Live Bluegill?

[LCpointerKILLA]

I've heard of some people around here (FLA) catching big bass with live bluegill. I definantly want to give this a try but I don't know how I should rig 'em. Also, I was wondering if this really works good, or is it just a rumor?

Thanks for helping,

Golf Course Pond Man

[GatorBK]

I havent tried bluegill here yet I like big shiners for bait , When I was living in NC I caught a few bass with bluegills when I was fishing for flathead cats .

I was using a eggsinker fishing them on the bottom I had about a 2 foot leader and had a small styrafoam float 5 inches from my hook. This rig keeps the bluegill floating about 2 feet off the bottom . But its my catfish rig , It worked on bass though.

I like to hook them behind the dorsal fin. When the bass swallows a gill its head first so the hook being behind the dorsal hooks a bass good and keeps the bass from getting gut hooked .

I recommend shiners for bass because they have a scent bass love. But small bluegills will work. You can fish them under a bobber as well I have caught a lot of bass that way. If you have a weedy bottom or lots of snags I recommend bobber fishing live bait

[John J.]

Bluegill as bait is known everywhere, the key is big bluegill for big bass (or catfish...) and smaller bluegill for smaller bass. If you go too big, you just might catch yourself either a large bass or a large catfish lol!

Minnows are good too.  

[cpvenom]

Check your state's fishing regulations before fishing with live blegill. In florida I know you are allowed to use them only if you yourself caught them. That said, I typically use bluegill on my grandmother's lake in florida where there are no shiners around. I use bluegill between 3-5 inches most of the time, and I either hook them through both lips or through the back near the dorsal fin. I use a large float with 2-3 feet of line beneath it.

[LCpointerKILLA]

Thanks a lot for this great advice. I do most of my fishing inshore, and I was wondering if you can use a chugging float like we use on the inshore flats with bluegill to catch bass, or if they scare the bass? If using this ,would I rip it as if it were a D.O.A. shrimp, or just jiggle it for noise every once in a while?

P.S. I use my thow net to the bluegill.

Golf Course Pond Man

[cpvenom]

I've never heard of that but it may be worth a try. See what works.  If you do try it, then hook the bluegill through both lips. Otherwise you could risk killing the bait by forcing too much water into its gills

[GatorBK]

The best way to bobber fish is just to cast it out and let it swim on its own. you could add a popping cork if fishing over deep water the noise of the cork might get a basses attention . I would just twitch the cork though.

Its illegal to cast net bluegill . I carry a small rod to catch bait with when Im bass fishing

[Pa Angler]

Make sure ti's legal in your state because that's not the case all over.

[George Welcome]

"P.S. I use my thow net to the bluegill."

Golf Course Pond Man

Illegal in Florida - Gill must be caught by hook and line:

USE OF FISH FOR BAIT

Black bass, peacock bass or any part thereof may not be used as bait.

Live goldfish or carp may not be used as bait.

Whole pickerel or bream (e.g., bluegill, redear sunfish, redbreast sunfish, spotted sunfish, flier, warmouth) or parts thereof may be used as bait for sportfishing by he angler who caught them.  Whole pickerel or bream or parts thereof may not be used as bait for trotlines or bush hooks or any method other than by rod and reel or pole and line.

[LCpointerKILLA]

Thanks a lot George I will quit using my throw net for them, and spread the word.

[Murray]

Hook them in the back and put them under a strong enough bobber (a balloon works great) to keep them where you want them.

wait until it gets sucked under, reel in the slack and set the hook. awesome fish can be caught with bluegill.

i have recently stopped using them and started using swimbaits.

[ABA CAST CHAMP 2006]

3-5" bluegill work the best for me.  I hook them through the meat on the top right before the dorsal fin and rig them about 1-2feet unweighted below a 2" diameter round bobber.  The bluegills can't pull it under, but they can swim around a bit, usually in circles jerking the bobber around.  The only thing that can take a the bobber down is when the bass takes it and they usually just seem to swim off and pull the bobber under slowly when they do this.  Count to about 2 or 3 then ram the hook home!

[NJfishinGuy]

i gotto try this. i got some nice places with just tons of pads tho throw them right by

[Murray]

its a ton of fun

[Infidel.]

I was using a live bulegill in a canal down in Florida one time and caught a huge soft-shelled turtle.  I also caught a lot of Bowfin on them.  Wish we had Bowfin here in California, IMO it is one hell of a fish.

[ncd]

Was thinking bout tryin live bluegill in my pond to try am catch one of the big lm hogs I've seen in there an was gonna float it around to keep out of weeds an from gettin tangled an was wondering what yall think is best hooks to use an also floats. I just dont like the idea of a big round red/white float I'd think it would detour a big bass away. I know ya would want a much thicker hook targeting big bass an was wondering if circle hooks would work or what yall have used an like or dislike.

[N Florida Mike]

I use 3-4 inch ' gills. I have tried a lot of different hooks. Lately, I've been using # 2 circle hooks in bronze. It will seem small, but that size won't hinder the bream. He will swim more naturally with a smaller , lighter hook.Hook the 'gill through both lips going in at the bottom and coming out at the top.

You won't hook the bass if you set the hook hard though. When the bass eats the bream, I count to 10, then slowly tighten up. Right before it gets all the way tight, start reeling as you moderately ease back on the rod.The fish will generally be hooked in the corner of the mouth.Sometimes it takes time to get used to not setting the hook too hard with a circle hook. If you're used to setting the hook hard you can try a #2 khale hook.

If the pond is clear or fairly clear of bottom structure, I recommend not even using a cork. Just cast the bream out and let it free spool until a bass eats it. You'll know because a bass will eat the bream and will always swim steadily away, usually away from the bank.The action of the bream is stop and go, stop and go. A bass will peel the line off faster and steadier than a bream will.

If you do have a lot of structure, you can use a 3-4 inch Styrofoam tube shaped cork, although I often use the round red and white ones and they work fine.

Another tip is keeping the line tight when fighting the fish, and lowering the rod when fighting the fish so it cant jump. Be ready, because they will nearly always jump right after they are hooked!

I expect to see some good pictures soon !

Mike