Bluegill/sunfish

[aavery2]

We have several variety of sunfish/bluegill in our local lakes and ponds.  One of the sandpits that I fish often has them and at times in the year they seem to be the prime forage.  I have been trying for a while to come up with a skirt color that mimics the fish and I believe I have a combo that works now.  Just looking for your opinions and what you would change.

 

 

[F14A-B]

That looks really good.... Best look I have seen

In a while.... Hard to get anything that close off

The shelf! Nice job!

[F14A-B]

Oh.... I forgot... I will take a bakers dozen!

JK!......

[aavery2]

That looks really good.... Best look I have seen

In a while.... Hard to get anything that close off

The shelf! Nice job!

Thank you, hand tied skirts are usually nicer than the mass produced counterparts, but I am a little color challenged, and it took several tries before I come up with one I was happy with. 

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Those look nice. Sunnies vary so much in colorization you could drive yourself nuts trying for an exact match. lol I'd definitely swim that around the edge of a bed colony. 

[aavery2]

Those look nice. Sunnies vary so much in colorization you could drive yourself nuts trying for an exact match. lol I'd definitely swim that around the edge of a bed colony. 

Your right there are extreme color variations,  I caught a couple of the big bull males the other day, they had big bubble heads and were almost black.  I am hoping that just having a bright orange color on the belly and some greens and browns in the body  will be enough in a moving bait to get some attention.

[jtharris3]

That looks great!

[Capt.Bob]

Awsum that is a great color,,,,good job!

[catch anything]

so where do I sign up to get some lol jk but those are sick

[Comfortably Numb]

Nice job.

 

Just remember that many bass dont try to eat those big and colorful bull males.

 

Sometimes the more subdued color of a smaller fish may work better.

[aavery2]

Nice job.

 

Just remember that many bass dont try to eat those big and colorful bull males.

 

Sometimes the more subdued color of a smaller fish may work better.

Thanks for the advice, I am thinking now of how to put together something a little more subdued, but using a similar color palette.

[Bluebasser86]

I make a color I call "baby gill" that is mostly watermelon blue color with a few strips of blue lavender, orange black flake, and solid chartreuse. I put a lime-purple passion pit boss with the tail dipped in chartreuse JJ's Magic on the back of it, rigged sideways. It's one of the best looking juvenile bluegill colors I've ever seen, and the fish like it too

[aavery2]

I make a color I call "baby gill" that is mostly watermelon blue color with a few strips of blue lavender, orange black flake, and solid chartreuse. I put a lime-purple passion pit boss with the tail dipped in chartreuse JJ's Magic on the back of it, rigged sideways. It's one of the best looking juvenile bluegill colors I've ever seen, and the fish like it too

Thanks Blue, I have seen your baits and they all look great, if you get the chance could you post a pic of just the bait, for some reason building a good bluegill color is beating me up.

[aavery2]

This was my first attempt at a more dulled down version, while I like the color, it is not exactly what I am after, so I am going to do a few more to see if I can come up with something I like a little better.

 

[aavery2]

Last one for a while, I promise, this one I tried going with flatter colors, changed the purple to broken blue,  still not quite what I want but much closer.   If you have suggestions, let me have them, I have gone color blind after looking at all the different colored tabs.

 

[Comfortably Numb]

Those all look good. I am not a big believer in color and am sure a bass would eat any of them.

 

Here is my Bluegill that is bases on a Boss skirt.

 

 

[PersicoTrotaVA]

Amazing!  Thanks for sharing!  I have been thinking about getting into modifying my jigs and spinnerbaits to get some custom colors and you have inspired me to order some strands and try it out.

[kybob]

it has been a very long while since I have been on this site.  Into a little tackile making myself at times.  Stumbled on here and was wondering what kind of head style that was on the jig part.  Is that a do it mold head?  If so, which one?  If not, where can I located that type of head?  Thanks ahead for your help>

[Bluebasser86]

Thanks Blue, I have seen your baits and they all look great, if you get the chance could you post a pic of just the bait, for some reason building a good bluegill color is beating me up.

Sorry I missed this post. 

[shanksmare]

Bluebasser86, Very nice! It is probably the closest I've ever seen to an actual baby bluegill. I realize that there are regional differences in coloration. But the bluegills here in Florida, my granson catches,  are very close in coloration to the ones in Massachusetts that I caught as a kid.

 

You have all the necessary colors for a close imitation: the light blue, the pale darker green, the hints of violet and chartreuse. I would lose the orange. I see it in  mature bluegills but not the immature ones.

 

I know its difficult with silicons skirting material to get the colors to go where you want to achieve the counter shading of the natural. Maybe tying the materials in place using fly tying thread and bobbin would help. Then you could wire tie the skirt once the materials were secured in place.

 

Those are just babbling suggestions. Great job at a realistic copy of the baby bluegill.

[Coherence]

Sorry I missed this post. 

 

Where do you get your bladed jig heads from?

 

Superb looking color pattern by the way.

[Bluebasser86]

Bluebasser86, Very nice! It is probably the closest I've ever seen to an actual baby bluegill. I realize that there are regional differences in coloration. But the bluegills here in Florida, my granson catches,  are very close in coloration to the ones in Massachusetts that I caught as a kid.

 

You have all the necessary colors for a close imitation: the light blue, the pale darker green, the hints of violet and chartreuse. I would lose the orange. I see it in  mature bluegills but not the immature ones.

 

I know its difficult with silicons skirting material to get the colors to go where you want to achieve the counter shading of the natural. Maybe tying the materials in place using fly tying thread and bobbin would help. Then you could wire tie the skirt once the materials were secured in place.

 

Those are just babbling suggestions. Great job at a realistic copy of the baby bluegill.

A lot of lakes around here have longear sunfish which have lots of orange on them even when they're only 4" long. I normally don't put that much orange in them but it was a special request for a guy that fishes lakes where they eat lots of longears.

 

Where do you get your bladed jig heads from?

 

Superb looking color pattern by the way.

I pour and paint my own heads and wire tie my own skirts.