What do you guys use for bluegill leaders. At least in my ponds, I coudl catch those things with a hook directly tied onto the fly line! They are not in the slightest bit line shy. And most of the time I dont even need to cast for them. I find that the longer it is, the more cumbersome it is. I usually use a 2 foot leader. Am I alone?
And just for the purpose of the post, lets exlude the contingincy of catching another species by accident.
I’m usually using either a 7’or 9’ factory leader tapered down to a 4x. If necessary, I’ll add a couple of feet of 5x tippet.
Kevin
Typcially, I use a 7.5 foot 3x leader for poppers and foam bugs on the surface or near surface work. Sometimes 2x.
On sink tips and sinking lines, straight 8lb mono.
I’m usually fishing around a lot of stickups so thinner stuff is more prone to abrasion.
Heresy, heresy----I use 8lb Stren line–I also have some Maxima Chameleon 8lb test—250yds; about $8.
Swing hard, in case they throw the ball where you’re swinging. Duke Snider
I use the walmart shakespear line to tie my leaders with both warmwater and trout. They cost less than 2 bucks a spool. For bluegill I use 3’ of 25lb test 1’ of 15 lb tst and 1’ of 8lb test, I then tie a 2’ long tippet of 5 or 6 lb test.
Why so long though? THey arent line shy. I just use 2 or 3 feet of straight cheap mono and catch loads of them
Some of the flies I use for gills require a long leader for the presentation to be right. Sure, I could throw a ball of yarn with a paperclip and probably catch a spawning gill- but where’s the finesse, the technique, the tradition?
Most often I prefer to approach gill fishing as I would a fine wine, but that’s just me. We can also treat it like a cup of kool-aid if we want and no one can think less of us. 
I don’t like to use more than have to for leaders, there’s no 8 lb mono on my rod. I use a 7’ 3X taper with about 6’ of 6X tippet.
Gills are great fish any way you go after them. 
There’s almost nothin’ wrong with the first lie, it’s the weight of all the others holdin’ it up that gets ya’! - Tim
[This message has been edited by MOturkE (edited 08 April 2006).]
Anthony, I am afraid that I disagree about bluegills being line shy. In fact, I’ve seen them shy away, or flee, because of the leader. I think that there are an awful lot of variables involved. In no way to I claim to have worked out even half of them, but I have found an amazing number of ways to fail to catch available fish…
Ed
[This message has been edited by EdD (edited 08 April 2006).]
Well I guess it depends on the water. I am fortunate to live near a pond where I could reach in and touch a bluegill and it would be afraid
Anthony,
First, most gills are not line shy, but if you want bigger bulls in 1.5 to 2lb range they can be more selective and line shy than some trout. I always use at least a 7’ leader with 4lb flouro tippet. My biggest one so far is 2lb 3oz. In my area, if they see the line to close then all I"ll catch is those little 4"to8" gills, and to me they aren’t worth my time on a fly rod.
Fly fishing is not a hobby, it’s a way of life that we all should follow…
I like to use 9ft 4x leaders. I use the longer leaders so that I can fish sinking flies deeper with my floating line. Also I do believe that a leader to thick can spook bluegill. Even a shark can be spooked with a leader that is too big.
Just my 2 cents,
Steven
Runt, stunted gills are easy, but if you want the big ones, they can be VERY selective & line shy. I can’t remember the last time I went over 6x tippet for them on either my 3 wt or my boo, & I get a lot of 9" to 10" fish, with 2 11 inchers thrown in. These are nice sized sunfish here in Ohio. I like a 9’ leader if tapered mono & a 7’ furled with 2-3’ of 6x tippet.
Mike
You can call me Mike & you can call me Mikey…Just remember that this site’s about sharing!