DOWNSIZING BAITS AS THE WATERS COOL - Bluegill - Big Bluegill2024-03-29T12:09:32Zhttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/forum/topics/downsizing-baits-as-the-waters-cool?commentId=2036984%3AComment%3A565415&feed=yes&xn_auth=noFast forward to December 2016…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2016-12-06:2036984:Comment:7063972016-12-06T05:17:44.275ZJim Gronawhttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/JimGronaw
<p>Fast forward to December 2016, where we have been doing pretty good along the Mason Dixon Line with 1/80th oz jig heads tipped with a variety of natural and manufactured baits. For the most part, I have come to use the 1/80th oz jigs almost year round now for the majority of my jig fishing scenarios for bluegills, tipping them with small baits such as Gulp! maggots, live meal or wax worms, or small pieces of earthworms. At times, I'll do well with just a plain hair jig on a slow, straight…</p>
<p>Fast forward to December 2016, where we have been doing pretty good along the Mason Dixon Line with 1/80th oz jig heads tipped with a variety of natural and manufactured baits. For the most part, I have come to use the 1/80th oz jigs almost year round now for the majority of my jig fishing scenarios for bluegills, tipping them with small baits such as Gulp! maggots, live meal or wax worms, or small pieces of earthworms. At times, I'll do well with just a plain hair jig on a slow, straight retrieve below a bobber. And at other times have had very good success with the Gulp Alive 1 inch minnows in Emerald Shiner or Smelt patterns on the 1/80th and 1/64th oz heads. Did well on Bobby Garland plastics, the Itty Bit Swim 'R on a plain #8 Aberdeen hook fishing the plastic minnow wacky-style during much of the pre to post spawn periods. Am anxious to try the B-Y Micro Plastics that are popular among ice fishermen. Water as of today, Dec 5, 2016, is 40 to 44 degrees depending on where you fish along the Mason Dixon. Caught 32 smallish gills today with a nice big red ear and a hybrid to top the day off. Hoping to get a few more good days in before the first of the year.</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167481129?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="721" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167481129?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" class="align-center" width="721"/></a><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167483509?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="721" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2167483509?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" class="align-center" width="721"/></a><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2078535729?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="721" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2078535729?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" class="align-center" width="721"/></a>Sometimes, we'll just use a plain, live earth worm on an Aberdeen hook to entice picky bulls when they are on the bed and won't respond or else are skittish and spooky...happens more than you think. Sight fishing is always a blast. Good luck everyone!</p> Think this excellent post by…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2016-03-16:2036984:Comment:6599522016-03-16T05:19:21.499ZKelly Petersonhttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/KellyPeterson
Think this excellent post by Jim Gronaw's needs reviving and brought into 2016.<br />
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Really enjoyed Jim's article in the 2016 Panfish issue. Can't wait to try some of my ice fishing jigs under a float on a perch spawning run at a local dam soon as the weather warms back up. Caught 3 nice ones last Sunday on Nightcrawler piece laying on the bottom but they were not very aggressive biting lightly. Now I know needed to downsize my hook and bait.
Think this excellent post by Jim Gronaw's needs reviving and brought into 2016.<br />
<br />
Really enjoyed Jim's article in the 2016 Panfish issue. Can't wait to try some of my ice fishing jigs under a float on a perch spawning run at a local dam soon as the weather warms back up. Caught 3 nice ones last Sunday on Nightcrawler piece laying on the bottom but they were not very aggressive biting lightly. Now I know needed to downsize my hook and bait. One of the first things I thi…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2015-07-11:2036984:Comment:6215442015-07-11T15:28:54.172ZChad Hoodhttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/ChadHood
<p>One of the first things I think I really learned in this gilling game is that they have small mouths and how can ya eat when it doesn't fit in your mouth......Smaller is better and caught many an accidental big one with a tiny 1/64feather jig tipped of course with red wiggler.</p>
<p>One of the first things I think I really learned in this gilling game is that they have small mouths and how can ya eat when it doesn't fit in your mouth......Smaller is better and caught many an accidental big one with a tiny 1/64feather jig tipped of course with red wiggler.</p> A lot of fly patterns are lik…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2015-07-08:2036984:Comment:6206062015-07-08T03:42:07.894ZAllen Morganhttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/AllenMorgan
