Question For Those In Va

[dhami013]

There is a pond a buddy and I fish. There are some fat chicks swimming around in there. The only thing is, getting them to bite is nearly impossible. But one thing that does get their attention is a little blue gill with a hook in his back. My buddy catches a little blue gill and throws them out there. He catches and releases all the bass.

But one day while we were out there this old guy came out yelling about how using a blue gill was illegal. I looked it up and I didn't see where it was illegal. Blue gill and sunfish aren't game fish right? In the VA freshwater booklet it says as baits for bass and cat fish: Blue gill.

Any insight? Just curious.

[Wayne P.]

All of the sunfish family are game fish.

[vegas679]

I just called to find out and this is what the girl said. Since Bluegill are considered a gamefish, you can not use a gamefish to catch another game fish. However you can use a bluegill to catch a catfish or non gamefish. So I guess technicaly if there are catfish in the water, you can not controll what takes your bait. But I would not be caught with a bass in the boat and a blue gill on your hook.

[quanjig]

Find yourself a nice blugill pattern bait and go to town!!

[Tallent88]

not illegal as stated but just get going on seeing what works artificial where is it is it private ? try blue gill medium cranks also spinner bait blue gill color work well and even lip less cranks work they are probably old stubborn pure southern strain bass they get lazy as they get older and and become uninterested in lures so your gonna have to a ...make them angry or b...try some new presentations till they start biting

[alhuff]

years ago when i called about using bluegill as bait i was told that you can't net and use them as bait, like you do with shad...no bait buckets full of small bluegill....

i was also told that you can use bulegill as bait but you have to catch them one at a time and that they count toward your bag limit if you are keeping bluegill...

some of the largest bass I've caught has come from using live bluegill....

Alfred

[Sam]

From the 2011 Freshwater Fishing in Virginia booklet published by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

Please secure a copy at Wal-Mart or other tackle stores.

VIRGINIA GAME FISH

"Game fish" as defined by the Code of Virginia means and includes trout, all of the sunfish family (including largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and spotted bass, rock bass, bream, bluegill and crappie), walleye, white bass, chain pickerel, muskellunge, northern pike and striped bass.

For more information call 800.721.6911.

I did not read anything that would prohibit you from using game fish as bait but I suggest contacting DG&IF to clarify your query.

Be sure to have a valid freshwater fishing license. The fine and court costs are $150 when all is said and done.

Post photos of what you catch.

[dhami013]

Thanks for all the input guys. I really appreciate it.

[Sam]

Alfred, we float the Historic James River in Richmond and catch bluegills one by one and put them in a minnow bucket.

We then use them to catch those big flathead catfish.

Never had a problem with any law enforcement or DG&IF people.

Friend uses bluegills to fish for bass in his parents pond. I use artifical baits and he waxes my behind every time.

[alhuff]

i hear ya Sam, using live bluegill is a rush and you can land some monsters....

its been about 4 or more years since i called the DG&IF people about using them so the rules may have changed...

i'll still use them as well and have got my kids hooked on using them, love to see the excitement of them trying to hook a monster with a live bluegill....

Alfred

[Punkinseedfyretailz]

i know some guys who live in a gated community with their own fire department and law enforcement called lake of the woods and they use bluegills for bait. they havent had any issues