Adding to my Super Size Bluegill Goal

I made a quick trip to Rock Creek yesterday to fish areas of Smith that I haven’t fished in years. I forgot how beautiful the Rock Creek area is, especially the high rock wall formations with all the cave holes carved out in the walls. I was competing with a huge bass tournament with some 125 boats zipping up and down the creek most of the morning. I felt good about landing fish on top especially some nice Spots, but they were not cooperating. Even fishing the fly rod by myself in Rock Creek couldn’t entice a hit. I was fishing the Boogle Bug brand on my 5 wt and had my 4 wt rigged with size 8 Wooly Bugger. I have to add a plug here for the Boogle Bug; it has to be the best of the best when it comes to poppers. This popper is so durable and tough that they will last season after season. Back to the trip, I fished from 6 AM until 9 AM using nothing but the white Boogle Bug which during that time produced some nice bluegills to add to my total count for the spawn. I did release some smaller bluegills that for some reason thought they were big enough to inhale the size 6 Boogle.  The key to getting the big hit was placing the popper right against the rock wall. The hit would come 10 to 15 seconds after the popper had landed lightly on the water’s surface. These big bluegills seem to know when the presentation was heavy instead of light meaning no action. I never used my 4 wt all morning, because the action was fairly consistent on the popper, so why break up a good thing. After today’s outing, I am 48 away from my goal. Saturday morning I hope to add to the total and have some quality Spots to report on.

This bull inhaled the size 6 Boogle

Supersize gill off the wall

Three of these bluegills were between 8 and 9 oz. I said when I started my goal I would only count 8 oz. and above --the top and bottom gills were 16 oz. --they are like landing a spot when they turn their wide bodies sideways. They gave the 5 wt a bend!!---these 5 put me 48 away from my goal.