Bluegill - Big Bluegill

Do you love big bluegill?

Fall is in full force up here in Northern Minnesota! When the water temps start falling there is only one way to consistently catch good fish, GO DEEP!!! That's right! The bluegills and crappies are starting to school up over there wintering spots. Theses spots are often main lake basins and or mid lake humps that are adjacent to deep water.
When going into the abyss for these deep-water panfish, I up-size my lure offerings. There are a couple of reasons for this. 1. I need to get down to the fish fast. 1/16 and 1/8 oz jigs are as small as I will go. 3/16oz would be the biggest. These jigs are always tipped with 1.75" STBs! Color is all dependent on water clarity. 2. I want the bigger fish of the school! I'm a firm believer in "big lures catch big fish"! An added bonus for using bigger baits, especially darker water, is that the bigger lure profile makes it easier for the fish to find and chomp!
Most of these "abyss panfish" will suspended over the humps and basins. This is is where good electronics plans a big part in success. GSP is also your best friend in this technique. Once you locate a school, drop a waypoint, marking the school. Using your graph, try and stay on top of them. Last step, vertically jig just above the school. Crappies feed in an upward direction so, jigging above them has them in position to strike.
I hope this information helps you out if you are struggling finding and catching fall panfish! Good luck and tightlines! Patrick


Views: 605

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

There you go...cold water BG like a bigger bait early in the season, and the added weight lets you get down to em' faster... that's why I enjoy tungsten so much.

Great read!! Nice work.  This is definitely a "feature" blog!

Thanks guys! I love the fall season. No bugs and big fish baby!

Thanks for the tips. Those are great fish. I can't wait to pull some up through the ice this year. Last year here in PA, we had very little safe ice.

Bruce

Excellent article and tips Patrick. Keep feeding us those wonderful photos of catches!

RSS

Latest Activity

John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

Perch eats Rainbow Trout Pattern

"Actually, a tough one Bruce, only three Fish, A small Bass, a small Pickerel and this Perch which…"
Friday
Bruce Tomaselli commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

Perch eats Rainbow Trout Pattern

"Looks like you had a fine day, John. Great perch!"
Thursday
John Sheehan posted photos
Sep 11
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Labor Day Weekend Crab Boil….9/2/2024

"Thanks Tooty…..dropped a little weight……just enjoy good food and a few…"
Sep 10
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Sep 10
DAVID L EITUTIS commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Labor Day Weekend Crab Boil….9/2/2024

"GEEZ JEFFREY  LOOKS LIKE YOU'VE LOST SOME WEIGHT ?"
Sep 10
DAVID L EITUTIS commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Another Nice Swampcracker…..8/24/2024

"NICE ONE JEFFREY!!!!!!!!"
Sep 10
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Another Nice Swampcracker…..8/24/2024

"Great to hear Dick…..we’re doing great, healthy…..had an above average fishing…"
Sep 6
dick tabbert commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Another Nice Swampcracker…..8/24/2024

"Yes Jeffrey I'm doing good  Got a new gal and enjoying life again. I've been working…"
Sep 5
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Labor Day Weekend Crab Boil….9/2/2024

"Thanks Dick…..it’s been a great summer in North Carolina for…"
Sep 5
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Another Nice Swampcracker…..8/24/2024

"Thanks Dick….hope you’re doing well…."
Sep 5
dick tabbert commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Sep 5
dick tabbert commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Sep 5
John Sheehan commented on DAVID L EITUTIS's photo
Thumbnail

SAME DAY DIFFERENT FISH

"Photos - Bluegill - Big Bluegill (ning.com) Bill Trussell check out the Green Sunfish photos,…"
Sep 4
John Sheehan commented on DAVID L EITUTIS's photo
Thumbnail

SAME DAY DIFFERENT FISH

"Green Sunfish "
Sep 4
John Sheehan commented on Bill Trussell's blog post Catfish on the Fly
"Bill, yeah, a big smallmouth would be a great fight, The tenacity of Smallies is amazing!"
Sep 4
Bill Trussell commented on Bill Trussell's blog post Catfish on the Fly
"John The largest fish I have ever landed using the fly rod- my only regret is it not being a bass,…"
Sep 4
Bill Trussell commented on Bill Trussell's blog post Catfish on the Fly
"Bruce Yes, it's quite a challenge using my 3 wt."
Sep 4
Bruce Tomaselli commented on Bill Trussell's blog post Catfish on the Fly
"That had to be a lot of fun on the fly rod."
Sep 3
John Sheehan commented on Bill Trussell's blog post Catfish on the Fly
"Wow, great fight .Especially on a 3 wt. Fly Rod! They are powerful Fish!"
Sep 3

© 2024   Created by Bluegill.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service