Every year when spring rolls around, a ritual repeats itself underwater on lakes and ponds everywhere. Big male bluegills emerge from the depths and enter the shallows. They are fish on a mission, and that mission is to build a nest, attract a mate and defend that nest, and it's young to the bitter end. He will stay on that nest until the young are old enough to head off on their own when he usually makes a light snack out of a few of them and then slink off to the depths to recuperate a bit.
A juvenile bluegill intruding on a nest is dealt with immediately!
It is the bluegills dedication to defending their nesting site from nest robbers, predators, and unsavory competition that makes them so easy to catch during the spring. A male bluegill is constantly on alert for threats and will act aggressively towards anything that nears the nest. One of the biggest hassles for a nest guarding male is the continuous onslaught of smaller bluegills intent on robbing the nest or sneaking in for a little Ménage à trois! A large male bluegill will ruthlessly drive off these smaller siblings, so using a fly that resembles a small bluegill makes sense.
Larger panfish have no problem making a meal of this streamer, but it’s size will keep smaller fish at bay.
The Baby Bluegill Streamer
My Baby Bluegill Streamer is deadly when fished around nesting bluegills. I know some you are going to say you can catch bluegills on a bare hook when they are on their beds, and there is some truth to that. That being said, large bluegills hate this fly with a passion, and its size keeps smaller panfish at bay.
The Baby Bluegill Streamer exploits a male bluegills nest guarding tendencies.
Fishing The Baby Bluegill Streamer
Fishing this fly is pretty straight forward. I like to cast right up against the back and glide it back to me with a slow hand twist retrieve. I fish it slow, so it stays in the fish's field of view for as long as possible, resulting in the fly getting grabbed. A quick darting retrieve does not represent a threat to the nest, and the fly will often be ignored. You need to move that fly in a way that makes the guarding male bluegill think it is up to no good! I will methodically cover the shoreline a foot at a time. Every time that fly passes over a nest being guarded by a big male bluegill, it will get smashed. I cover a lot of water but land a lot of fish. If I come across a nesting colony, I will stop the boat and fish it until the action slows then move on down the bank.
Larger predators will be attracted to this pattern as well!
Other fish are looking to make a quick meal of small bluegill too!
Another benefit of fishing this fly is the large number of larger predators you will attract with it. Everything that swims wants to make a meal out of juvenile bluegill, especially larger predators. Bass, pickerel, even catfish can't pass up a quick bluegill snack! As a result, I usually fish this fly with a heavier tippet to give me a fighting chance of landing these larger fish.
Tying The Baby Bluegill
This small craft fur streamer is easy to tie. I dress it up with a Flymen Fishing Company Fishmask and eyes. I like the way they look, and lord knows the fly works. I tie the fly in the bluegill color scheme using craft fire and add some barring with a dark permanent marker. The fish mask and eyes are secured with superglue, and the head is coated with Thin Soalrez UV Resin
Pattern Recipe:
Hook: Kona BGH #8
Thread: Semperfli Fl. Green 6/0 Waxed Thread
Body: Craft Fur: Olive/Brown mix over Purple over Yellow/Orange mix
Throat: Red flash material
Head: Flymen Fishing Company Fishmask with 3mm eyes
Finish: Solarez Thin UV Resin