Bluegill Bonanza Fishing the Caddis

I had my phone set for 5 AM Tuesday to make my first bluegill fishing trip on Smith Lake this year. After eating a bowl of cheerios, oatmeal, and some fruit I made it out the door. Tuesday’s forecast was cloudy skies and the chance of rain in the afternoon and through the night; my kind of forecast fishing before a front.

My plan was to search and find bluegill spawning in as many sloughs as I could before the heat and humidity force me to leave. My first slough had numerous gills and one redeye native bass but not the big bulls I was searching for. The bass and female gills were killing the Caddis!!!

After fishing through five more sloughs I finally made a connection on my 7^th slough. Three of kind here using the Caddis; my five weight was the perfect combo to land these bulls.

Unreal fight put forth by this gill, which left a few fibers of the Caddis sticking out of its mouth. During the spawn, the male bluegill will attack anything that comes close to the beds. This bluegill was spawning in super clear water 11 ft. deep. It is unusual to find any more than 5 or 6 bluegills spawning in the back of any of the sloughs on Smith. With over 500 miles of shoreline, the fish are spread thin.

I continued to fish the back of nooks that I thought bluegills would spawn in. I seldom find them in the same sloughs year after year spawning. All the fish I found today were in new spawning waters. A lot of fish brought to hand today will make an excellent meal with hushpuppies, coleslaw, and french fries. By the way, guys have I mention how much fun it is landing these monster bluegills?? 

Flexing the Muscle of the 2 Weight

My second trip fishing with my 2 weight medium action fly rod today was awesome! I believe all the fish I landed today enjoyed its action as well. The 6X leader combined with the 2 weight fly line enabled the flies to touch the water as if they had dropped from a tree limb near the bank. How many times have you guys experienced that situation? Be ready because the fish will usually explore on your offering. I experienced that a number of times today absence the tree limb.
The Redington medium action fly rod paired with the Redington Drift reel yields one fantastic day on the water.

Even bluegills and bass this size can make one think they’re fighting a super bull gill or quality size bass. The 2 weight gives the fish a fighting chance and at the same time test the landing skills of the angler. 

Ralph’s Foam Butt Caddis was the winner of the flies tossed today, so realistic on the surface film. I’m still in search of the quality bluegill to begin my quest; another enjoyable practice day in the books!