You’ve bought a standard 5-weight fly rod and matching fly reel, have a box full of flies from a local store that you’re not sure what to do with and have been practicing fly catching in your front yard for the past month. It’s time to get your fishing gear together and head out on the water to try catching your first fly fishing. After all, the reason we do this is to fish, and the only way to master fly rod fishing is to practice with the fish. And one of the easiest ways to do that is to go Fishing flies for blue gills. It may be the best way to start fly fishing for beginners.
Obstacles may seem to block your way to your first fish on the fly, and for some newcomers this may seem a bit overwhelming. But success on your first trip is akin to a local bluegill. So leave the waders at home, grab a snack and some water, and head to the local pond to catch some fish. To be honest, we love taking our fly rods and chasing bluegills in the pond. It’s a great way to get through the day no matter your skill level with a fly rod.
Many new fly fishing anglers begin their fishing trip while on vacation in the West by taking a guided trip downriver. Although I would never discourage anyone from taking this experience, it is in everyone’s interest to have a little practice before you set foot in a houseboat. The easiest place to get practice without a lot of frustration? Local bluegill pond.
Although keen anglers might be tempted to stick their noses in at Lepomis Macrochirus, I consider bluegill to be a fishing life-saver. Many hunting trips have been saved by this tiny creature which is usually 6 to 10 inches in size. Bluegills, which get their name from the bluish shade on their nostrils, are abundant throughout North America and can be easily caught from the shore. They have a varied diet that includes insects, making them an excellent target for fly fishermen. . It’s also a great fish for beginners to learn on, which is why I’m sure many of us have an image of ourselves at the age of five shamelessly carrying the poor bluegill somewhere.
But just heading to the local pond’s edge won’t automatically make you successful. To get the most out of your first trip, let’s talk about the limitations you face as a new angler and why this is beneficial when fishing for bluegill.
Selection of blue flies
In the beginning, your team will need to work, and your fly will often land on the water like a rock. Take this into consideration when choosing your first fly. The key would be to use the ground pattern. A ground pattern is anything that mimics an insect living on dry land; Ant, cricket, beetle, grasshopper. These flies should float above the surface of the water to make them easier to see.
Consider what that insect does when the wind blows it into the water. It bounces erratically around trying to get out of the water as fast as it can. As a new angler, this is great news for you. You haven’t polished your cast to deliver an accurate presentation of the fly, and you most likely won’t have your line management skills yet (which is the equivalent of patting your head and rubbing your stomach), so you’ll be making a mess with your fly on the water once it lands. And it will start bouncing around just like that bug trying to get out of the water.
Without even trying, you’ll create a natural display that mimics a real bug in the water, and after a long time, you’ll see that little mouth attached to a fly!
You can get blue gills on dry flies, flies that mimic insects, spiders, ants, grasshoppers, caterpillars, and more. As well as beaded nymph flies with other legs that mimic insects. Here are some recommendations for gill flies:
Stripping flies for bluegill
Once the fly has landed on the water and your line is under control, you will need to move the fly in a way that mimics what the fly would do on the water. I call this “being the bait”. Make sure the tip of the rod is close to the surface of the water and pull enough line so that there is no slack in the line. In the case of a terrestrial object, you’ll only need to move the fly just enough to make it appear to be floating above the surface of the water.
You can do this by placing the line under the finger of the hand (I use my middle finger). With my opposite hand, I pull the line from behind the finger of the hand holding the line. This is called “abstraction”. Small, short movements will move the fly just enough for it to appear alive.
Adjust the fly hook
As mentioned earlier, land patterns are designed to float on the surface of the water, which means you’ll see the fish come up and catch the fly. This is when you seem to have lost control of your limbs. The blow will happen quickly and may surprise you. But fear not if you miss the hook the first time you hit the fish. Bluegill comes back again and again so you’ll have many chances to get it right.
When you strike the fish, you will most likely instinctively hold the line, and this will hook the fish. At this point, all you have to do is lift the tip of the penis straight up. This is called a trout group. It is by no means necessary to be strong, in fact, if you are too aggressive in a group of trout, you are more likely to pull the fly right off the lip of the fish. Once you feel the fish on the hook, the real fun begins.
Fighting fish in flight
Bluegills have small mouths, so the key to preserving them is to play with them gently. Keeping the tip of your penis up, pull the line in while not grabbing your penis, using a finger on your hand as a guide and tape into the line. At first, this will seem complicated, but it will stick there. It will become second nature soon enough.
With smaller fish such as bluegill, small bass, and trout, you will find that you will only need to strip the line in order to lower the fish. As you strip the fish, notice if the fish turns around and starts to pull on the line. If this happens, let him. Never pull the string so tight that it rips the fly out of the fish’s mouth or breaks the tippet. As the fish tires, which won’t take long for blue gills, you’ll find him close enough to land it.
Landing fish on the fly
Once the fish get close to shore, you’ll find that the 9-foot rod makes it difficult to land without a little guidance. At this point, take the tip of the applicator and place it straight behind your ear. This will cause the fish to approach you close enough that you can bend down and catch it if you have a net. If you don’t have a net, or you forgot to bring one with you, that’s fine. Simply wet your hands and hold the tippet in one hand and the nostril in the other. Be careful! The upper fin of the bluegill has spines and can sting you. You can prevent this by running your hand from the front of the gill to under the upper fin and holding it under your hand. Now you can easily grab the gills and take out the hook. He smiled quickly for the camera before taking him back to his watery home to live another day.
In conclusion, pond blue fly fishing is an excellent introduction to the sport. It’s an opportunity to practice casting, relive techniques, and experience the thrill of a shot. Topwater fly fishing Like terrestrial ones, a newcomer to the sport gives you an edge in making the fish strike and the ability to not only feel them fly, but see them as well. It’s also very interesting. It won’t take long before you and the bluegill become addicted to your new passion.
As a side note, fishing for bluegill in an inland pattern pond is also an excellent place to start if you are taking a child out for their first fish. Just make sure the weather is nice and you bring plenty of snacks. The key to success, especially with children, is to allow them to quickly see the fruits of their labor and Gill will deliver quick results without much effort. Smiles will spread everywhere.
Bluegill fly fishing gear
- a stick: While a 3 or 4 weight rod for gills may be ideal, a standard 9 foot 5 weight rod will work just as well.
- Line: Float fly line is basic with a 7 1/2 ft leader and a 4X or 5X tip.
- He flies: Small black ants size 14-18, beetles size 12-14, grasshoppers size 8-10 are great as well as foam spiders and baby bugs.
If you love panfish, fly fishing offers a fun escape from traditional fishing. If you’re just getting started with fly fishing, panfish fishing like gill fish is a great place to start because you can focus on catching, stripping, fishing, fighting and landing fish. You can practice moving the bait across the surface in a lifelike manner. You don’t usually have too many obstacles, the current water is ultra pure to add a lot of variables to the mix when starting out. So blue fly fishing gives you a great way to learn fly fishing and practice with actual fish before you progress to bigger fish, more complex fisheries, and more terrifying, cumbersome and intelligent fish in crystal clear environments.