Some Fish Got Buggered Up on Saturday Evening

Online fly shop for jigs and streamers: https://theshowmeflyguy.etsy.com

This is usually the time of year that I start focusing on fishing shallow water for bluegill if I get a small window to fish. Bass have spawned and become a little more tight lipped. Crappie have moved off the banks and are suspending around timber. I have to drive 3 hours or more to fish for trout and smallmouth. Wipers and white bass require a boat and electronics. So if I get to hit the water for an hour or so, I focus on bluegill, redear sunfish, and green sunfish. 

Are they exciting to catch? A little bit because every fish you catch is exciting to some degree. Are you going to catch a “big fish” when targeting these species? Probably not unless you accidentally hook a catfish which does happen from time to time. And finally, is it difficult to rig up a fly rod or are the fishing techniques difficult? Nope and nope!

I like to throw a 3 or 4 weight fly rod when targeting smaller species like the aforementioned sunfish. I also like to use a fluorocarbon leader that is approximately 6 feet in length. I don’t waste money on tapered leaders and instead just pull some line right off a spool of 6 pound line. As far as flies, I like to either use a jig under a float, a size 6 wooly bigger, or two size 6 unhackled buggers. If the fish want a slow presentation, are suspended, or seem lethargic, I go with a jig. If they are actively feeding and really on the move, I throw buggers. I prefer the bigger approach because it’s a lot more fun to work a fly and watch for movement in fly line than state at a bobber. 

Luckily for me, I found some active fish on Saturday evening that wanted to run down and smash a bugger. In total, I landed two crappie, 5 bass, and 4 bluegill. More important than the numbers though was the fact that I had fun! None of the fish were memorable and nothing out of the ordinary happened. However, it felt nice to make some good casts, get some takes, and feel a tug on the other end of the line. The lack of wind and pretty sunset capped off a pleasant evening. 

Online fly shop for jigs and streamers: https://theshowmeflyguy.etsy.com