The Big Three Bluegill Flies #1, the Gill Getter

Created by Florida angler and tier Tom Lentz, the Gill Getter is one of his "Big Three" Bluegill flies. A three-material pattern, this can be fished as a semi-dry or slow-sinking nymph. It has proven effective for panfish in all kinds of water.
Hook: #8-14 1x long
Thread: Color to match the body
Tail/wingcase: Moose mane hair
Body: Chenille
Legs: rubber, two strands on each side
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Savage Flies is a project with the mission of encouraging and teaching fly tying to as many people as possible. The channel is named after one of my western Maryland homewaters, the Savage River. Thanks for stopping by.

[@markfritch3168]

Nice pattern. Started my two boys catching bluegills on flies. Used little foam bugs so they could watch the take. By the time we were ready to come home they had great confidence in their ability to catch fish on a fly. Sweet memories for sure.

[@SavageFlies]

Oh yeah, that is a great memory Mark. I wish I could remember my first fish with my fly rod. I'd bet the bank that it was a sunfish. And the first few years was probably a ratio of a dozen sunfish to every one bass. And eventually I got my first trout. :-)

[@RT42069]

Putting a subsurface fly like this under the foam bug would be even more effective. The foam bug doubles as an indicator, which can also get bit from time to time

[@jimholland1592]

Hey, You know I love panfish great fly Matt☕️☕️

[@SavageFlies]

I know it Jim! This one was for you. And I know you grew up catching "brim." :-)

[@pc5439]

Nice fly Matt, another one of those 3 material flies, nice and easy, easy pizzes, have a great weekend my friend.

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it Phil! And you too my friend. :-)

[@jamesvatter5729]

'Gills on a fly rod. Tons of fun! Thanks for sharing, Matt.

[@SavageFlies]

Oh yeah Jim! I wonder for how many of us one of these scrappy little sunfish was our first fish on a fly. :-)

[@jamesday3216]

Wow Matt now your talking or maybe tying. I will be tying some of these. Since I'm from Central Texas they should do real well on the bream. Hopefully you will have the others that you were talking about in the future. Thanks for all you do.

[@SavageFlies]

You bet James! I'm definitely going to tie the Panfish Polecat. If for no other reason than the cool name. :-)

[@vernlund3564]

Nice tie Matt. Bluegills + Kids {of all ages) = FUN !!!

[@SavageFlies]

Absolutely right Vern! It's still a blast. I got a tenkara rod this year and the first place I tried it out was a local pond with nothing but sunfish. :-)

[@edwardchavez5627]

Good Morning Sir Matt, the Gill Getter is a cool bug, really great for my area. I'll have alot of fun with this one.

[@SavageFlies]

This will be a great one for Texas Edward. Have a great weekend my friend!

[@jamesphillips2216]

Super sweet pattern!! There’s nothing like the non stop action of bluegill and shell cracker fishing when their on bed or during a willow fly hatch!! Definitely be tying this one!! Thanks Matt for sharing!!

[@SavageFlies]

You got it James! And I agree... the action can be non-stop. It's like they'll watch their buddies get yanked out of the hole and they don't care. Of course these are the little guys. A bluegill that has grown to 12-13 inches is a pretty smart fish!

[@jgriz13]

I know it’s been a while since you posted this video, Matt, but I wanted you to know how special your efforts here on KZbin are to me. I enjoy watching all the other professionals tie beautiful flies or avant- garde new patterns, but more than anything, I enjoy watching you tie (and curate) patterns either for beginner “fly-tyers” or for us old-ish timers to help introduce our kids to the sport of fly fishing.

[@barbaraemerich1921]

Another bug I’ve just got to tie!! Thank you Matt I always look forward to your videos..

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks Barbara! I always appreciate you. :-)

[@MyItalians]

Morning Matt. My son is a big warm water fisherman. I will tie some up and see what he thinks. They look good to me . Thank you and have a blessed day

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it Nich! I'll bet this thing will work for him. :-)

[@jimgollach6202]

Sunfish will eat just about anything, but they are so fun to catch. You can let your imagination go on a fly pattern for Sunfish. Thanks for sharing Matt 👍 have a great weekend 😀.

