Thread: Need help from the bluegill fly fisherman.

Originally Posted by DaveInGA

What I'm needing help with is picking out the line to go on this rod. I can't remember the various types of line. I need to pick out some fly line and some leader. Not sure if I need backing for my purposes. I also need help with tying the lines.

Can someone suggest a good line for the application above? With the line, I'd rather buy good stuff and buy it once, rather than have to treat it. I'd also rather it be floating line, at least I think so.

BTW, I'll be fishing this setup out of a boat in a lake, not from shore.

I also have a 5/6wt. 8 foot EagleClaw but happens to be a fiberglass Black Eagle model, not the Black Eagle graphite. I have an Okuma Sierra S5/6 single action reel on it. I have the reel loaded with Scientific Anglers WF-5-F or weight forward-5wt.-floating fly line (I like Ultra or Concept). I have a spare spool with WF-5-S (Scientific Anglers Wet Cel) or weight forward-5wt.-sinking fly line (slow sink full sinking line Type I). I use the full sinking fly line for Speck fishing in deeper water and since its slow sinking, the Specks have more time to see the fly on the drop. I think I have both fly lines with about 100 or 150 yards of about 15lb. test Dacron backing. Never know when a good size LMB or Grassie (carp) will bite so the backing is there for insurance. Simple knot set-up. Arbor Knot for backing to reel. Nail-less Nail knot from backing to fly line. For the leader, a Nail-less Nail Knot from fly line to about a 5 foot section of 8lb. test mono (butt section). I use an Albright Special Knot from the butt section to a 4 foot section of 6lb. test mono (tippet section). Finally a Duncan Loop Knot (Uni-Knot) from the tippet to the fly. Hope this helps you out. Best of luck.

BTW, every fly line needs to be dressed with fly line dressing occasionally to keep it pliable and in good condition for it to perform either floating or sinking. I just use some Accardo silicone fly line conditioner (small plastic container) that is really for floating lines but use it for the sinking line also. Cleans, preserves, and lubricates the line and keeps it soft, pliable. It produces a finish that zips line freely through the rod guides.