<p>A lot of fly patterns are like that. They get worn down, frayed, and still catch lots of fish. Cut it off, tie on a fresh one, and the catching stops. Cut that one off, tie the first one back on, catching picks back up........</p>
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<p>The gold egg hooks could be a color/flash thing. I never thought to use those for just a maggot, but it makes sense. Usually, if I need a hook that small, I just take a packet of fly hooks with me.</p>
<p>A lot of fly patterns are like that. They get worn down, frayed, and still catch lots of fish. Cut it off, tie on a fresh one, and the catching stops. Cut that one off, tie the first one back on, catching picks back up........</p>
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<p>The gold egg hooks could be a color/flash thing. I never thought to use those for just a maggot, but it makes sense. Usually, if I need a hook that small, I just take a packet of fly hooks with me.</p> What am I going to do when wi…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2015-07-07:2036984:Comment:6203242015-07-07T03:13:18.187Zradionuclyde@yahoo.comhttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/radionuclydeyahoocom
<p>What am I going to do when winter hits? One hot day, last week, I wore a midge down to a bare hook, and it got better, the barer it got. Yesterday, it was gold single egg hooks. Stealing my Gulp maggot, didn't slow them down. They just hit the hook.</p>
<p>What am I going to do when winter hits? One hot day, last week, I wore a midge down to a bare hook, and it got better, the barer it got. Yesterday, it was gold single egg hooks. Stealing my Gulp maggot, didn't slow them down. They just hit the hook.</p> Today I caught 15 bluegills a…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2015-03-17:2036984:Comment:5947102015-03-17T23:24:52.180ZJim Gronawhttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/JimGronaw
<p>Today I caught 15 bluegills and 3 crappie the very day of official ice out at one of our local park lakes. There was some ice on the eastern bank of the pond when I went into town at 8 AM. Made plans to try it around 2 PM and caught fish tight against old pier pilings in 5.5 to 6 FOW. 1/80th oz minnow pattern jig in black with a teensy worm piece below an almost neutrally bouyant float. Windy...25 MPH gusts from NW.</p>
<p>Nothing big, but 7 inchers made it fun! first trip fishing in 76…</p>
<p>Today I caught 15 bluegills and 3 crappie the very day of official ice out at one of our local park lakes. There was some ice on the eastern bank of the pond when I went into town at 8 AM. Made plans to try it around 2 PM and caught fish tight against old pier pilings in 5.5 to 6 FOW. 1/80th oz minnow pattern jig in black with a teensy worm piece below an almost neutrally bouyant float. Windy...25 MPH gusts from NW.</p>
<p>Nothing big, but 7 inchers made it fun! first trip fishing in 76 days! Yaaayyy!</p> Maggots or Euro Larve always…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2015-03-05:2036984:Comment:5902382015-03-05T23:32:50.299ZRob Hiltonhttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/RobHilton
<p>Maggots or Euro Larve always a go to in Cold water... and easy to breed your own.</p>
<p>Maggots or Euro Larve always a go to in Cold water... and easy to breed your own.</p> Very nice catchtag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2015-03-04:2036984:Comment:5895592015-03-04T18:41:50.825ZJorge Betancourthttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/JorgeBetancourt
<p>Very nice catch</p>
<p>Very nice catch</p> Thanks, Keith! We're Looking…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2015-01-10:2036984:Comment:5769242015-01-10T04:49:43.415ZJim Gronawhttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/JimGronaw
<p>Thanks, Keith! We're Looking at 8 above zero in the AM tomorrow so all the lakes have skim to 3 inches of ice, depending on wind and location. Been way below freezing all week with a 3 degree read on Wednesday.</p>
<p>Thanks, Keith! We're Looking at 8 above zero in the AM tomorrow so all the lakes have skim to 3 inches of ice, depending on wind and location. Been way below freezing all week with a 3 degree read on Wednesday.</p> Love yur pics, Jim! glad ya g…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2015-01-09:2036984:Comment:5764662015-01-09T15:29:05.356Zroger keith wrayhttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/rogerkeithwray
<p>Love yur pics, Jim! glad ya got to git out agin B4 yur procedure! Hope all goes well, keep us up to date! back when I had to work for a livin, I'd go every time I had the chance. But since I retired 8 yrs ago, I can wait for better weather now! I usually wait for a day above freezin now adays....unless theres no wind! Had two good days on Buggs for crappie the 1st an 2nd of Jan. been settin close to the fire ever since!</p>
<p>Love yur pics, Jim! glad ya got to git out agin B4 yur procedure! Hope all goes well, keep us up to date! back when I had to work for a livin, I'd go every time I had the chance. But since I retired 8 yrs ago, I can wait for better weather now! I usually wait for a day above freezin now adays....unless theres no wind! Had two good days on Buggs for crappie the 1st an 2nd of Jan. been settin close to the fire ever since!</p>