I like to use the bobber, worm, and circle hook to search for schools of bluegills, as it is so fast and effective.  I use the trolling motor to keep the boat moving along, 9′ spin rods, big bobber and big weight for long casts and retrieves, searching in a fan pattern fast along the drop off for a school.  Once located, I might catch a few with the circle hook and log the data, or pull the bait away on the bite so as not to hook the fish. 

Why do I do this?  Because sometimes I’m really trying to dial things in for the flyrod.  Remember, we’re hybrid anglers; sometimes spin, sometimes fly (thanks Dad, for teaching me both from the beginning).  As soon as I locate a school of suspended big bluegills, I get out the 2wt. flyrod with sinking nymphs and have a ball. 

As soon as the school moves, I pick up the spin rod with worm and circle hook and begin searching again.   Doesn’t take long to relocate them, then back to the flyrod.  Spin / Fly synergy… 1+1=3.

Fished with Drake last evening for big bluegills.  We started out with bobbers and worms, and of course, circle hooks to find the big blues, then cut over to the flyrod and nymphs.

 I wasn’t going to keep any, but it had been a long time since I had bluegills, so I put some in the livewell much to Drake’s pleasure.  He likes me to keep the lid open so he can stick his snout in it and blow bubbles while he’s trying to catch the fish in the livewell.

We caught about 15 and it was time to go.  On the way home, I took it slow and had a beer.  When I got to the lift Drake jumped of the boat and went to shore to pee, and I cranked the boat up.  I lost interest in cleaning fish and began to reach in the livewell and throw them back one by one. 

The next thing I heard was toenails hitting the dock caused by a Golden Retriever running toward me at full speed.  He had seen me from shore as I was throwing fish back in the water.  He jumped off the end of the dock in the water looking for fish, and “what the hell do you think you are doing?”, was the look I got.

I directed him to get his wet butt out of the water, and up to the house.  In fairness to Drake, I guess we should have discussed the letting the fish go thing before I decided to do it.