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it Jim! And you too my friend. :-)

[@RT42069]

You can get them on a bare hook if it's shiny enough. I've had them bite bobbers, swivels, even split shot

[@mhanson4972]

This is a great bug! Love the warm water ties!

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it Mark! I don't get out to the ponds as often as my trout streams but I certainly don't mind some panfish action. :-)

[@ybarrajc]

Another nice one Matt, thanks for sharing have a blessed day my friend.

[@SavageFlies]

Thank you! Thanks as always for watching and have a great weekend!

[@Fernando_Woolybooger]

Fun to tie and it worked! Bluegill at my local honey hole loved this bug! Thank you for sharing this pattern. Your videos are the best!

[@SavageFlies]

Wow, this is great to hear! And thanks for this comment letting me know. Hope you're having a great weekend my friend. :-)

[@bearl7998]

Great video. Good music. I had to tie up a few Gill Getters and I’m anxious to try them. Thanks

[@laytonmarvin3790]

Cool pattern Matt, after seeing this, makes me think about getting back into warm water fishing. Thanks for sharing and have a great weekend.

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it Layton! My heart is still in the trout streams but sometimes a detour to one of my local ponds can be a blast too. :-)

[@joutdoorsmen23]

Cool and simple fly Matt thanks for sharing!!!!!!!

[@Jd-yc3gw]

Good morning Matt. That’s a neat looking fly. Going to have to do some research to see what species are available where we plan to winter. Might need some panfish flies, you just never know. Enjoyed the video Matt. Have a great weekend.

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it John! I'll bet you'll find some panfish worth chasing there. One saying I always heard growing up... you can pull a fence post out of the ground and as soon as it fills with water there will be bluegill in it. :-)

[@burtonbrocious171]

Nice pattern matt panfish are a lot of fun on a fly rod

[@SavageFlies]

Absolutely Burt! And a big bluegill in a nice lake is certainly no pushover. :-)

[@JamesMcCutcheon]

Matt; Fishing for Bream was my first experience as a young boy to catch a fish. I used an old cane pole, red worms, and a bobber. I love to fish for Bream with the Fly Rod. I am an Alabama guy. I wish we had more than 1 trout fishery here. This is my main channel to learn more about fly tying and fly fishing. Matt, thanks again for a great KZbin Channel. The Gill Getter sure looks good.

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it Jim! I didn't grow up too far from Alabama but we did have at least a few mountains in north Georgia where some trout lived. Not that I was very good at catching them back then. :-)

[@garrettswoodworx1873]

Definitely gonna have to put a bunch of these in my box. I'm having a bunch of fun tormenting the sunfish on the local small lake & it's much more fun on fly tackle than on conventional stuff! Thanks Matt!

[@richardbutts6512]

Cool pattern !! ya have a good weekend!!Thanks!

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it Richard! And you too my friend. :-)

[@marshallbaldwin8960]

A very cool bug. Looking forward to fishing largemouth with this. Thank you Sir Matt.

[@paulbridgers3820]

Another great looking fly, thanks for sharing

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it Paul! Have a great weekend my friend. :-)

[@dahutful]

It’s a great fly. It’s always been a favorite of mine to tie, I might tie a few tonight, for old time sake. Interesting note, here in the South when people say, “bream,“ we look at ‘em and say, “Bream? Y’all from around here are ya?“ David

[@charlieboutin3341]

Where I am in Texas, Everything in that fish species and category is called a “Perch”. I’ve been “perch jerkin” since I could walk. I’m 60 and still do it several times a week, it rejuvenated me after learning flyfishing. Love that Gill-getter fly! I don’t have Moose so will try buck tail as you suggested. You also said it was designed as a nymph, so guessing it may sink somewhat?. My goto top-water perch fly is a yellow (tan or black also) foam Llano bug #12-#10. I usually leave out the wing. I’ll go up in size to #6 or #4 with a wing to use for largemouth. It floats great, and is extremely durable. Under surface my favorite is a one inch, black (or olive) micro leach on a #12-#14 with micro gold bead head, micro black zonker tail and micro black chenille body. It’s actually caught some nice largemouth also. I believe if those flies don’t work..there’s probably no fish there! 😂 Sorry so long.😐 Have a great one Matt..Looking forward to the next ones! 👍👍🎣👌🙂

[@SavageFlies]

Ha! I agree with you Charlie... if those bugs you mention don't fool something, there's probably nothing there! As for this one sinking, I think it will but without putting weight on it I imagine it'll be a slow sinker. Kind of a semi-dry fly at first until the chenille is fully waterlogged. This is probably how I'd fish it though as you might get a lot of takes either on the surface or just under. But if you needed it to get deep, a split shot a few inches above it would do the trick.

