When the water gets really warm and all the beds are empty I start dredging. The fish all seem to stay deep and won't investigate a fly on top. That's when I use something heavy with a lot of legs. I drag it across the bottom feeling every rock and stump. The strikes vary from slight resistance to a super hard yank. The really vicious strikes almost pull the rod out of your hands. I find the fish aren't as plentiful but the ones you manage to hook are a nice size.
Nice fish buddy!
ReplyDeleteThanks Howard.
DeleteWow, that's a huge bluegill!!
ReplyDeleteThanks bud.
DeleteNice fish! I've been tying a nymph recently that is working perfectly for these deeper fish. Been catching loads of nice ones. If you haven't, check out the Upside Down Bream Killer from breambugs.com. My pattern is based off of that, I throw it and copies a lot for deeper bluegill.
ReplyDeleteI'll show the pattern I'm using in another post later. There's really nothing to it and it works on a bunch of different species.
DeleteNeedless to say, that is one heck of a Bull there!! What weight rod were you using?
ReplyDeleteI've been using a 3wt for these fish. I'm always debating between that and the 5wt. The 3wt is more fun but it doesn't have a very stiff tip so sometimes I find I miss hook ups. I have to strip strike a lot with the 3wt.
DeleteWhat a hungry hungry hippo!
ReplyDeleteKevin
ReplyDeleteFor most bluegill fly fisherman the season is over when the spawn comes to a close. I have found that one has to have patience to fish for these fish after the spawn, especially if you are fishing nymph patterns. Some of my better gills have been taken using a nymph pattern in the summer months fishing deep like you are referring to in you post. The sink tip line that I used now has help me get deep quicker and at the same time fish an area a little faster. Nice bluegill you landed down under. Thanks for sharing
That bluegill has a countenance that reminds me of my old junior high school teacher. But friendlier!
ReplyDelete