Dave_W
Moderator
Staff member
Late May and early June are a great time fo target sunfish on a fly.
Many FFers wait till summer to target bluegills, if they do it at all. There's just too much great trout fishing right now. This is understandable. However, this time of year is when big bluegills are readily available along lake and pond shorelines. I stopped at a favorite public lake of mine on the way home from the jam and found large numbers of big 'gills right along the shoreline and they were eager to eat a popper or nymph. Dozens came to hand (and a bunch of small crappies too) and they averaged about 7" long - big hard pulling fish. By summertime, many large bluegills like this are in deep water. Don't forget your hemostats as bluegills have small mouths and tend to inhale flies.
If you have a pond or lake nearby, don't overlook sunfish in late May and early June. Big ones are easy to catch right now.
Many FFers wait till summer to target bluegills, if they do it at all. There's just too much great trout fishing right now. This is understandable. However, this time of year is when big bluegills are readily available along lake and pond shorelines. I stopped at a favorite public lake of mine on the way home from the jam and found large numbers of big 'gills right along the shoreline and they were eager to eat a popper or nymph. Dozens came to hand (and a bunch of small crappies too) and they averaged about 7" long - big hard pulling fish. By summertime, many large bluegills like this are in deep water. Don't forget your hemostats as bluegills have small mouths and tend to inhale flies.
If you have a pond or lake nearby, don't overlook sunfish in late May and early June. Big ones are easy to catch right now.