Although big fish will always be the prize that any fly fisherman wishes to catch, many days on the water can be made from fish that are usually overlooked. Especially on a hot summer day when big bass and carp may be in the lower tier of the water column, it may be necessary to adjust strategies in order to get fish to the bank or the boat. As from my experiences in Texas this summer, bluegill and other species of sunfish have made 100 degree days worthwhile.

The beauty of catching a bluegill on the fly is that you can choose your preferred method. Whether it’s a foam spider, subsurface damselfly nymph, or even a big crawdad imitation in case a largemouth is lurking nearby, bluegill can be caught in a variety of ways. This characteristic makes bluegill not only a great “beginners” fish for those new to fly fishing, but can present a challenge to experienced fly fisherman wishing to catch a fish in their preferred way. From my experience, I have found it to be a challenge getting large bluegill to eat a fly when smaller gills are present.   

As for this summer, the bluegill fishing in the DFW metroplex has been excellent. Whether it is in the trinity river or local ponds throughout the city, the bluegills have been active and have considerable size.