I found out Tuesday why I
need a good supply of flies and poppers.
I think most of you already know where this post is going—bluegill
fishing. I hope I am not boring you guys with all the posts I have been doing lately
about my trips to reach my 100 super bluegills during the spawning season. I
know when I started this blog it was mainly to keep a fishing log of the time of
year, water temps, moon phase or any other information that might help me to
become a better fisherman. Little did I know that the blog would enable me to
meet and converse with some expert fishermen, who have help me learn so much
about this sport I truly love.
So with that said Tuesday’s
trip will be a memorable outing for me to say the least. In a four-hour span, I
landed a total of 32 bluegills and during that time I brought to hand some of
the largest bluegills I have ever caught on Walker County Lake. I was culling fish from the very start of the trip
to try and reach my limit which is 20 on this lake. I made the limit with some
big bluegills; four were in the 12 to 15oz category and the 2 Shellcrackers were 14 to 15 oz. I
used two different fly rods starting out with my 3wt 9 ft. Streamflex and later started using my new 4 wt. 9 ft. St.
Croix fast action. In fact, if I had not had the 4 wt. I would have never landed the Shellcrackers. A lot
of these fish were in submerging cover which made it a challenge to land a lot
of them. Through it all, I lost 4 poppers to the Shellcrackers who are still
swimming with them in their mouth somewhere in the lake. After adding my 20 big
bluegills today I am 56 away from my goal. I feel a little better about
reaching my goal now after today’s adventure.
This was one of the 15 oz. beauties
If this Shellcracker had to jump many more times I would have lost him, the White Betts Popper fell out of his mouth once in the boat
Another beauty held by the caretaker at the bait shop on the lake
The prize at the end of the trip--this is an outing I will remember
Nice gills. I think fly fishing for bluegill is trending up. I'm hearing more spin fisherman talk about it.
ReplyDeleteNice going. Last year due to high water I didn't trout fish much, substituting bass and gills. It's a blast that's for sure.
ReplyDeleteKevin
ReplyDeleteBluegill can present a challenge, especially if they are in brush, and if they are slaping at the fly as oppose to really hitting it. Another factor is the presentation, if the fly hits the water to hard then they spook and you have lost the element of surprise. Sometimes a delicate presentation helps to entice the bigger fish into hitting. Thanks for the comment
Howard
ReplyDeleteWith the crazy genertion below the dam, and Alabama Power's disregard for the trout fisherman, it drives me to warm water fish more. I wish I had access to a free stone stream, but it is what it is. Thanks for the comment
It's still too cold in these parts for topwater action. Last week I could see a whole school of 100 fish just staring at my presentation.
ReplyDeleteYour getting there.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to check out those poppers.
Brk
ReplyDeleteGood poppers wide gap hook for better hook set. Finish on these poppers are exceptional. Thanks for the comment
John
ReplyDeleteIt shouldn't be long before you are out with the poppers. Do a post on the action when things warm up. Thanks for the comment
Congrats on all your bluegill. I'm sure you will reach your goal very soon! Nice 1 lbers!
ReplyDeleteJ
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment
Bill glad to hear the Fire Tiger popper was rockin it for ya today! I am going to link your blog with mine for the shout out. Thanks so much for sharing and again glad to hear they worked so well. Not surprised though! :)
ReplyDeleteCan't wait for it to warm up a bit. Just when you think that's going to happen, you get 3 inches of snow like we did this morning.
ReplyDeleteMark
What a day! That is a good looking mess of gills you got there...a few poppers seems well worth it for that kind of action.
ReplyDeleteGlad you got out and a little closer to the goal. Well done!
Sander
ReplyDeleteEverything on this trip worked to perfection---fishing 2 days after a full moon--no wind--low barometer--70 degree water--limited boat activity, 3 other boats other than me and last a bit of overcast, when you have these conditions one can't help but catch fish. Thanks for the comment
Mark
ReplyDeleteHard to believe you guys are still getting show--when it warms up get out and land some bass, and bluegill for me using some of the poppers I told you about. Thanks for the comment
J & M
ReplyDeleteI couldn't think of the name of this popper, but I really wasn't onto the name as I was the huge biuegill it help me land. You guys have come up with a winner here. Thanks for the comment
Tasty treats. Good to see someone as thrilled as you to hammer those bluegills too. Any luck on my flies, lol. You make me jealous. I caught one fattie and called it quits the other day, lol.
ReplyDeleteJosh
ReplyDeleteAll 20 were dressed and put in the deep freeze. I really like the fishing part but the eating part is what make the whole thing worth while. I will be getting to some of your fiies soon. Thanks for the comment
Awesome! I broke out the 3 wt. yesterday and caught a few bluegill myself, but none were as big as those!
ReplyDeleteLooks like you did very well on your trip, congratulations on some nice catches.
ReplyDeleteVery nice outing. I can't wait until it warms up here enough to head out. Keep em coming, hope you make it to your goal.
ReplyDeleteTy
ReplyDeleteI have been and caught lost of bluegills over the years, but I had never caught that many huge ones in one trip. I know I will not be that lucky again at that lake. Thanks for the comment
Rick
ReplyDeleteAll the stars lined up right for this trip. Thanks for the comment
Some serious giants, I don't think I give those enough of a shot throughout the year?
ReplyDeleteBlake
ReplyDeleteLanding these bluegills can be habit forming--these things are a blast on the 3 wt. Thanks for the comment
Wes917
ReplyDeleteLast year I made it to 85 this year seems to be a little more difficult. Thanks for the comment