CONSERVATION CORNER
Try Fly Fishing For A Different Twist
by James L. Cummins

I have been fly fishing for over 18 years and I can attest to the increase in the number of people fly fishing, especially when I fished for trout while in school in Virginia. If you are interested in fly fishing, but don't care for traveling long distances, the answer lies right in your backyard.

Mississippi is blessed with thousands of acres of waters which hold enough bluegill to make any angler dance a jig. Bluegill can provide the same kind of fun that trout do and can provide valuable practice in the many finer points of fly fishing.

Fly fishing for bluegill is not just a fun and exciting way to fish, it can be extremely effective. During the spawn, males are usually around beds and are extremely aggressive. They will hit almost any fly or popping bug that comes close to them. A fish every cast is not unusual (my wife likes to remind me).

Equipment should be kept simple. If bluegills are to be the main focus of your fly fishing efforts, a 7 to 7.5 foot, fiberglass rod designed to cast 4 to 5 weight lines will be sufficient and will aid in casting accuracy, especially in close quarters. If you think you might try trout with the same gear, you may want to consider an 8 to 9 foot graphite or composite rod, designed to cast 5 to 7 weight line. In a fly fishing reel, a lightweight, single-action reel with some type of drag system is all you need.

As is the case with monofilament line, there are many different types of fly lines on the market and it can be quite confusing trying to pick what is right for you. The manufacturer will suggest a line size best suited for that particular fly rod. I would advise using light weight line. For example, if you have a rod designed for 5 to 7 weight line, try 5 weight. A double taper or weight forward taper in a floating line will give you the most versatility and will also simplify casting.

Manufactured leaders come in various lengths and sizes and are a matter of personal preference. For bluegill, match the length of your leader to the length of your rod. The leader should be tapered and the tippet should be somewhere in the 3 to 6 pound test size. Because of the expense of manufactured leaders, it would be wise to purchase tippet material in the same test size as your leader. This way when your leader gets down to the heavier test, you can simply tie on a piece of the tippet material to make your leader, it's original length, rather than replacing the leader.

Effective flies for bluegill include popping bugs, wet flies and nymphs, in various insect patterns, and a few dry flies. Bluegill have small mouths, so flies in 12 to 20 hook sizes work best. The best colors are black, olive-green and brown. Now that you are fully equipped, locate some fish. And take a young person with you!

James L. Cummins is Executive Director of the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation in Stoneville, Mississippi. Known as "Wildlife Mississippi," the Foundation is a non-profit, conservation organization founded to conserve, restore and enhance fish, wildlife and plant resources throughout Mississippi. Their web site is www.wildlifemiss.org.