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It’s mid-April. Maryland has deemed that we cannot fish for stripers this month in a noble attempt to bolster their dismal Chesapeake Bay spawning results in recent years. Let’s hope these austere striper regulations work.
But there is another fish found all over the state, indeed throughout most of our country and even as a transplant in Europe and Asia that needs no such protection – the humble bluegill. The good thing about bluegills is that starting this month and throughout the summer and into the early fall they are incredibly easy to catch.
Further, bluegills darn near throw themselves at flies. Indeed, many fly anglers credit the bluegill as their first catch on a fly rod. The bluegill is a “Gateway Fish,” so to speak for fly anglers who go on to add larger tidal and freshwater fish species to their conquests with the long rod.
I am one of those fly anglers. My first fish on the fly was a bluegill. I’ve since caught many other fish species (and a few surprised amphibians and reptiles) on my fly rod – from my kayak too. But I never tire of catching bluegills. Early spring is one of my favorite fishing times of year thanks to that colorful little fish.
So, while you’re giving the Chesapeake’s stripers a rest, why not consider angling for bluegills? And here’s a big step you can take. Try casting flies to them. It’s fun, easy and effective. Also, it may prove to be the introduction you need to an alternate style of fishing.
(Please Note: I still fish with conventional tackle. I’m not a fly rod elitist. But adding fly gear to my arsenal has greatly enriched my angling experiences.)
To help you along a similar path as my own, should you wish to take it, please look at the May 2023 Issue of PropTalk Magazine.
https://www.proptalk.com/read-proptalk-online
Scroll down the above webpage until you see the online version of the May PropTalk.
Starting on Page 88 is an article I authored entitled, The Bluegill – Small Fish Big Fun on the Fly
It discusses their spawning process, how their movement to shallow water in the spring enhances our success with them, and it describes precisely how I catch bluegills on the fly.
I hope you enjoy what I have written in PropTalk. If you’re not already a long rod enthusiast, perhaps my article will incentivize you to consider fly-fishing. Undoubtedly, the bluegill is the best fly-fishing instructor you will ever meet.
Thank you,
But there is another fish found all over the state, indeed throughout most of our country and even as a transplant in Europe and Asia that needs no such protection – the humble bluegill. The good thing about bluegills is that starting this month and throughout the summer and into the early fall they are incredibly easy to catch.
Further, bluegills darn near throw themselves at flies. Indeed, many fly anglers credit the bluegill as their first catch on a fly rod. The bluegill is a “Gateway Fish,” so to speak for fly anglers who go on to add larger tidal and freshwater fish species to their conquests with the long rod.
I am one of those fly anglers. My first fish on the fly was a bluegill. I’ve since caught many other fish species (and a few surprised amphibians and reptiles) on my fly rod – from my kayak too. But I never tire of catching bluegills. Early spring is one of my favorite fishing times of year thanks to that colorful little fish.
So, while you’re giving the Chesapeake’s stripers a rest, why not consider angling for bluegills? And here’s a big step you can take. Try casting flies to them. It’s fun, easy and effective. Also, it may prove to be the introduction you need to an alternate style of fishing.
(Please Note: I still fish with conventional tackle. I’m not a fly rod elitist. But adding fly gear to my arsenal has greatly enriched my angling experiences.)
To help you along a similar path as my own, should you wish to take it, please look at the May 2023 Issue of PropTalk Magazine.
https://www.proptalk.com/read-proptalk-online
Scroll down the above webpage until you see the online version of the May PropTalk.
Starting on Page 88 is an article I authored entitled, The Bluegill – Small Fish Big Fun on the Fly
It discusses their spawning process, how their movement to shallow water in the spring enhances our success with them, and it describes precisely how I catch bluegills on the fly.
I hope you enjoy what I have written in PropTalk. If you’re not already a long rod enthusiast, perhaps my article will incentivize you to consider fly-fishing. Undoubtedly, the bluegill is the best fly-fishing instructor you will ever meet.
Thank you,