Steelhead.
Using waders and wading through the water is a popular way to fly fish, but you can do it from a boat or a dock, or even from shore if you have enough room behind you.
BAIT
What you put on the end of your line is the most important thing. The only thing that's ever worked for me is the Green Spider. I give my uncle Sonny credit for inventing it because I've never seen them anywhere else.
Sonny was a true Minnesota renaissance man. In the 50's he raced stock cars and had a country western band. He was also a painter. In the 60's he got a job working for the TV station in Mankato. He got to meet a lot of interesting people passing through there at the time, from Eleanor Roosevelt to Jane Fonda to Walter Mondale. He taught me the fine art of drinking brandy. pickling northern pike, and freeing the hostages at the Embassy Bar in Saint Peter. A few months before he died, he also showed me how to make spiders and where to purchase the materials.
To understand why the spider works so well re-
member that the males have built nests in shallow
water waiting for the females to come in. If you
find them in clear water it will look like an under-
water moonscape. The spider is made out of a sponge material that absorbs water and makes it
slowly drop down below the surface. If they are not feeding heavily they will still eat it if you drop it down on the nest. Bluegills like to keep things clean. Of course if they are feeding you'll know it!
You can also make the spider look like it's swimming. Just keep pulling the line toward you.
This is effective when you are looking for where
the fish are.
Of course the Spider doesn't just work on Blue-
gills. Early season Crappies go just as crazy. And Large and Smallmouth Bass are more than happy to indulge.
member that the males have built nests in shallow
water waiting for the females to come in. If you
find them in clear water it will look like an under-
water moonscape. The spider is made out of a sponge material that absorbs water and makes it
slowly drop down below the surface. If they are not feeding heavily they will still eat it if you drop it down on the nest. Bluegills like to keep things clean. Of course if they are feeding you'll know it!
You can also make the spider look like it's swimming. Just keep pulling the line toward you.This is effective when you are looking for wherethe fish are.
Of course the Spider doesn't just work on Blue-
gills. Early season Crappies go just as crazy. And Large and Smallmouth Bass are more than happy to indulge.
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