This is a fun time. The spawn is almost finished and the water is warm. Panfish, Bass and Carp are
feeding. I was able to fish near the Boat House in Prospect Park. The sun was setting and I hoped
to catch a few Blue Gills. I started with a few nymphs, size # 14. Next some streamers size # 12.
The lake surface was motionless.
I looked into my fly box for another fly. A fly that has produced for me before caught my eye,
the Zug Bug. I selected a bead head version #10. I knew that the bead head would reach the
bottom of the lake after six seconds and fish would react to it on the rise. But nothing happened
until I fished under the deck of the boat launch. I let the fly sink to the bottom and then slowly
troll the fly behind me as I walk the deck. This gets reactions from fish on or near the bottom.
This tactic works on blue gill many times. I keep the rod tip pointed down and do not set the hook
until the fish has hooked itself. As I walked and trolled the line behind me; I felt a bump. The fish ran
under the deck and refused to come out, for awhile. Slowly I raised my rod tip and brought the fish
to the surface. It was no blue gill this time. It was a bass.
At this time of the year, it is fun to fish a Dahlberg diver for bass. Bass like it because it moves up
and down in the water column. A few years ago I caught six bass as I fished the south shore of
the lake.
Nice Bill!,
ReplyDeleteI have used an I line and allowed the wind to carry a fly under a dock while I cast from shore, that really works for big bluegill if the water is deep enough and there are no cables to snag. Plus I have no vibrations as I'm not dockside.
Gregg
A lot of blue gill, crappie and bass like to hold under the deck in front of the boat house in Prospect Park. one morning fishing a mickey finn, I caught a 3 pound bass while standing on that same dock. Pickerel patrol this area also.
ReplyDeleteBill