Fly fishermen can use a wide range of flies to catch bluegill.
Television shows about fly-fishing usually feature the host sight-casting to bonefish on a Bahamian flat or catching massive rainbow trout on a swift-running Montana river. Fortunately for regular anglers, a great day on the water can be had much closer to home. Bluegill are widely found in lakes and ponds across the United States. They are tremendously fun to catch on fly-fishing tackle and can be caught with a wide variety of flies.
Dry Flies
Dry flies are the most fun way to catch bluegill, allowing you to watch the strike occur. Small poppers--usually fitted with tails made from deer hair or feathers--are among the most popular bluegill flies, as they create a splash that can attract fish. Foam flies are also extremely effective, especially when fitted with rubber legs to imitate spiders or ants. Standard trout dry flies, such as the Adams or caddis, can also work.
Wet Flies
While not as exciting as watching a bluegill hit a dry fly, fishing with wet flies can be just as productive. Nymphs, in standard patterns like the pheasant tail, are very effective when fish are in deeper water. Small streamers also catch fish and have the advantage of covering a lot of water. And no bluegill tackle box would be complete without a wide assortment of woolly buggers in a range of colors.
Size and Color
Size is probably the most important consideration when selecting a bluegill fly. Bluegill typically feed on insects, so it is essential to select a fly that roughly approximates the size of a small bug. Color is usually a less important consideration, but sometimes the fish get picky. When in doubt, start with a fly that matches the color of the insect you are trying to imitate. If that doesn't work, switching to a bright color, such as a yellow or red, may attract fish and generate strikes.
Retrieve
Bluegill are often suspicious of lures and will investigate a fly before biting. Accordingly, slow retrieves generally work better than fast ones. For example, when using dry flies, allow the fly to stay perfectly still for a few seconds after it lands in the water, and let the ripples dissipate before moving it again.
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