Keeping Live Bait Near The Bottom

[BR1AN]

What's a successful way to keep a live bluegill close to the bottom? I hardly ever use live but tomorrow were targeting bottom feeders. We went today for a bit searching the deep pockets of a lake in town and threw some blue gill over board.. and we realised real fast that they like to hang out right at the top.. Maybe because they know what the hell their doing and they know whats lurking beneath

[papajoe222]

Two of the best methods I've found are a Lindy rig and a Gapen's Bait Walker. The first is similar to a C-Rig and the second looks like a spinnerbait with the hook removed and a leader tied to the swivel where the blade would be.

[BR1AN]

Two of the best methods I've found are a Lindy rig and a Gapen's Bait Walker. The first is similar to a C-Rig and the second looks like a spinnerbait with the hook removed and a leader tied to the swivel where the blade would be.

 

you got an image or a video i could look at? and thank you

[Comfortably Numb]

I wouls Drop shot or Bubba shot depending on your target fish, depth, and current.

[F14A-B]

I would use a drop rig too, 3/4 bank sinker, bell, whatever, hook rigged 18" off the bottom... You going after Flatheads or ?

[Bluebasser86]

Here's a very basic catfish rig that I use often for presenting cutbait and livebait on the bottom.

[SirSnookalot]

Here's a very basic catfish rig that I use often for presenting cutbait and livebait on the bottom.

Without question this is the most used saltwater set up, whether it's pier fishing, fishing from a boat.  Used the same set up 50 years when I fished certain species like sturgeon when I lived in Michigan.  I would guess this is the most universal bait soaking method there is, used everywhere.

[BR1AN]

Here's a very basic catfish rig that I use often for presenting cutbait and livebait on the bottom.

 

a bluegill will be able to move around with a weight down there?

[Bluebasser86]

If you tight line them they'll be able to move around in a circle the size of your leader length. If you give them some slack line they should be able to pull some line through the sinker and move around even more freely. You can also float them under a large slip float and use several split shot to keep them near the bottom but I feel they look much more natural with the rig I posted. 

[flyfisher]

Here are two other options that work...I like the fish finder rig as it allows a little more freedom for the bait but the three way rig works very well also.

 

[Comfortably Numb]

Some states it is illegal to use sunfish as bait.

[Bluebasser86]

Some states it is illegal to use sunfish as bait.

Very true, make sure it's okay before using them.