Article By Terry & Roxanne Wilson

Bluegill populations on big reservoirs are largely ignored by anglers, which creates an untapped resource for the enterprising longrodder. Here are six reservoir hotspots we target to search for big bluegills and the flies and presentations that work best for us:

1. Docks. Bluegills love overhead cover and docks make them happier than campus radicals with a Xerox machine. Unfortunately, not all docks are created equal. To be a bluegill magnet there must be an escape route to relatively deep water and the presence of some other cover such as a brush pile or weeds to enhance its attractiveness. Start by fishing the deepest edges of the dock. To do otherwise can spook the largest concentration of fish before they are located. Careful boat positioning will enable short, accurate casts alongside the outside edges of the dock and into the empty boat stalls where that's possible. A locator is very helpful in finding brush piles near these deeper areas where many dock owners anchor discarded Christmas trees to attract fish. We use a small barbell-eyed fly with a tuft of marabou for the tail and E-Z Shape Sparkle Body for the body and head on a size-8 TMC 5262 hook in these deepwater zones. A variety of color combinations are possible but gold/yellow and chartreuse/white grab first-string status.

2. Bluffs. Bluffs are places comprised of rock, clay, or mud that drop vertically into the water. Depending upon their location, they may provide shade and wind protection for both the fish and angler. A locator can be important in scouting the area beneath the bluff. The area can contain piles of fallen rock or clay, brush, or even a submerged creek channel that winds along its length. It's these additional features that enhance the importance of the bluff and cause it to become the focal point of the bluegills' interest. This is primarily a deepwater location where heavier flies and sinking lines are best. If there's a gradual slope to the deepest water, cast directly at the bluff, allow the fly and line to sink to the bottom, then slowly strip it into the depths. As an alternative the boat can be positioned close to the bluff. Casts can be made in either direction, allowed to sink, then retrieved along the base of the bluff and parallel to it. This keeps the fly in the "fish zone" for a longer period of time. If you are not familiar with the bluff and unsure of the fish location spots along it, try trolling or drifting with the wind. Use full-sinking line and frequent stops to keep the fly deep.

5. Woodpiles. Woodpiles can be defined rather loosely. They might be logjams that are semi-permanently anchored into the bank or bottom, but they could also be areas of woody bushes that were inundated by the reservoir or artificially placed bunches of anchored Christmas trees. Woodpiles can be shallow or quite deep and their relevance to bluegills depends on the depth. If they are from three to twelve feet deep, they will likely support a summertime population. If they are deeper they may only be used during cold fronts or in late fall and early winter. Deep, always a relative term, must be judged in relation to water clarity and sunlight penetration.
Woodpiles require study with the locator so that their shape and composition can be understood. Otherwise, too many flies are sacrificed. Counting the fly down to the tops of the structure is essential to success. Generally, we prefer slow-sinking flies and fly lines for woodpile presentations. When the water exceeds ten feet we are forced to use heavier flies, but we try to compensate by keeping the fly moving. Barbell eyes cause the fly to ride hook-point up, which helps to keep it from harm's way. Trolling and controlled-drifting are good mid-depth to deep presentations for woodpiles.