Best Midwest Bluegill Fly?

[Soilarch]

I know there won't be one answer to this question. That the best answer is "Well, it depends." But what to people have the best luck fly-fishing for bluegill in the widwest (IL, KY)? I've learned so far that trout and bluegill will hit the same things. That spiders and ants are pretty fool-proof in the dry fly department and nymphs are good in wet-flys. I'd like to be able to make any suggestions given so if specific color schemes seem to be favored let me know. Here are some random I've made....I just started and know the grasshopper looks like poop. (We'll have to see if the fish agree). Top and bottom on the right are just me messing around at the vise.

[Guss]

I live in MI andI do the best on the small spider popers with the rubber legs, like the one you have in the center of the picture. For the most part I fish dry flies, mayflies, bigger caddis, mostly because that is what I have on hand and have done well on any thing that floats, the spiders are just easier to fish because the float so good. As far as colorsgo I like black for my spiders,I think it gives the best outline on the water.

Every June when the gills are on their beds me and the old man make a few trips to our favorite bluegill lake. The lake is vary clear, its so cool to see a big gill rise up fromtheir bed to take a fly off the surface.


I just tied my first flies of the year, most winters at this time I wouldhave already tied around 200 flies, buttime has been short and I havent had the drive to get to it.

Your flies look good, all the proportions look right on so you have the hardest parttaken care of. That hopper is alittle bit guffy but the fish wont care,for the most part the lookof the fly is for the fisherman not the fish. What pattern is it, thehopper?If you are looking for an easy hopper tie look at thefoam patterens that are out there, like th BLT. They are easy and float vary well. I only tie one hopper, it is a modification of the "Lalort"(Spelling ?), vary simple and vary afective.

I dont knoweverything about tieing but I have been at it a long time so if yahave any questions I would be more then happy to help out.

[ejpaul1]

bream getter. Wal mart has them. EJ