Bluegill

[Kowen117]

What are you favorite ways for catching big bluegill? I know we have some monster in the river I fish but I really don't know how to go about locating or catching these fish. So where would be the top places to look for these fish?

[Lund Explorer]

So many methods, so little time. Depending on what part of their seasonal cycle there area number of options. Here's a brief rundown of some of the ways I go after gills based on the season.

Starting with early season/prespawn, I like to target shallow water that has a dark bottom with good exposure to direct sunlight. This water warms up first and brings bluegills in to feed. My favorite method at this time of the year is flyrodding with a small spider or fishing a small ice fishing teardrop tipped with a waxworm.

When the fish have moved onto their beds, I'll stick with the same baits as above but will move to their spawning flats. I'll also use a small leaf worm under a bobber as well.

Post spawn gills up here like to suspend over deeper water for a few weeks. Many times, these fish will only be a foot or so under the surface as it coincides with a lot of hatches of assorted water borne insects. I've found the best success this time of the year throwing UL jig/twister tail grubs that I slowly retrieve just under the surface. 1" soft plastics on a 1/32oz jighead seem to work best.

Later in the summer, I switch back to live bait when the bigger gills move onto the deep weedlines. For years I fished crickets on a slip bobber rig, but have lately been having better results using a quasi-drop shot rig. I just keep moving along the deep weedline until I find a school of fish.

Hope some of this helps.

[tholmes]

In addition to the great advice above, one of my favorite methods for big 'gills is a small crankbait such as SK Bitsy Pond Minnow, Rebel Wee Craw (the smallest size) and similar sized cranks.

Another favorite lure of mine is a Mepp's Black Fury spinner in size 0 or 1.

Tom

[Jigfishn10]

I love to use my 5 weight fly rod with a royal wulff or some type of panfish popper.

I carry a few of these flies in my bass tackle box just in case the bass aren't cooperating that day. I'll take the rear treble off a Pop R or a Spit n Image and tie a leader to the lure an put on one of those flies and use the lure as almost like a strike indicator. Every now an then you get a bass to hit the lure or even better, both a gill and a bass. That only happen once, but it was still pretty exciting.

[Hyrule Bass]

small gold abeerdeen hook, a split shot or two about 18 inches above that and nightcrawlers. sometimes ill use a bobber as well, especially if im using crickets...

never liked using artificial for bluegills

[Kowen117]

So many methods, so little time. Depending on what part of their seasonal cycle there area number of options. Here's a brief rundown of some of the ways I go after gills based on the season.

Starting with early season/prespawn, I like to target shallow water that has a dark bottom with good exposure to direct sunlight. This water warms up first and brings bluegills in to feed. My favorite method at this time of the year is flyrodding with a small spider or fishing a small ice fishing teardrop tipped with a waxworm.

When the fish have moved onto their beds, I'll stick with the same baits as above but will move to their spawning flats. I'll also use a small leaf worm under a bobber as well.

Post spawn gills up here like to suspend over deeper water for a few weeks. Many times, these fish will only be a foot or so under the surface as it coincides with a lot of hatches of assorted water borne insects. I've found the best success this time of the year throwing UL jig/twister tail grubs that I slowly retrieve just under the surface. 1" soft plastics on a 1/32oz jighead seem to work best.

Later in the summer, I switch back to live bait when the bigger gills move onto the deep weedlines. For years I fished crickets on a slip bobber rig, but have lately been having better results using a quasi-drop shot rig. I just keep moving along the deep weedline until I find a school of fish.

Hope some of this helps.

WOW that is some great info thanks! I will be trying some of these techniques today and tomorrow ill let you all know how it goes.

[brushhoggin]

lately i've been catching em on every cast with a 1/32 oz beetle spin. i used to only use live worms or grubs but this way is so much more fun!

[agssebvtsece]

I fish docks and banks with a mepps silver little wolf or a grub with a spinnerbait blade. Mepps Aglia's are another spinner I use.

[Fat-G]

You can get on 'em with crappie jigs too. I caught about a 3.5 inch gill on a 2 inch jig the other day. Go figure.

[GLADES]

I like to catch them with a fly rod down here in south Florida. I flip the fly into and around the lily pads.

A small chartreuse spider popper with white legs works excellent.

[Kowen117]

I catch some on the fly but mostly small ones. I went out for about a half hour today threw a bisty minnow crankbait I caught 1 nice one and 5 smaller bluegill.

[Bluebasser86]

Fly rod with a wooly bugger or small popping bug/hopper, or an ultralight with a 1/32 oz jighead and a 2inch curly tail grub with a steady cast and retrieve. Big gills seem to live in nasty areas sometimes just like a big bass. I've also had good luck catching them in the very backs of coves with mud bottoms. They get in the back of the coves where the leeches,crawdads,bugs, ect are at home and pig out!