First Fish
by Fred Taber

Since this is the first "official" article that I have been contracted to write, I thought it only fitting to make it about the first "official" species of fish that I actually caught. I guess it would technically be the second if you wanted to count the creek chubs I used to catch in a stream that ran behind my Grandma's house in lower New York state.

One day after much begging and pleading I finally convinced my dad that I was a responsible enough angler that I could handle riding my Stingray across the street to Spencer Pond.

Oh what a wondrous day that was. I was finally able to fish for "real" fish. No more chubs for me.

The rest is history. I have been fishing for every species I can, whenever I can, ever since. Almost 30 years have passed since that day.

I think that most would agree that #1 "first fish" for a good 90% of anglers would be some sort of sunfish. There could be a very good reason for this. What's the best way to get a kid hooked on fishing? Take them fishing for sunfishes. Especially when they are on the beds in the spring. That's probably the best way to hook anyone on fishing, especially fly fishing!

Since we are talking fly fishing and sunfish, or "panfish", as they are more regularly called. Let's go over some of the gear needed to enjoy a day of fly fishing for them. We'll keep it simple.

First lets cover the rod. A good 2-5 wt. is an excellent choice. I prefer a 3 wt. with a WFF line too.



You'll also need a good leader and tippet set up. I personally use a 9' 5 lb. test tapered leader with 2-3' of 3 lb. tippet. I seem to pick up a few bass here and there so I like to go a tad heavier. You'll also want a good light weight reel. I think lighter is better since you'll be doing a lot of casting. But, I used an old Kalamazoo Wolverine automatic on a 5 wt. for a good 8 years. That's a heavy little sucker too.

Last but certainly not least, a whole bunch of flies. One of my personal favorites is the Allieworm in sizes 10-14. It's a simple pattern to tie and it catches all kinds of fish. I vary the color of the butt from oregon cheese, red, yellow and chartreuse.



Materials Used
Hook: Nymph hook size 10-14
Thread: Black
Tail: Salmon egg yarn(color of your choosing)
Weight: Gold bead
Body: Fine black chenille
Hackle: Black saddle hackle, slightly oversized, palmered forward.

Tying Instructions
Step 1: Slide the bead on and up to the eye.

Step 2: Tie in the egg yarn at the tail.

Step 3: Tie in saddle hackle.

Step 4: Tie in the chenille.

Step 5: Wrap the thread forward to the bead.

Step 6: Wrap the chenille forward and tie off.

Step 7: Palmer the hackle forward and tie off.

Step 8: Whip finish.

Step 9: Apply head cement.

Step 10: Let dry, then fish.

I also use black gnats, black stones and hopper patterns. The truth is there are so many flies to name it would take me a good six months to a year to list half of them. That may be another reason gills are the #1 first fish, they aren't to selective on what they'll eat. If it looks edible, they will eat it. I have also taken gills on oregon cheese salmon egg flies in 8-10' of water.

Just about the best time of the year for those "first fish" is the spring when the gills are on the beds spawning. Depending on where you live this can occur anytime from late March-August. Here in southwest Michigan it typically takes place mid May thru mid to late June. When the water temps hit between 62 and 87 degrees F the males make saucer shaped beds that are from 6 to 12" in diameter. They will be located in a water depth of 1-4' and on average you can see anywhere from 20 to 50 beds in an area. The easiest way to find them is to simply cruise the shallows until you see the saucers then start casting. It's that simple.

My advice to you is that the next time you are at the vise tying up the usuall patterns for gills, get a little crazy and try something off the wall. You may just invent the next great panfish fly. It's always a real treat to catch fish on a fly you tied yourself, but it is always a little more special when that fly is one that you invented.

Take a kid fishing this spring and help them get that "first fish", it'll be a trip they will always remember.