Do you love big bluegill?

Slip/Float/Fly/Waxie Set-up

Here’s a little set-up I want to share that has been causing some excitement for me with the shallow gill lately. It’s a set-up that is not new and was learned when I was just a young lad from two fishermen I loved very much… my Dad and Uncle Clare. They used to put flies tipped with worms behind everything… my favorite was under the float.

I was tossing the slip float into a bunch of fish the other day and I was flatly being rejected with a crawler bit or waxie. With my polarized glasses in the calm water I witnessed it right before my eyes. A few gills would approach and kiss the split shot… that was it!. Then I remembered the fly and bait trick.

Once installed and dropped into the water the split/shot drops first and quickly while the fly and waxie bit descends like a parachute… drives the gills crazy!. The fly and bait bit is in motion while the split shot is still and motionless is the best feature. Its been so successful ive left it setup on my slip/float rig for the past week.

with the waxie bit the fly is in more of suspension while the crawler bit sinks the combination more quickly... the suspended fly/gulp waxie was more enticing then the quickly settling crawler bit/fly in the long run but both baits caught fish. another argument for to carry that jar of waxies in your tackle box.

since it is mainly in suspension around the split shot pay careful attention to the bobber for the slightest movement to prevent swallowed hook. Pinch the barbs before hand for easy removal.

note: barb was not pinched in this photo

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by John Sheehan on June 7, 2016 at 2:01pm

Cool Slip .Thanks for posting .

Permalink Reply by Leo Nguyen on June 7, 2016 at 3:20pm

Looks like what I normally use here near the windy shorelines.

Permalink Reply by David, aka, "McScruff" on June 7, 2016 at 3:28pm

Before I took up the fly rod, I had a bunch of old flies from my dad. I used them in just this way.
I never really put much thought into it again, once I went full-on fly rod.
But it gives me an idea for dressed bait hooks....

Permalink Reply by David, aka, "McScruff" on June 7, 2016 at 5:35pm

Here's a nice selection of feathered hooks, Ken.
http://m.dhgate.com/product/new-feathers-bait-flies-shape-fishing-l... />

For the fly tyers, it's a great way to use those cheap, dyed feathers you can't figure what else to do with....

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Permalink Reply by Slip Sinker on June 7, 2016 at 8:51pm

…exactly!...a few years ago when i bought my first flyrod at Dunhams... i bought a pkg of about 30-40 really cheap to play around with. they look alot like your showing

Permalink Reply by Slip Sinker on June 7, 2016 at 9:01pm

…looks like a good source David ... thanks

Permalink Reply by Allen Morgan on June 7, 2016 at 5:54pm

Slip, you need to get some of Carl's Rascals. They fall SLOWLY. Don't need a split shot, although I've used shot when I fish them. Rascals are basically a large bead-head fly.

Permalink Reply by Slip Sinker on June 7, 2016 at 8:59pm

…then i would have to go with a weighted slip/float and would be a different setup.

what's unique about this setup is the fly with the nearly neutral gulp waxie floats about the split shot with the water currents in a tantalizing fashion... under a Slip/Float

carls rascals work great... i cast them with my 3# Nano easily on my UL... i had a great afternoon with them just recently.

Permalink Reply by David, aka, "McScruff" on June 8, 2016 at 3:41am

I do prefer the weight on the line, myself, when slip floating. It's a key feature.

Permalink Reply by Slip Sinker on June 10, 2016 at 7:34am

A successful outing with the slip/float/fly set-up…

Permalink Reply by Bruce Tomaselli on June 16, 2016 at 4:07pm

Slip,

Thanks for posting this and the accompanying text. It explained everything in detail.

Question: How do you know when your bait settles to the bottom of the lake?

Permalink Reply by Slip Sinker on June 17, 2016 at 12:24am

Your welcome Bruce... lets review the current pattern im fishing... im fishing in 1.5' to 3' FOW ... i set my float stop at about 12"... when i cast and the bobber finally settles it will stand straight up as the visible knot and bead will travel to the top of the float while the split shot sinks down. thats why i like the bright colored knot instead of a manufactured rubber or plastic stop... i really like the visibility.