Fescue grass is driving me crazy, wont bag, wont mulch?

I finally dug up the pathetic looking bermuda sod that my home builder installed when I bought my house a few years back and replaced it with fescue. The fescue came in lush and healthy just like I hoped but its a nightmare to mow. Its much thicker than the bermuda and it gums up my mower almost instantly. Im finding the blades don't ever dry out and they just clump together when cut. They don't fully discharge into the bag and eventually clog the bag opening solid. The mower stalls and cursing ensues. Ive tried using the mulching insert and bagging seems to be the lesser of two evils. Ive resorted to cutting at the heat of the day once a week to cut what I hope to be short dry grass and give myself the best chance to keep the mower from stalling, and FAIL. The mower usually stalls by the time the bag gets half full and there's usually a big pile of clippings left where the mower stalls. Ive messed with the deck heights- going over it twice starting with lifting the deck all the way up then dropping it back to the mid height setting. Doesnt help. I use new gas with Sta-Bil, change the oil every year, and check/replace filters. I kept the bermuda in the front yard and it cuts just fine like it always has. Does anyone have a tip or a trick that makes cutting fescue easier or will I eventually have the bite the bullet and get a big 'ol riding mower that can power through it?