Welcome to The Bluegill Pond

Drifting and slow-stripping streamers and crayfish patterns produced only four 9 to 10-inch smallmouths and a few green sunfish from a favorite section of a nearby river. As the sun slipped behind the forested ridge I approached a tributary that created a small plunge...

Lots of rain and roller-coaster temperatures left the water in my "go-to" pond high and discolored, but the 87-degree afternoon lured me out with my fly rod. Casts to deep wood structure were ignored despite numerous fly changes. Finally, I theorized that the darkened...

This spring has been anything but normal. Constant rains have eliminated river forays for smallmouth and white bass. Even ponds can't be approached in a vehicle. Finally, I loaded my float tube and gear for a drive to a public waterfowl area that has many ponds in...

Bass fly fishers are often casting heavy or wind-resistant flies. It's nothing like the trout angler's presentation of a nearly weightless puff of feathers that lights on the surface without disturbance. If we're not careful our weighted offering can enter the water...

It's no secret that big fish eat little fish. The way of the aquatic world strongly recommends streamer fishing. There are two additions I prefer to incorporate into my streamers. First, I consider the addition of eyes to be very important. They give the impression of...

A break in the weather sent me to a spring's entrance to a well-structured pool. The river was higher than normal by a few inches leaving the area wadable while creating large, slow eddies both above and below the spring's flow. Deadfall branches border the upper eddy...