Using The Wooly Bugger to Land Bluegill

Today’s quick trip to Smith Lake proved to be a wash for the crappie. It was a good thing I had my fly rod along to salvage the trip. The water temp was a cool 60 degrees warming a little to 62 before the trip ended. The crappie was not the only species to have lockjaw; the bass was in lockdown mode as well. There was no action with the Boogle Bug on top so there was only one option left and that was to go down under using the Wooly Bugger.

This was one of the nicest female bluegills I have ever landed on Smith using the cream bugger. I wasn’t using my sink tip line today, which meant I had to let the bass bug line get the bugger down at least 6 feet in the strike zone. I feel I would have landed more bluegills if I had been using the sink tip, but I had to go with the combo I had at hand, which was my 9 ft. 6 weight. Even this nice female gave the 6 weight a workout.

This healthy bull bluegill hit the bugger over a submerged brush pile that was meant to house crappie. I was a little surprised that I didn’t land some crappie using the color bugger because I felt like I was actually duplicating a small shad with its size and color pattern. The cream was the only color that would produce on this slow day, making me realize that I need to add some more cream buggers to my fly box. I will count both gills today, putting me 47 away from my quest now.

The Start of my 2015 Bluegill Quest

So good to be fly fishing again after being cooped inside most of the winter, my destination today was Walker County Lake. I like to hit this lake early in the year before the big crowds start showing up in April. I was surprised to find very few fishermen out today considering the 72-degree weather. Our forecast here next week is low 70’s most of the week, so with those warming temps coming, the activity should start to pick up at the water's edge.
  With the daylight hours being longer now I knew I had some extra time this afternoon to fish some areas on the lake I normally don’t fish. So I trolled the 10 ft Pelican towards the back of the lake to fish some of the shallow water in around the main creek that flows into the lake. After a half-hour of working the creek and the surrounding area with no takes, I moved back into the nooks. I know this may sound crazy but landing a fish this afternoon was kind of secondary; just being back on the water for another bluegill season is tremendous for me. 

First bluegill of the afternoon, not a counter but loads of fun on the 3 weight.

My one and only counter on the 4 weight using the black grub

All the fish I landed today were in great shape and ready for the coming spawn. Even the Betts Popper got in on the action later in the afternoon.

So with my one bull bluegill counted I am now 49 away from my quest!!!

The Contour Roam2 Camera Added to my Fly Fishing

As stated in my last post I like to find and watch good fly fishing videos on the net. I recently found some great fresh water videos dealing with warm water and cold water fly fishing filmed by Carter Nelson who lives in South Carolina. He has mastered the art of filming his fishing trips using a headmount camera. After getting some filming pointers from Carter last week, I decided I would do some research on video cameras and found one I was really impressed with on Amazon.

 The Contour Roam2 on Amazon was reduced half price at 98.90 with free shipping. The main thing that impressed me about this camera was the compact size and lightness. It attaches to your cap or hat and wherever you point your head it films. Carter said the only draw back to using a headmount camera is remembering to move your head slow as you work an area.

I have thought about filming some of my trips for years, but assumed it was just too much trouble. Using this camera is a breeze, meaning some of my first trips this season will probably have some video to share with you guys.  
  
 

Getting my Daily Dose of Country Music

I have to admit I am a YouTube junkie and when I am not blogging I am usually watching fly fishing video clips or music videos. The music I really enjoy is the 70’s and 80’s country and soft rock.

Recently I was searching Lionel Richie, one of my favorite artists of the 70's on YouTube and found this Lionel Richie concert that was set live at the MGM Grand in Vegas in 2012. What was special about the concert was the fact Richie used some of the biggest names in country music to join him on stage and sing some of his hits back in the 70’s and 80’s.
Some of the artist that was featured were; Kenny Rodgers, Kenny Chesney, Martina McBride, Sara Evans, The Band Perry, Lady Antebellum, Tim McGraw, Blake Sheldon, Luke Bryan, and others,----so to kill about 45 minutes snowed in I recommend this free concert.
 “Lady” song by Kenny Rodgers and Lionel Richie was a classic!!

Snow Down in The Deep South

When it snows in Alabama or any of the adjoining states around us, it becomes a big deal. We are expected to receive snow until midnight, which will gives us between 5 to 6 inches. In other words one of the biggest snows we’ve had in years.

 

Eagle Parents Stay Busy Tending the Young

The Bald Eagles are really active on Guntersville Lake in the north Alabama now. There is a lot of activity around this nest which houses two baby Eagles.

Perfection in the Picket Pin & Soft Hackle Flies

I decided late last fall towards the end of my fishing season that I didn’t need any more flies or poppers. Well you guys know how long that resolution lasted; right after I saw the Picket Pin and Soft Hackle flies Alan had tied at Small Stream Reflections. Both these patterns impressed me not only for their success rate but also for their fishy look. For those of you who follow Alan’s blog know he is an accomplished fly tier and an excellent photographer.

I can’t wait to get out on our local tailrace and introduce both these patterns to the rainbow there.

The Picket Pin is one of Alan’s go-to flies and one that I feel will be productive for me as well.

The Soft Hackle Dry is another stellar pattern from Alan’s collection; I haven’t fished this fly on our tailrace and anxious to give it a try.