Thanks for the discussion guys. I love it when a thread get's spawns lots of good ideas. I'll have to try the advice and look for that book on sunfishing.

Keep it coming.

_________________
my blog CastingAround
Ebisu, Iwana 11'ft (with additional short handle), Amago, Ito, Ayu II

One thing I have found is that using multiple flies is much more productive. Two flies are better than one and three are better than two. I often use four. I think the flies are more likely to be seen, and also, bluegills will often follow a fly and then stop. When the second (or third or fourth) comes along they'll pounce on it. Of course, it will not be unusual to get doubles also. It also will not be that unusual for a fish to have taken two of your flies before you feel anything. They come from behind, take one on the way towards the next, and then hesitate or turn, which is when you first feel the hit.

I have found orange (Pearsall's hot orange silk) to be better than chartreuse. I've seen them come up and look at a chartreuse fly but hit an orange one without even slowing down. The orange silk turns much darker when wet, which a nylon thread won't do, and I am convinced the color does matter.

Kiwi's right, though. Yhe silk sakasa kebari just get shredded but they bring a lot of fish to hand before they need to be retired and retied.

I've been having a lot of fun with the tenkara panfish this spring. The flies so far for me have been mostly hoppers - the take on top is just so much fun, it's almost a shame to fish any other way for them. For a line I've been using hi-vis yellow 14# Suffix Elite. It casts plenty well (I have no problems at all with castability)and floats better that fluoro level line, which is nice for fishing hoppers and poppers. A sinking line really stinks for hoppers and poppers on stillwater.

However when they're not taking on top - the Pearsall's silk orange kebari worked well - and the last time out they seemed to prefer the walt's worm and would attack it with fervor not exceeded by any other offerings (on that day).

I know that bluegills and the like are not often that selective - but on any given day certain patterns absolutely seem to outperform others.

_________________
my blog CastingAround
Ebisu, Iwana 11'ft (with additional short handle), Amago, Ito, Ayu II

I find the one fly approach is difficult to grasp when the Sunfish constantly attack the knot between my Level Line and Tippet. They are none the less a blast to fish for with my Tenkara rod.

I fished long ago with my Grandfather along the banks of the Shenandoah River, My Granfather used a safety pin he would bend into a hook to catch Sunfish. I never could figure out how he managed to catch fish with it. But he always caught quite a few fish with this improvised lure.

It's nice to veiw more about Sunfish being caught with Tenkara Rods. When I first started here on this forum I thought the subject of Tenkara and Sunfish/Bluegills was looked down upon.

_________________
テンカラのイモリ
Tenkara Mushroom

adventureR....I'm with you on the subject of panfish being talked about here on the forum. I started fishing with a spinning rod as a kid and over the years began to detest bluegills and sunfish as fish that interfered with me catching something "better" like bass. Tenkara changed my whole outlook regarding panfish and made it fun to catch them again (like when I was 5 or 6). I love pursuing trout but I might have to say the ounce for ounce bluegills may put up a slightly better fight than many trout. They are every bit as worthy of discussion as any other fish talked about on the forum.

Here's the thing - for me, and maybe for many others, panfish are a local species. Trout are not. So with the price of gas, I've been thinking locally. Plus, in the summer I have a couple of kids tagging along.

Sunfish put up a much better fight than trout (oz for oz) no doubt about it. Could you imagine a 16" bluegill on your rod? What fun.

Plus - panfish are a great way to hone your skills. More experienced fly fishers may take it for granted, but hooking a fish on a dry is not all that easy. I watch my kids fail at this continually - so the local bluegill are a great way to coordinate your hookset.

Also subsurface skills. The last time out I put a nymph on and the fish were attacking it - I could see the nymph, watch it sink, see the shadowy fish approach, see the disappearing nymph and set the hook. My kids could not do this. It's something that many take for granted.

The best way to get better is to fish - and for me the closest good fishing is panfishing.

And I'll tell you what - I really think that I get a bigger kick out of a nice bluegill than from a nice trout. Maybe it's nostalgia - who knows.

Get out and panfish - it will make you a better person (ok well at least a better flyfisher)

_________________
my blog CastingAround
Ebisu, Iwana 11'ft (with additional short handle), Amago, Ito, Ayu II

Great post Anthony I agree 100%

Tom

_________________
Wilderness Tarpon 120
and a Tenkara USA Amago
Good Combo!!!