Monday, April 21, 2014

The Bulls are Running!!!


 

The bulls I am really referring to is the big bull bluegills on Walker County Lake. I couldn’t have asked for a better morning to continue to work on my bluegill quest. This morning was unusual in that there was virtually no wind for at least three hours, which made for some fantastic on and off surface action.

 

First gill of the morning on the Black Super Nymph, which is lodged in his throat; I started with a popper but no takers.  The fish were extremely wary and I had to keep the boat some distance from the bank to keep from scaring the bigger fish. This lake is fished quite heavy this time of year and the bigger fish tend to know if danger is approaching. Lighter presentations with lighter flies work best for a while as I worked the banks.   
Another counter for the quest with the nymph inhaled. I lost numbers of fish today simply because I wasn’t keeping a tight line on the fish. These fish usually bed in water 4 to 6 feet deep, and once hooked they make a beeline for deep water, so stripping line as fast as one can will ensure landing the fish, otherwise you take a chance losing good bull bluegill.  
This bass eyed the dark green black-legged Betts popper a little to close. I landed numbers of bass as I work the steep banks. I had two combos with me today, my 3 and 4 weight, both 8 ½ ft. Equal numbers were taken on both combos.
As the Super Nymph faded, I went back to my popper, which was a black-legged faded black body, Betts.  Sorry, I don’t have an image of this popper, which was lost on a break off in a brush pile. I ended the morning with the black-legged chartreuse.
The best of the best for the morning; I will count 8 towards my quest which makes me 41 away.

29 comments:

  1. Yeah Bill! Nice gils! It is pretty amazing when you hit the water and the conditions are as close to perfect as they can be. Divine intervention I am sure! I am quietly cheering the quest! You will make it easily my friend! Nice bass dont care how big always exciting on the fly! Tightlines!

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  2. Go get them Bill.
    Very hefty fish there.

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  3. look at the forehead on that bluegill

    crazy huge

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  4. Wow! I would love to be able to get into some Bluegill like that. Way to go sir!

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  5. The ones by house are active too. I caught 3 last weekend and missed at least 6 others. I'm wondering if I actually missed them bedding. I saw several craters but no fish hovering over them.

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  6. Nice haul on the bluegills. Kelly and I went to a new place where we haven't been on Smith Lake on Easter Sunday. She caught and released a Bluegill that would have made your day... and a bass that would have made anyone's day. My day wasn't so good. I'll write about it soon.

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  7. This is my favorite time of the year...when Bill starts his bluegill quest. Nice going Bill!

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  8. Noco
    It will be hard to make the quest from this lake, because there will be an overflow of live bait fisherman on the water in the coming days. I want be able to get back on the lake until next Tuesday. Thanks for the comment

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  9. Alan
    Super fun on the fly rod. Thanks for the comment

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  10. Mark
    Chubby gills means a chubby meal, very tasty. This lake is spring and creek feed. Thanks for the comment

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  11. Al
    I wish you lived close by so I could take on a bluegill outing. Thanks for the comment

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  12. Blake
    The pronounce forehead means bull status; which results in an unreal fight on the fly rod. Thanks for the comment

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  13. Kevin
    Cold weather at night can drive the fish off the beds during the day. Hope to see a post soon from on their status. Thanks for the comment

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  14. Jay
    Kelly may have to start giving you lessons in fly fishing techniques. That bluegill and 20" spot was worth the trip for Kelly at least. 70 degrees is the magic number on Smith for great top water action. What time of the evening did you land these fish? You guys let me know about a week ahead of time when you want to fish on a weekend. Thanks for the comment

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  15. Howard
    I wish you had been with me using one of your vintage fly rods. Thanks for the comment

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  16. Yeah...anytime you can lip a bluegill, you're doing doing pretty damn good!

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  17. Bill,
    It was the middle of the afternoon... somewhere between about 1 - 3 PM. I missed another large bass at around 4. Not sure of the exact water temp... even though I know it wasn't too terribly cold as I had to jump out of my kayak to save my fly rod that fell out. At this time of year, my experience has showed me that the "heat" of the afternoon can be the best time of day to fish. With the night time lows we've had, and only a 78 - 80F high temp, the afternoon "heat" is prime... but that's just my opinion. As we were putting our kayaks in there was a guy at the boat ramp leaving because he said it was "getting too hot"... and I personally think he doesn't have a clue.

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  18. Brook
    I brought home 18 and dressed all of them; I was lucky to find those, because the live bait fisherman usually have zero in on all the beds by this time of the month. I hope I get to lip a few more in that lake before the end of the month. thanks for the comment

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  19. Ok, Bill, here is the deal. I can't afford a plane ticket so I am running away tonight. Will have my fishing pack loaded with Bluegill flies. I plan on hitchhiking and you know how old I am, so be patient with me. Before you know it, I will be there to share some time in the boat with you. Sorry, have to go now, a trucker just slowed down to give me a ride!

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  20. Mel
    I’ll have all the bluegill fly fishing essentials loaded in the boat and waiting for you. I’ll even take you to some of my honey holes on Smith and Walker so you get can tie into some of those super size bulls.
    Of all my bloggers who chase these fish, you are the one I wish I could get in the boat with and experience some bluegill mania. Maybe someday we will make it happen. Thanks for the comment

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  21. Great job on those gills, Bill! Tell me more about the black super nymph... can you get these anywhere?

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  22. Juan
    I got the super nymphs from David at Trout Zone. They are fantastic for bluegill and even trout. I even landed spots using them. Tell David you want him to tie up the same three colors he tie for me. If you have any more questions just email. thanks for the comment

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  23. Super exciting around the fly fishing rod. Many thanks for your review.
    fishing line

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  24. great haul. i cant wait to break out the poppers.

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  25. I am always impressed and jealous of those monstrosities you call bull gill. They're on another level!

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  26. That may be a single fine Carp sportfishing evening. Can you mind sharing what the take on collection us all is usually: Fly fishing line, Baitcasting reel. Range, etc.?
    fishing reels

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  27. Fantastic blog post and pictures of fishing. Thanks a lot for sharing.
    fly fishing trip british columbia

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  28. Thanks John for stopping by, love to land this size bluegill on the fly!!!

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