What flies do you feel are the top Blue Gill Flies? I understande that no fly(or flies)will always work at all types of water. I am just after the basic flies.
Thanks for your time,
genben
I rather go fishing than to work and yet to go fishing I must go to work!
I usually find myself using a hairs ear wet fly or nymph, tellico or grey hackle peacock for sunken applications. That is most of the time. If I want a floating pattern I will tend toward one of the foam body flies in black or yellow. I like sizes 8 to12. Check out the FAOL Fly Tying Archives.
We have been doing very well recently here in Southern IL. A few nice crappies along with the gills make it more interesting.
GOOD LUCK! gerry l
If you look in the panfish archives you will fid a dozen of my favorites. Pictures and patterns.
“Ricks Favorite Bluegill Flies”
Rick
About five years ago I tied on an olive bugger, and have yet to change. Well, except every hundred fish or so, when it finally falls apart.
Hey Genben,
I generally do best when using midges,
scuds and nymphs. These comprise a large
percentage of the bluegills natural fodder.
Warm regards, Jim
For top Gill flies, the list is longer than my arm. Most basic trout flies should do the job on Gills since their diets seem similar. But for basic Gill flies, I’ll go with Jim Hatch’s suggested menu and also add wet flies and small surface flies like some dry flies, poppers, pushers, and spongy spiders. I really like that topwater action better than subsurface when the bream and Bass are in the mood 
.
Robert B. McCorquodale
Sebring, FL
“Flip a fly”
Here are some ideas for Bluegill flies. These were from the Go-To-Bluegill swap.
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There’s almost nothin’ wrong with the first lie, it’s the weight of all the others holdin’ it up that gets ya’! - Tim
anything with a white wing works well for me, especially this time of year. lately they haven’t been able to resist a green trude, and I’ve been lading some big boys on it as well.
mgj
A million years ago in an attempt to come up with a imitation for a red manure worm that ended up in a stream I fished; I came up with a fantastic bluegill fly, (for me at least).
In the days before vinyl ribbing I died some violin bow hair, (horse hair), red. I then wrapped the dyed red hair on a regular wet fly hook I painted white to contrast the color of the red horsehair.
The result was a fly that could easily be done today with red vinyl ribbing wrapped over a bare hook or with an under-wrap of white thread. Or you could do a red Ultra Wire version.
I don’t know why but this red fly has been a killer for me on gills.
The trout hated it 
.
By far and away, the best fly I have tied for bluegills and other panfish is listed on this website in the fly archives. It is called the Black Widow, and since I started using it, it has out-fished foam spiders, poppers and even works better than live worms! It’s unreal! Try it in a size 8 or 10, and hang on!
Size 12 light green cricket with legs in the spring and DG’s olive bugger added later in the season. Had a consrevation officer watching me catch large gills one year and when he finally came to my boat I asked if he wanted to see my license–“No, I would like to see the fly your using”. To stay on good terms I gave him a hand full.
Bill
Gigmaster- I really like the looks of your Black Widow! I was having trouble getting everything on the size 12 hooks I was using so I substituted some diamond midge braid for the front part instead of the fine chenille I was using. It gave it a nice sparkle. Hope the fish approve. Thanks for sharing your fly!
David K. Spencer
Gigmaster -
Is the Black Widow the “Double Hackle” with a red glass bead in the middle?
“Catch 'em all ~ Put 'em back!”
Visit my [url=http://www.warmwaterangler.net:f701a]Blog[/url:f701a].
Believe it or not, Bluegill in a local lake here go absolutely crazy for a #10 or #12 Royal Stimulator. Sometimes it’s pretty close to the size of the fish that are eating it, but there you go. As I have never seen a stonefly anywhere near the lake (not even in the creek that flows out of it), I’m assuming that the bluegill are mistaking the stimulator for a grasshopper. My second favorite is the venerable hare’s ear soft hackle nymph.
“If we carry purism to it’s logical conclusion, to do it right you’d have to live naked in a cave, hit your trout on the head with rocks, and eat them raw. But, so as not to violate another essential element of the fly-fishing tradition, the rocks would have to be quarried in England and cost $300 each.”
~John Gierach
I’ve had good success with Al Campbell’s EZ Nymph, size 10 or 12, especially with a beadhead. I tie it with natural pheasant tail, but also have success with the fibers dyed olive or black.
Hey Genben,
There are lots of good blue gill flies around but I believe as long as brim are in relatively shallow water, gurgles pops are number one, two, and three. Good tying instructions are found on this web site in the Fly of the Week archives.
You had better learn to be a happy camper. You only get one try at this campground and it’s a real short camping season.