Tuesday, January 1, 2013

The Year Of The Bluegill

I half seriously mentioned it last week in a T.F.M. post but last night when Mark Yuhina posted this stunning New Years Eve watercolor of a painted face bluegill it further confirmed that 2013 is indeed "The Year of the Bluegill"...at least on my little piece of the internet.

There is perhaps not a more prolific fish that swims in so many of our local waters than the bluegill, are colorfully painted, and typically take a fly with zest.  So many first fish memories are connected to the bluegill that I am surprised they aren't held in higher regard.

Oh yeah...and they are pretty damn tasty too.


Mark wrote...  "This bluegill is a hybrid, represent "gill" in general, you can see some "shades" of long eared sunfish, bluegill and pumpkinseed sunfish in there.  Last year on a trip to Texas, a professor's pond did actually have those mighty hybrids and they are such an amazing fighter...and good to eat too.  I think it will represent the millennial gill year well!"

What does "The Year of the Bluegill" mean?  Look for more T.F.M. posts of bluegill fly fishing.  More bluegill spin fishing (crickets) trips with the children.  More bluegill fly patterns.  More bluegill dinners?  More bluegills bending over a glass fly rod.  In short...more bluegill fun.

Are you in?

21 comments:

james deloria said...

My first fly caught fish was a bluegill. Count me in Cam!

FinFollower said...

Cameroon,

Happy New Year to you and your family!

Up until recently I had a watercolor of a bluegill at the end of the FinFollower logo.

When it's too warm for trout, I love chasing bluegills. They're fighters and make a great first fish on fly rod for kids.

I wish TFM the best in 2013.

Leigh

BLUEANGLER said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
BLUEANGLER said...

Dear Cameron,

What a great idea!! I am honored to have the gill here! : ) My first fish on the fly too! so many memorial moments and so much fun fish for those little fighters with friends and kids! needless to mention the sizzling actions on the fiberglass rods! Thanks for the great idea! I am IN! definitely! Mark

Brent Wilson said...

I love bluegill. My first fish ever as a young boy and first fish on a fly rod as a teenager.

Great idea.

Happy new year.

Unknown said...

Happy New Year all. Bluegill are a worthy fish to specifically target. It can take some skill and effort to get past the dinks and into the slabs. I'll play.

cofisher said...

Happy New Year buddy. You've rocked the fly fishing world again with a tribute to the bluegill. I'm on board.

J and M Flies said...

Dude,

Gills rock! Who doesn't love a good gill on the fly? Call me the Panfish Whisperer!

Anonymous said...

Music to my ears!!!

Dub The Thorax said...

one of my favorite things to do in the summer is to hit slab gills on hoppers with a short fly rod. My son has a blast with it too. I probably catch over 1000 a year.

Ryan S said...

Sure, I'm in. I'll through a WF line on my new 5/6 Blue Halo and slam the ponds! Should be a good time to take the boy (my son) out as well. We just have to keep his back cast from snagging the pirate flag flying off the back of our canoe.

Unknown said...

count me in too. and i'd buy another bluegill t-shirt if that image was on it somewhere. absolutely great work.

Paul Beel said...

I love bluegills, I'm definitely in Cameron!

Anonymous said...

All in Cameron. Bluegill is maybe my favorite species on the fly. They are really marginalized as a "kids fish", and not for serious fishermen. Time to give tem the respect they deserve!

Brian

Steven Jarvis said...

In! Love Bluegill (and all their sunfish cousins)! My 9-year-old has started tying flies and learning to cast a flyrod. I'm counting down the days until it warms up enough to hit one of our local panfish spots.

Josh said...

smallie74 - I love those juicy fighters. Especially tying up foamies for them. OR . . . even taking crappies on topwater - yep on top. And below. I think TFM should definitely update us every now and again. This should prove to be an exciting year. I follow Bill Trussell's Life on the Fly and he had a goal of 100 bluegill last year and got close. Exciting!!

Cameron Mortenson said...

Fellows...I am stoked to see this much response. I think 2013 is going to be panfish filled and a lot of fun.

Dr. Gonzo said...

Cam,

hell yeah man! I love catchin' bluegill, one of my favorite things to do and has been my learning tool for slingin' flies. Cant wait for spring to get here so I can chase those little jokers again.

Josh
Dr_Gonzo

Trout Caster said...

Great idea. Bluegill on the fly are a blast. I usually end up fishing for gills more than any other fish.

Bill Trussell said...

Hi Cameron
Just found your blog and I have to say I am in as far as the Bluegill is concerned. For the past couple of years I have a set a goal for myself with the fly rod to land 100 super size gills each fishing season. I start the goal in April and end the last of July. I made the goaL in 2011 and missed it this year my landing 78 http://btrussell-fishingthroughlife.blogspot.com/search/label/Fly%20Fishing%20for%20Bluegill I will set the same goal this year in hopes of making it. I am joining up with your blog and look forward to some great post on bluegill fishing. Thanks for sharing

Cameron Mortenson said...

Bill...added your blog to the TFM Blogroll and look forward to following along on your 2013 campaign. Thanks for the comment.