Need help from the bluegill fly fisherman.

While I was home on vacation visiting my Dad, I picked up a flyrod and reel for the specific purpose of catching bluegill out of a boat. No other purpose, just bluegill.

Years ago as a kid, I had a flyrod and used the rubber legged white spiders to just tear the bluegill up in my Uncle's pond. I want to repeat that performance now.

I picked up a basic flyrod at the tackle shop in my home town, an Eagle Claw #5-6, 8 foot long and put a Plueger automatic, a Model 1195 and feel it's all the flyrod I'll likely ever need. If I decide I like flyrodding, I'll invest in better equipment later on.

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.

Thank you for your help,

Dave

Here's a site that will help get you started:http://www.associatedinternet.com/fl...ip.htm#flyline
Gills on a fly rod are one of my favorite ways to fish. Good luck and let us know how it works out.

This is a site I refer to quite often. Hopefully it will be of help to you.

http://www.flyanglersonline.com/

Lots of good info on flyfishing there.

Good Luck and have fun

Quote:

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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.

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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.

Would reel magic work on my fly line to do what that silicone does?

Any Scientific Angler line would be good. RIO also makes good line. My favs are Scientific Angler GPX series lines.

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Originally Posted by parrotheadcrb

Any Scientific Angler line would be good. RIO also makes good line.

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Ditto. My last two purchases have been RIO. A cheaper alternative is Bass Pro. Their lines are made by Scientific Angler.

I would go with Weight Forward Floating 5wt line. I would also put backing in it. Better to be safe then sorry. I would go with a mono tippet as it floats better if you are using floating flies. I would go with maybe 6lb test. Attach the backing to the reel with the arbor knot and then you can use the albright knot to join the backing to the fly line and the fly line to your leader.
Albright knot
http://www.animatedknots.com/albrigh...matedknots.com
Arbor knot
http://www.animatedknots.com/arbor/i...matedknots.com

Quote:

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Originally Posted by chaunc

Would reel magic work on my fly line to do what that silicone does?

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I have no affiliation with the sites below, they are just examples.

Accardo Silicone fly line conditioner
http://www.eburch.biz/accardo_fly_line_dressing.htm

I'm not familiar with "reel magic" but another fly line dressing for floating fly lines I sometimes use is Mucilin and I believe it is also silicone based.

Mucilin fly line dressing
http://www.phoenixclassics.com/product/33

Gentlemen,

Thank you for your help. Your answers will certainly get me where I'm going.

Regards,

Dave

I use a 4wgt, 7ft Loomis with 5 wgt wf line. Going one wgt heavier increases distance, but its more fun fishing 12-15 ft of water for the big gills with wet flies.