Blue Gill Fishing

[Phil Lilley]

Blue gills on Table Rock are some of the largest around. My experience fishing for them is fairly limited over the years but I have been quite successful most every time I go.

I fish the dam area- simply because it's closest. We hit the major and minor points, hunting in 10 to 20 feet of water, fishing verticle below the boat using mainly crickets. I use my trout rods and rigs- #10 hook, 4 lb line and a #5 split shot. I like to get out at first daylight to beat the boaters and skiers- too much wave action later in the am for me but we usually have a mess by 9 am and are heading back to the ramp.

This is a great way to catch fish for kids. And these big blue gills fight hard too giving kids a real thrill. And then there's the mystery fish that hits and runs and breaks the line before you have a chance to think. Bass, catfish, carp... you never know what you're going to hook.

Any words of wisdom?

[Micheal Kyle]

I love to go out and catch the Blue Gills on a fly rod a nice 2 or 3 wieght is a great rod. Tiny poppers or just about any dry fly will work. The ones that I have best luck with are the hoppers and the elk hair cadis. If the fish wont hit the top I like to use the Mohair Leech black, brown and olive. What a great time very easy to get kids hooked on fishing with Blue Gills. Madelyn will be three in the end of August and allready loves the boat and fishing.

Michael

[Phil Lilley]

But what kind of water do you find big blue gill in? Structure? I don't see them on the surface much in June- small pumpkin seeds you can but I'm after the slabs.

[Micheal Kyle]

Pole timber over 20 foot of water and structure next to the bank you will catch quite a few small ones. When that starts to happen I go to the deeper fly pat. Like the Mohair leeches and small crawfish. I tie a Pine Squirel Crawfish that is awsome for slab Blue Gill.

[Okieflyfisher53]

Phil,

I've caught a lot of slab bluegills and redears on rubber-legged fox-squirrel nymphs. I usually tie them in #12 or #14, with a 1/8th" gold tungsten bead. I tie the rubber legs in behind the bead, madame X style. I have also been doing well with a woven bead-head nymph with rubber legs tied on a #10 scud hook. I have been tying them in chartreuse/black and orange/black. Both colors have been working well for me.

Steve

[gonefishin]

I would like to hear more reports on the Bluegill. Bluegill, actually Redear, are my favorite fish. If anyone is catching Redear on the Rock or anywhere else I would sure like to hear about it.

[Okieflyfisher53]

gonefishin,

I have been catching some redears mixed with the bluegills on Lake Pawhuska in NE Oklahoma. The bluegills have been good sized but the redears are even bigger. Here's a pic of a few that I kept for supper.

Steve

[gonefishin]

Nice looking mess of fish. I have heard of lake Pawhuska but other than NE Okla I dont know where it is. I would like to come down there and try to catch some of them Okla 'Gills and 'Ears. I have a good friend in OK who I usually fish on Grand Lake a few times a year.

[Okieflyfisher53]

Pawhuska Lake is west of the town of Pawhuska, just off of Hiway 60, which goes to Ponca City. The town of Pawhuska is west of Bartlesville.

Steve

[Steve Smith]

I can't speak for Table Rock, but the Bluegill are spawning right now in the creeks. There are beds everywhere