Sometimes the wind is too high to fish with a fly rod. It is for me, at least. I've read a few instructional pieces and watched a couple of videos about fly fishing with an UL or light spinning rod. I think they call it the bubble and fly, named for the components they use on the line (a float bubble that can be partially filled with water, and a fly). Have any of you used this method and, if so, do you have any tips you can pass along? FYI, bluegills/sunfish are the targeted species when I fish with flies.

It's fairly straightforward. Having enough line between the bubble and the fly would the main area to address as a variable. That and how much water to put in the bubble. Trial and error ought to sort that out.

Thanks for the reply RRhyme. Yes, those are about the only two variables I see. One writer suggested a leader length of six or more feet, which seems a little long to me, but I plan to start off with five or six feet.

In regard to working the fly, they suggest giving the fly time to slowly sink, assuming a sinking fly is used, and then reeling a few feet to swing it back up, then stopping to let it sink again. Then repeat, working it back in. They also use floating flies, of course, when the fish are shallow. And, they may use sunfish poppers, but not sure about that.

My "tip" would be to forgo the ultra-lite and bobber and use a popper/dropper rig. I can't think of a situation which I have been in (warm water fishing that is) in which the popper/dropper wasn't far superior to the bobber rig.

Thanks Meadowlark. I saw a video with a guy using a bass popper, with a leader and fly tied to the popper, but couldn't see how he attached the leader. Do you attach the leader to the bend of the popper hook?

Oops, you are talking about a popper/dropper rig on a fly rod. I'm fishing on the back seat while my buddy is bass fishing, often in windy conditions, thus the need for a bubble and fly on a spinning rod. I use little spinners, jigs, and other baits on the spinning rod, but want to try some flies as well.

You can still do the popper droper with the bubble and your ultralight gear as well that is when that six-foot leader will definitely come into play though between the bubble and the popper. Oh and yes you want to tie it off to the bend of the hook come back however far you wanted to drop entire second fly

If you're using spinning gear forego the bubble entirely and use a light slip bobber. A 7' light or medium light rod with 8 or 10 lb. braid on a decent small reel (stay away from those tiny spools) will sling that rig a loooooooong way.

on windy days i just cast the rod more at a 3/4 arm angle and it seems to really help

I've used a bubble rig with a split shot between the fly and bubble, maybe 24" above the fly. Let the line slide free through the bubble with nothing above it. Let it sit for a bit and then reel in really slow - barely moving it. The fly will sink much deeper. It helps if the fly is a bead head, cone head, or somehow weighted. There isn't a perfectly straight line to your fly in this situation so want to hook set with a big long sweep of the rod plus reel in to pick up any slack.

Thanks for the information. I'll have to try a little bb shot between the bubble and fly. I'll be using a beaded fly. Im fishing over hydrilla, so will see if the bb causes the fly to hang up, or if it will work across it he grass. The beaded head will sink the fly without a bb but it will be slow.

A picture is worth a thousand words. I've caught thousands of fish with this rig. Great for when the fish are way out of fly rod casting range or the wind is really tough. The smaller clear water filled bubbles work best. The larger bubbles make way too much splash when entering the water. Bass Pro has the small bubbles in a 4 or 5 pack. That type of swivel by the way greatly minimizes any line tangling that can occur with a rig like this.

This is the way I have it rigged chatterbait. Thanks.

I've thought about doing something like this before. I love to fly fish but in some situations think "this would be so much easier with a spinning reel".

Zach, this rig, the Bubble and Fly, IS on spinning gear.