It's Time for the Bluegill Spawn

This is the time of year for some really fun fishing for bluegills. The next couple of weeks will be spawning time for them and they will be in the shallow water of the area lakes and backwaters. Depending on the size of the lake and the water temperature, there should be beds being made right now.

Bluegill beds look like little moon craters along the edge of the lake. They are formed by the male fish and when the time is right the females deposit their eggs in the little depressions. Once the eggs are laid the males come in and fertilize them and then stand guard until the fry have hatched.

This gives anglers an opportunity to catch these bluegills on a flyrod which is a really fantastic way to fish for them. The fish are guarding their territory and anything that comes into it is attacked quite savagely. A tiny popper or rubber spider is a perfect bait and will give the fisherman a chance to fight these scrappy fish on a limber flyrod.

You must take care not to take too many fish off the beds though. Remember these are the fish that will be making the babies for the next few years. Have some fun and catch them but be responsible in the numbers you keep.

 

 Dan Bomkamp

Author & Host of the radio show "How's Fishing"

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