Getting Tougher to Reach my Goal of 100 Super Bluegills

I got back on the water this week for a couple of days. The lake has been falling and cool nights have put a damper on the catch ratio. There has been very little bass action on top or subsurface; but that is Smith Lake, deep, super clear and heavy fishing pressure. This lake has had three bass tournaments in the past month and that plays a big part in whether the bass is active. I have always heard that lakes that have a tremendous amount of pressure should be fished completely different from the way everybody else fishes the lake. I have taken that statement to heart some years ago when I started Micro Light fishing and Fly Fishing on the lake. These two methods of fishing are seldom used on Smith which has made it quite productive for me over the years, especially with the fly rod. I have only seen one other fisherman use the fly rod on this lake over the past ten years, and I hope that trend continues. I am still working on my goal every time I launch the boat here and today and Wednesday were no exception. Both days produced 20 to 25 bluegills with only a few big enough to count towards my goal. Wednesday was tough because the lake was falling and I had to go with subsurface flies such as the Upside Bream Killer and a size 12 Cream Nymph. I only landed a couple on top using the Humpy Green dry fly. Today was somewhat better but still limited surface action. The Muddler Minnow was the fly that got their attention today, but it only produced one good gill and a couple smaller ones. I used the Cream Nymph the rest of the morning to finish the trip. I can’t go to Smith this time of year without trying the Boogle Bug, but there was no action at all with the Spots and Largemouth bass. I thought I would never wish for hot humid weather but that is what it is going to take to bring back the top action. I am now 32 big bluegills away to reach my goal. It is getting tougher now that the spawn is winding down. I only have 2 to 3 weeks left.  Wish me luck!!!

Beautiful colored Bluegill right out of the water, this one counted

I counted two of these on Wednesday's trip, I landed numbers of smaller fish but they didn't make my count

All four of these counted towards the goal for Saturday's trip again I landed a lot of smaller fish but no count---Sorry no bass to report on.

I had to take a picture of this beauty, the colors on this sunfish are outstanding. I have never landed one any bigger than this guy.