Bluegill fishing question

[just ducky]

I haven't fished bluegills regularly in 30 years, but went to a small lake on Sunday with a friend. Two questions for those who do fish 'gills a lot...we finally located some real good sized fish suspended 8'-10' down in about 15fow. We had redworms and waxworms, and found them biting best on a small hook w/redworm under a slip bobber. Once we located the bigger fish, there was no sorting...every fish was 8"-11". But we just didn't feel that we had the right bait going. Got none on the waxworms. Any other suggestions for bait? The other question...we brought home about 20 real nice 'gills, and there were eggs in many...are they still bedding this late? Signed...hopelessly confused :evilsmile

[RobFromFlint]

I've seen some still on beds, with this weather I think it's messing with there spawning clock. As for bait, my go to for gills will always be crickets.

[RichP]

sounds like the answer to your question is embedded in your post -- worms.

I usually fish waxies from ice out until late May. I switch to leaf worms after that, and will probably throw crickets into the mix starting in august...

[DaveW731]

I haven't fished bluegills regularly in 30 years, but went to a small lake on Sunday with a friend. Two questions for those who do fish 'gills a lot...we finally located some real good sized fish suspended 8'-10' down in about 15fow. We had redworms and waxworms, and found them biting best on a small hook w/redworm under a slip bobber. Once we located the bigger fish, there was no sorting...every fish was 8"-11". But we just didn't feel that we had the right bait going. Got none on the waxworms. Any other suggestions for bait? The other question...we brought home about 20 real nice 'gills, and there were eggs in many...are they still bedding this late? Signed...hopelessly confused :evilsmile

If you are targeting gills in that size range, try throwing in a crappie-size ( 1/12" - 2") tube bait in chartreuse, white or pink and white, either on its own or tipped with a piece of worm. I seem to get fewer numbers but bigger that way, than with worm on a hook. I generally don't use a bobber and swim it down to where the fish are, then do a twitch/pause/reel just fast enough to keep it at the desired depth.

[ESOX]

Or a small clouser/streamer on a sinking line. Gills can't resist a slow stripped streamer.

[DE82]

2inch Twisters in Watermelon/blue/gold flake, Pumpkinpepper, Purple, and Orange. 1.5inch Tubes in Smoke/multi-sparkle. All on 1.16oz jig heads. I've taken some pretty good size gills on CD3 rapalas over the years if they're suspending. - Bryon

[just ducky]

Thanks for all the great ideas. Yes, we did catch a couple on a tiny lead-head jig tipped with a bit of worm. Tried a small tube jig for a little while, but no hits, so switched back to worms. Bait shop didn't have crickets or we may have thrown them into the mix. Good thought though.

Thanks again...lots of good thoughts to consider.

[DaveW731]

adapt some ice fishing approaches, e.g.: tying a dropper fly above a fairly heavy ice jig tipped w/waxie or redworm.

[just ducky]

Yep, another good idea. I have lots of ice jigs that I could try.

Does anyone ever fish at night for 'gills? I've done it for crappies and trout, but not 'gills. I'm always partial to early morning for 'gills, but just wondered if any particular time of day was better for them.

[theozmeister]

my go-to pattern for monster suspended gills with the fly rod is size 14 san juan worm with about a 1 1/2' dropper and a tiny nymph, usually either a scud or mayfly pattern. make sure that you use either weighted line or beadhead patterns to get the flies down. good luck!

[wyldkat49766]

If you are targeting gills in that size range, try throwing in a crappie-size ( 1/12" - 2") tube bait in chartreuse, white or pink and white, either on its own or tipped with a piece of worm.

We also use a tube and jig and with like 1/4 - 1/3 of a crawler. Use a small bobber also so you can see when they hit easier. Also try to get near some sort of shelter like a log or under the shade of a tree. If you get a bunch of babies, toss about 4 ft over and try again.

This hasn't failed me in over 15 yrs.

[Sala]

Light line and drop shot rigs across the beds--using a small tube or twister

[RobFromFlint]

Light line and drop shot rigs across the beds--using a small tube or twister
drop shots are deadly for anything that beds. Use a highly visible color if you want to dropshot. It's seems to anger the fish more and you can see what's going on with it.

[fish fanatic jr.]

where can you get a cricket catcher? also wat do you use to attrack them? And where would bluegills be at if they aren't on their beds possibly by the weed edge?:confused:

[ibthetrout]

On hot days they are often in deeper water. I went out about a week ago on a hot day and wasn't getting anything. I was even fishing 8-10 feet down. Spoke to a guy who had his limit in a little over an hour and he said he caught them all in 15 fow. I myself typically stick with a leaf worm and slip bobber. If I know where bedded gills are then i will some times try a light 1/16 oz lead head feather jig tipped with pink berkley power bait and i fish it shallow under a ice bobber. I will usually slow troll that through the beds.

[just ducky]

This particular little lake drops off very quickly to 20' or so in the deep hole. There were some fish still on the beds in shallow, but mostly small ones. We found the larger gills in about 10-15 fow, suspended about 8-10' down.

[DaveW731]

Another adaptation of ice fishing: use hi-vis line, toss out either a tube or a winter panfish jig (Gentz worm, fat boy, etc) tipped w/ worm or waxie, let it drift down and watch for the line to move. If it hits bottom, reel in fast enough to get it to desired depth, then try verticle jigging, a la winter style. Works best for me to put an ultralight spinning reel on my 8' 6-weight flyrod.

[Roosevelt]

Another adaptation of ice fishing: use hi-vis line, toss out either a tube or a winter panfish jig (Gentz worm, fat boy, etc) tipped w/ worm or waxie, let it drift down and watch for the line to move. If it hits bottom, reel in fast enough to get it to desired depth, then try verticle jigging, a la winter style. Works best for me to put an ultralight spinning reel on my 8' 6-weight flyrod.


Amen! I use the tiny teardrops and no bait. If ya can keep it movin it weeds out the little ones. Or so it seems. if no bait works then I use the same setup w' a waxworm. But then ya start gettin lil ones too. Ya goota be quick or they'll swallow it.

[jigworm]

Small leaches. A big gill can't resist one....