Fly fishing for gills?

[nralover]

On advice from this forum, I avoided the Shakespeare fly fishing combo and bought a Scientific Anglers kit. Now that I have the basics, can anyone recommend some good dry flies and poppers? I saw a fella at the lake last summer with a floating cricket that did very well. This cricket lure looked very realistic- where can I buy some?

[deathb4disco]

On advice from this forum, I avoided the Shakespeare fly fishing combo and bought a Scientific Anglers kit.

Smart move.

can anyone recommend some good dry flies and poppers?

Spiders:

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/st...002000_175-2-3

Accardo poppers:

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/st...002000_175-2-3

Betts poppers:

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/st...002000_175-2-3

Walmart and Sports Authority usually carry flies like these, also.

Enjoy! Gills really smack these things.

[deathb4disco]

If you can get some casting lessons from a good instructor, that will really help. If not, pick up a casting video by one of the following:

Joan Wulff
Mel Krieger
Lefty Kreh
Tom White

Bass Pro also sells a Scientific Anglers video on FF for bass and panfish. It's done by Larry Dahlberg (the "Hunt for Big Fish" guy on TV), and it's excellent.

[OKSTATEjiggy]

like deathb4disco said, the selection of small poppers sold at WalMart and KMart are good poppers: they catch fish and are inexpensive. Plus catching any kind of fish on the surface, from stripers to bluegills, is a blast. If you tie your own, there's a fly called the Madame X that is killer for Summer sunfish, which imitates a grasshopper. It can also be tied in black to imitate a cricket.

[crappiecrazy]

PM me your address and I will send you a good bluegill fly that one the guys on crappie.com tied for me.

[shipahoy41]

On advice from this forum, I avoided the Shakespeare fly fishing combo and bought a Scientific Anglers kit. Now that I have the basics, can anyone recommend some good dry flies and poppers? I saw a fella at the lake last summer with a floating cricket that did very well. This cricket lure looked very realistic- where can I buy some?

PM Skiptomylou on the fly tying forum. He makes nice little critters and poppers for Bream.

[SteakFry]

I've been fly fishing for decades with an outfit thats practically antique. I use an old Heddon glass rod (yes, metal ferals) and an Ocean City #76 fly reel. Found the reel at a yard sale, encrusted in grime and the line was partially melted to the spool. It cleaned up perfectly and I've never thought to look for a new one since its performed so well. The rod is heavy enough to handle big bass (7 1/2lber largest so far) yet limber enough to enjoy the panfish.

As for flies, right out of the box you cant beat Betts. I hate going out without a selection of their "Slim Jim" and "Miss Prissy". I will occasionaly go with a wet fly and float tab when surface action is slow.

[Flyrod Man]

I fish crappie and gills in 15 - 20 ft. of water using wet flies, after they bed, and find I catch bigger fish than in the shallows using popper's during the bed period. With a wet fly many times they will take the fly while the fly is dropping at the depth they are suspended.

[Badcast]

Flyrod man, do you use a sink tip.

[crappiecrazy]

Flyrod man, do you use a sink tip.

good question!