[@Guardians814]

That is an awesome fly! Will definitely be adding some to my box's, thanks!

[@SavageFlies]

Well thank you! I appreciate the note my friend. :-)

[@jeffjackson5331]

That is a pretty neat fly Matt. Thanks for sharing with us.

[@SavageFlies]

You bet Jeff! I appreciate you watching my friend. :-)

[@jeffjackson5331]

@@SavageFlies 👍🏻 it's my pleasure

[@knowyourjoe8826]

Orange and browns, like the colors. Something very useful for around these parts. Thanks for sharing.

[@harryjoesather6539]

thanks matt.

[@Wyamike734]

Good looking fly pattern. I will have to give it a try. Thanks once again the the video ! Have a great weekend !

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it Mike! And you too my friend. :-)

[@woodgemdave]

Love your fiddle music, excellent! Your flies & stories are exceptional!

[@SavageFlies]

Well thank you Dave! I appreciate the note my friend. :-)

[@mikeney5113]

Cool pattern Matt.i realike the looks on this pattern.gunna need to spin few up.thanks for sharing as always

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it Mike! Have a great weekend my friend. :-)

[@oldsmugglerflyfishing]

Hello Matt. That fly looks nice!

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it! Have a great weekend my friend. :-)

[@joshharbin2833]

Good looking pattern!! Finally some flies i use here in Alabama !!

[@SavageFlies]

Hahaha! Charlie just said in another comment here that you only have one trout stream in the whole state of Alabama. I didn't grow up far from there but at least we had a few mountains in north Georgia. :-)

[@melchurch3019]

This has been a good panfish fly for me. The only thing I do different is coat the back with resin for durability. Thanks for the video Matt.

[@jeffreystone7327]

Love it love it. How fun for a grandchild or myself for that matter. Watching this thing being swallowed up. Great tie Matt. Thank you buddy.

[@SavageFlies]

You bet Jeff! Always appreciate it my friend. :-)

[@howardmceachern6614]

Nice pattern, I will tie a few for my next trip to the lake. Great job on this type of pattern. Thanks, Matt.

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it Howard! Have a great weekend my friend. :-)

[@crowdaddy8355]

Living in the south,I think everyone started fishing targeting bluegills and panfish. I know I did and that’s what I started my two boys on.Great to see another panfish fly. Thanks Matt and have a great weekend.

[@SavageFlies]

I think you're right Chad! This is probably how most all of us in the south started. Bobbers and worms that I dug up on the way to the pond. And when I was lucky a tub of crickets from the local bait shop. :-)

[@edwardmlotkiewicz2343]

Great tie. Linz's Gill Getter is a panfish staple here in Florida . I've tied many and have caught many bream and redears on it. Thanks for the great video.

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it Ed! I hear those redears can get pretty big down there. :-)

[@edwardmlotkiewicz2343]

@@SavageFlies They do but I haven't caught any large ones yet. Still trying!!

[@bigdaddy99929]

Like it Matt. Dad was from Texas and we did fish the Panfish. I was young and don’t recall the name but sure he used it. We did lots of catfish and bass fishing though. Thx Matt. Have a fabulous weekend.

[@SavageFlies]

That's it Clyde! Most all the ponds I grew up fishing had the "big three." Panfish, bass and catfish. Any water that was big enough to have fish, always had those three. :-)

[@martyrothman3933]

Good morning Matt good morning everyone this looks like a really nice one Matt have a great weekend everybody

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it Marty! And you too my friend. :-)

[@janfrey3431]

Thanks Matt for the panfish fly & maybe some more sometime. Should be killer here on Marylands eastern shore.

