Friday, August 23, 2013

Foam Spiders and bluegill will enrich your fly fishing life.





Recently I had the opportunity to start a enrichment class at the high school where I teach during the 'Smart Lunch' ie free period time.I thought this would be a good way to share the sport of fly-fishing as well as pay forward a lot of folks who have helped me along the journey.

As I planned out the first class I looked around at all the great classic fly patterns and then at the 'Trash Flies' and thought what would be a good choice? Then my eye wandered to something left on the bench from this summers adventures. Bluegill flies were on the bench and I smiled to myself thinking of all the great fun. Why not? Lets teach them about locally common fish that in my opinion will teach them the fundamentals of fly fishing.

Bluegill are common around the United States, they fight, the eat flies, and they hone the skills. If you think they are just for kids and bobber you haven't hooked a big one on a 3 weight rod.


Top
Hook: #10 Kink Shank
Body: Foam spider (bought
Legs: medium rubber white

Middle
Hook: #10 Kink Shank
Body: Foam sheets Under black and Shell white
Indicator. Yellow
Legs: medium rubber white

Bottom
Hook: #10 Kink Shank
Body: Foam sheets Under black and Shell white
Legs: medium rubber white


Tips. make the legs longer. Can trim on the water as need be. Indicator piece helps visibility.
Use the technique mentioned in a previous article here 

Herb Scissors Can Spice Up the Tying Bench


Comments welcome.

Dedicated to my son. I love you.




2 comments:

  1. Brad, you've captured the essence of the bluegill fly here. Wiggly/buggy looking will get 'em. Then tie them without the foam(like a bluegill bully a la Backwoods Joe Johnson/John Thomas)and you've got 'em covered through the entire water column. Great job of introducing the students to readily available targets, too. Let me know if I can help. I have an easy streamer for beginners if you want it.

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