Hi Folks,

I'd like to share some of my experiences
with the above flies in warm waters and
solicit yours. I know that many/most of us
really love taking bluegills and red eared
sunfish on surface flies, poppers, hoppers,
and sliders, but it's been my experience for
a number of years that going subsurface
increases the action. Among those that
fish subsurface, many prefer leggy non-
realistic looking kritters spawned in
science fictions Black Lagoon.*G* Yes, they
do work, but has anyone elses experience
been like mine, that day in and day out, you
will get more action and catch more fish
fishing with flies imitating midges, scuds
and nymphs? In other words, the normal
bread and butter kritters that these fish
routinely subsist on?

It has also been my experience that in
my warmwater lakes here in SC, these flies
are normally more effective in sizes larger
than one might fish in a coldwater stream or
lake. I have tied thread midges on hooks up
to a number 8 and had good success, though
I normally tie most of my flies in a 12 or
14. I believe these would be considered
pretty large for most trout fishermen.

I have also come to the conclusion that
bluegills and red eared sunfish will often
hang together. When nymph fishing waters
that seem to have a good mix of both, the
nymphs (normally a PT for me) will catch 4
to 6 bluegills for every redear I catch.
A thread midge will often provide me about
an even mix of both fish. A scud pattern
will normally provide me a mix of 3 to 4
red ears for every bluegill.

Simple thread midges in grey, olive,
or brown work well. Any nymph with pheasant
and or peacock or ostrich herl is effective.
Scud patterns in creme, olive, grey or orange have proven effective. I do have an
order in to Ronn for materials to try his
iredescent flashback scud because the darned
thing looks so daggone buggy.*G* I'll let
ya know how it works for me.

I'd be interested in hearing how
others experiences might compare to mine as
well as any patterns you might prefer.
Warm regards, Jim