[@SavageFlies]

Absolutely Jan! I do plan to add Tom Lentz's other panfish flies to my to-do list so hopefully I'll get to those soon. :-)

[@donaldsickles9242]

Hello Matt, nice job on the fly. I liked they way you put in the legs. I noted that you did not weighted the fly, I weighted the ones that I tied. I will tie some without the extra weight. I also liked the color you used.

[@leemowers9395]

Nice leggy brim bug, Looks great, I think trout would take that too, Thanks matt for sharing. nicely tied.

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks Lee! I think if I was going to put a few of these in my trout nymph box I might go a little smaller than a #8. But I think you're right. Plenty of trout might chase this thing. :-)

[@johnnylightning1491]

The first picture you showed reminded me a whole lot of a lightning bug with that orange color. I'm sure this would be effective in almost any color combination. Keep the good stuff coming Matt.

[@SavageFlies]

I think so too Dave! And if I was going to put a couple of these in my trout box, I'd probably tie them in black, brown or olive. Have a great weekend my friend!

[@BM-oi1wo]

I'm going to try this on grayling since there isn't bluegill here. I grew up in Idaho and Montana. Mom lived in Montana, Dad in Idaho...Sure brings back memories catching bluegill around Hagerman and Twin Falls, Idaho as a kid. Thanks again Matt.

[@SavageFlies]

Oh yeah, I think a lot of us have memories being a kid chasing bluegills in the local ponds! Good times. :-)

[@mikegerard8712]

Always great instruction and video. Thanks Matt. I think squirrel tail would also work for this fly. With black, grey, and fox you would have lots of variety.

[@SavageFlies]

That's actually a great call Mike! With the fall season coming on and about to be great squirrel weather, I was thinking up some patterns I can make with squirrel. I'll probably stick to more of the hairwing streamers but this is a good idea too. Thanks for the inspiration!

[@tompeterson559]

I think I'll have to try this! At the very least it looks like a fun pattern to tie.

[@davehall2160]

Gorgeous looking fly Matt Definitely need to tie up some of these Are you going to try the other two flies Thanks for the video Matt

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks Dave! I definitely want to tie the Panfish Polecat but will probably do the other one as well. :-)

[@themazamen]

Hey Matt, this guy always seems to have a few spots empty in its row in my bluegill box and not because I'm losing them. It's just because they getting worn out from so many gills. Like Tom Lentz's other two top patterns that you mentioned and a few others (Brim Special, Humbug, Breem Killer, James Wood Bucktail), the slow drop, especially over weed beds, is just irresistible to big gills.

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks for the note Craig! I know some people will tie these weighted but this recipe in Stewart's book didn't have it weighted. So I imagined it would be a really slow sinking fly. And I'll bet you're right... you probably get a lot of takes on the slow drop.

[@joeduca8582]

Cool pattern and lesson Matt. From that book Lentz doesn't ring a bell but Tom Nixon (Calcasieu Pig Boat - tons of rubber!) and Dick Stewart (Devil Bug) do. As far as "sunnies" go my "big three" are Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, and one I didn't see on that chart is the Rock Bass. The NYS record Rock Bass was a 2 lb 14.5 inch chunk caught by an 8 year old boy two years ago off the dock at his families camp on Lake Ontario. Wow, a dream catch at any age! Thanks Matt! 😁👍

[@SavageFlies]

Oh man, I almost tied the Pig Boat just because of the cool name. I may still do it but I'm a little hesitant to use that many rubber legs on one fly! I grew up on pumpkinseed and shellcrackers too and always thought they were the same fish. But now I'm looking at them and they're not at all the same. Some of these shellcrackers are HUGE. As for rock bass, I don't think I've ever caught any, or if I have I didn't realize that's what they were. But I'm looking online now and man, those are some beautiful fish! I might have to put this on my to-do list to find a lake around here with some and take the kayak out on the hunt. Apparently the IGFA considers them game fish but not a lot of people chase them. Here's an interesting article I just read: www.in-fisherman.com/editorial/rock-bass/153987

[@joeduca8582]

@@SavageFlies Pig Boat! Nickname for German sub. I think there's over 70 legs on that Pig, I could be wrong but Nixon specified an exact amount. It was in Fly Tyer a few years ago. I read Rock Bass are in mid Atlantic states, Maryland to Canada. Closest fish from that chart was the Warmouth, but that's a different coloration and the it's anal fin has 3 spines and Rock bass have 6. If you fish rock structure you'll catch Rock bass, tasty too 😋 Either way they're ALL fun! Thanks for the link, I'll take a peek. Have a great weekend! 🤓👍

[@SavageFlies]

@@joeduca8582 Yeah I saw that too that there should be plenty of Maryland water with some rock bass. Now I just need to find some!

