Sunday, April 1, 2012

Bluegill Spiders

My wife is having a hard time understanding the concept of catch and release fishing. In her mind, fishing is a way to put food on the table. She wants fish to eat and cannot understand throwing back perfectly tasty fish. I tried to explain how you throw back certain fish for different reasons and keep others to eat. These reasons may include, fish management, growth rates, and spawning behaviors to name a few. To which she always responds, "then why waste time fishing  for trout if you are not going to eat them?" "Why not just fish for bluegill, perch and walleye." "That way we have fish to eat." Well to make her happy I better do a little bluegill fishing. It's not the perch and walleye that she loves, but it will do. So I guess I better get busy tying up a few flies for bluegill fishing.

While not the sexiest of fish to catch, bluegill are a lot of fun and very tasty. For those that have fished for bluegills before, you know how much fun they are to catch. For their size these little buggers put up one heck of  a fight. When the gills are on their beds in the spring they are very territorial and very aggressive. This is the best time to catch big bluegills and sunfish. They will take just about any fly to defend their nest. Especially big foam spiders. Hopefully I will catch a bucket load so we can have a nice little fish fry.

Here is one foam spider that I have had some good luck with.


Tan Bluegill Spider

Foam Spider

Hook: Mustad 3906B #8-14 (While not a dry fly hook with the foam it doesn't matter)
Thread: Uni 8/0 Black
Under Body: Peacock Herl
Over Body: Craft Foam Strip (Width and Length depending on hook size)

Step One


Tie in Foam Strip

Step 2


Tie in Peacock Herl and Wrap Forwards Approximately 2/3 Hook Length

Step 3


Bring Foam Forward and Tie in at 2/3 Length

Step 4


Bring Thread Forward and Tie In Foam at Hook Eye

Step 5


Fold Foam Back and Tie In at 2/3 Length

Step 6


Trim Access Foam to Desired Length

Step 7


Tie In Rubber Leg Material Then Whip Finish.


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