I had a discussion the other day with a guide who said, the problem with a lot of fly
fishermen is that they get too locked into certain things, and become purists that think that the
only way to fish is for trout. Well, I learned how to fly fish on warmwater species, and I think
that one of the most enjoyable fly fishing venues is the lowly panfish, and the bluegill in
particular is one of my favorites. Pound for pound these scrappy fish will put most trout to
shame, and in a lake where the population is under good management, they will grow to large
sizes, and are great sport on fly tackle.

Fishing for bluegills and panfish is not a very sophisticated affair. Nearly any fly rod will
do. When I am fishing exclusively for bluegills, I usually use a 4-weight rod with a floating,
weight forward line. If the bass and pike seasons are open, and I am just as likely to catch a bass
as I am a bluegill, I use a 7-weight rod. On most of the lakes that I fish for panfish, a float tube
is my boat of choice, unless I am bringing a guest, in which case I use my canoe.

The fly selection for these fish is simple as well. I use poppers for most of my fishing,
and also carry a simple selection of nymphs, mainly dragon and damselfly nymphs, as well as
some wet flies. Bluegills and other panfish love rubber spiders in a variety of colors, and not
only are they easy to make, they catch fish. One of my main concerns with my panfish flies is
hook size. I only like to catch the bigger sized panfish, and in a lake where the population is
varied, I do not want to waste my time with the runts. I have found that by using a hook no
smaller than size 8 for my poppers and flies, the smaller fish usually can’t get their mouths open
enough to get hooked. By using the larger hooks, I can cull the small fish from my catch.

Panfish have a very predictable cycle during the year. When the ice comes off of the
lakes, they will begin moving towards shallow water for their spawning cycle. Spawning occurs
once the lake warms to around 67 degrees. Prior to spawning, the bigger fish will be found
adjacent to the shallow coves and bays where they will spawn. During the pre-spawn period,
they can be difficult to catch on fly tackle, unless warm weather periods get them feeding. For
fishing during the pre-spawn period, quite often a sinking line and a nymph are needed to get a
hit. In water temperatures that are less than 60 degrees, there usually will not be a surface bite.

As water temperatures and the length of the day call for spawning, the bluegills will
establish nests or beds in shallow water. Here there is a size hierarchy in the selection of the
nesting sites. The smaller fish will be found the closest to shore, quite often in mere inches of
water, and the bull sized bluegills will be in 3-5 feet of water. The bluegills will hit nearly
anything when they are on the nest, and they are very easy to catch.

After the spawning period has occurred, the bluegills will often hang in relatively
shallow, under any sort of protective cover. It is at this period of the year, that I like to fish the
best. Casting a popper close to a dock, under an overhanging branch, or up near an undercut
bank, will often produce a strike.

As the warmer weather of the summer approaches fishing for bluegills can get more
difficult. The bigger fish will not remain in the shallows. They will seek out deeper water, often
up to 35 feet deep, in areas adjacent to the shallow flats where they feed. The key to catching
fish at this time of the year is to catch the fish when they are on the flats. Early morning or late
evening hours are the best times to fish. As the day warms up, you have to switch to sinking
lines, and go progressively deeper to catch fish.

The approach of fall weather will usually bring the fish back into their pre-spawn pattern,
where most of them will be found in less than 10 feet of water. The difference is that the surface
bite is usually still good, because the water temperatures have not cooled yet. Fall fishing for
bluegills and panfish can be good depending on the weather.

When it comes to harvesting fish, do not be afraid to take a stringer of bluegills home for
the table. These are very prolific fish, and they actually need to be harvested. If bluegills are put
in a pond where there is no predation, they will quickly overpopulate, and become stunted in
size. It is a good thing to keep a few for the table, and actually helps the fishery.

I think that the assessment that my buddy the guide has about most fly fishermen is
probably true. A lot of us are purists and we narrow our possibilities too much. Fortunately, the
kid in me still gets a kick out of catching some bluegills.