[@joeduca8582]

@@SavageFlies 👍

[@joeduca8582]

@@SavageFlies Thanks, cool article.Yeah, they're like mini smallmouth. I thought the first rock bass I caught was a smallie with those red eyes. I had to ID it from one of those Peterson field guides.That 2 pound 14.5 inch NYS record must have fought like a smallie :o) In-Fisherman and Al Lindner, fish + location + presentation = success. That's what I learned from Al. That formula can be applied to ALL fishing imo. There was another mag before In - Fisherman where I first discovered the Lindner brothers but the name escapes me. Successful hunting Matt!

[@brucehaley3651]

Oh I really like that one. Are you going to tie the other two? Growing up in Oklahoma, we called most sunfish Bluegill.

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks Bruce! I definitely plan to tie the Panfish Polecat, if for no other reason than the cool name. :-)

[@doncogswell9596]

Fun tie Matt. Will try it out on our local public park lake that is stocked with blue gill and small mouth bass. This #1 of Tom Lentz's "Big Three" ,is there going to be #2 and #3 in the future?

[@pcolapaddler]

Another nice 'Gill bug. I live in warm water country, so my freshwater fly fishing is primarily for Bluegill and Bass. What is the book that you show in the early part of the video?

[@TheFlytyingluis]

What is the name of the book that you showed in the video? Looks very interesting. Thanks Luis

[@FlyTyer1948]

I’ll bet that fly will work on almost any kind of fish in slower or still waters. It looks somewhat like a beetle or water boatman. My exposure to “brim” flies was mostly those tiny Gaines poppers. Otherwise I just used dry flies or nymphs when fishing for bluegill. Fun fishing.

[@SavageFlies]

Good call Bob. Tied darker and one leg on each side instead of two and it would certainly make a passable water boatman. I've never tied that one as I just haven't ever fished one. Maybe I should but I can't recall seeing any in my trout waters. Hmmm... something to think about!

[@FlyTyer1948]

@@SavageFlies I’ve seen water boatmen on the water plenty of times but never saw a fish take one. I have seen beetles taken. There are a number boatmen of patterns from western & Canadian tyers & fish supposedly take them, but …

[@danjost8797]

Great looking fly.Can you tell me what chenille you are using? Really like the two tone color.Thanks

[@SavageFlies]

Hi Dan. That was a Hareline, variegated chenille, probably in a medium. It was probably this one: www.jsflyfishing.com/products/variegated-chenille-medium Thanks for the note!

[@leonardcutshaw6669]

do you run some head cement on the moose hair?

[@calecarter214]

Growing up in Alabama there were only 5 fish. Bass, catfish, crappie, bluegill, shell cracker 😂😂

[@SavageFlies]

Oh man, I haven't heard anybody mention "shell cracker" in 30 years! But we had those down in Georgia too. Good memories. :-)

[@seizedcarcass8440]

Would squirrel tail work for this pattern? I have a good bit of it to use

[@fatsndinksfishin9815]

What book is it that features these flies? Sounds like a must read!

[@SavageFlies]

I can't remember off hand (I'm out of town right now.) Maybe Dick Stuart and Farrell Alan's Flies for Bass and Panfish? That sounds right.

[@danjohnson2098]

Can you please tell me what chenille you are using.Thankyou.

[@johnmillholland7022]

first started fishing for bream with worms and hook

[@davidbrattain1446]

My favorite bluegill fly is the "cigarette butt".

[@SavageFlies]

Hahaha!

[@RT42069]

I wouldn't say all panfish are sunfish. Yellow perch, white perch, and white bass are also considered panfish

[@66bigbuds]

Perch are a pan fish, but not a sunfish.

[@SavageFlies]

Good catch, and I'm sure there are probably other exceptions out there. That's also why I said "generally speaking" because I didn't know for sure!