How to catch "BIGGER" panfish

[Jason Preslar]

Anybody got any ideas on how to target bigger panfish? crappie, shellcrackers, redears, bluegills? I figure using bigger bait will bring bigger fish. But, when going for panfish, even the small ones will grab and pick at your baits even if you use bigger baits. I know people have caught big ones while bass fishing of course using bigger baits. Whats you ideas on this? or do you think it's just one of those things that you just have to catch all you can and eventually hope for a lunker panfish? thanks

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

I wish I knew! I never catch any.

Im assuming you mean in public access waters? In that case I wanna say it's like in real estate- location, location, location.

Big bluegill, where they exist, are probably in deeper water, 10-20 ft. The exception is during the bedding period while nesting. Then they can be found closer to shore - sometimes. Even then, they may nest in deeper water.

They also dont hang around the little bait stealers. These are schooling fish and they usually stay together according to size, for the most part. They are also found near cover/structure and weeds, wood, and rocks. The groups move around these place, feeding on small aquatic insects, crustaceans and larvae. However, the bigger they get I think its common to find them more separated.

Another thing I've heard from some genuine experts is that some waters will hold big bluegill... and others will not. There is a misconception that where you find little ones, the large ones are somewhere in the same waters. This may not be true at all. Knowing if this is so takes time and persistence. Jim Gronaw and Tony Livingston have said much along these lines:

"My biggest bluegill secret is...when I find a lake or pond that has a lot of 10 inch class gills in it, I keep it's location a secret!

Ten inch gills are definitely a different fish than 6 inch gills. Bigger fish tend to spawn a little deeper, and sometimes a little earlier than the rank and file fish. Also, big roe-laden females are not on the nesting sites very long. If the overwhelming bulk of your gills are running 6 inches or smaller, than the likelihood of you finding 9 to 10 inch fish in that water body is slim. If that is the case, I'd look for another lake, although a true trophy can show up just about anywhere." - Jim Gronaw

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"In many ponds and lakes that I have fished over the years the BG maxed out at 6-7". This can be due to several factors, including the over-harvest of prime adult specimens, particularly males.

When fishing an unfamiliar BOW you usually have nothing to go on except possibly the advice of the locals, or what your own angling endeavours tell you. In the latter case, don't always assume that you haven't found the big fish yet, or that the bigger specimens are 'smart' and hook shy.

My number one piece of advice to someone starting out, wanting to catch big Bluegills? 'Make sure you're fishing water where big Bluegills live'. It sounds simple I know, but I've heard statements for years such as 'We're catching these little guys, so momma's gotta' be in there too'.

Perhaps, but 'momma' may not live up to your expectations. There are surprises from time to time, but generally speaking when you find water that produces numbers of big BG, fish it wisely, and appreciate what it has become, and do your best to maintain whatever circumstances allowed it to produce those great fish." - Tony Livingston

"My biggest bluegill secret is...when I find a lake or pond that has a lot of 10 inch class gills in it, I keep it's location a secret!

Ten inch gills are definitely a different fish than 6 inch gills. Bigger fish tend to spawn a little deeper, and sometimes a little earlier than the rank and file fish. Also, big roe-laden females are not on the nesting sites very long. If the overwhelming bulk of your gills are running 6 inches or smaller, than the likelihood of you finding 9 to 10 inch fish in that water body is slim. If that is the case, I'd look for another lake, although a true trophy can show up just about anywhere." - Jim Gronaw

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"In many ponds and lakes that I have fished over the years the BG maxed out at 6-7". This can be due to several factors, including the over-harvest of prime adult specimens, particularly males.

When fishing an unfamiliar BOW you usually have nothing to go on except possibly the advice of the locals, or what your own angling endeavours tell you. In the latter case, don't always assume that you haven't found the big fish yet, or that the bigger specimens are 'smart' and hook shy.

My number one piece of advice to someone starting out, wanting to catch big Bluegills? 'Make sure you're fishing water where big Bluegills live'. It sounds simple I know, but I've heard statements for years such as 'We're catching these little guys, so momma's gotta' be in there too'.

Perhaps, but 'momma' may not live up to your expectations. There are surprises from time to time, but generally speaking when you find water that produces numbers of big BG, fish it wisely, and appreciate what it has become, and do your best to maintain whatever circumstances allowed it to produce those great fish." - Tony Livingston

[John Sheehan]

I hear ya David on location .Prime cover near Deep water access I would think is one ticket to increase the chance of a big Gill. Also bigger Baits is a good idea a size up from what might catch the most Gills on that particular Lure . For instance I usually throw a #1 Spinner for Gills,but a #2 caught my Biggest gill last year in September :9,1/2".The cover was an Oak tree that was down in shallow water  to 6' near a deeper area to 12'.I didnt use a steady retrieve, it hit after I swept the rod and picked up slack dropping  the lure back to the fish .Active Gills  will follow a moving bait but making them commit is another thing. Another Gill I caught a few years back that was about 10"  grapped a deadsticked split shotted Night Crawler .I was drifting in a boat and the Gill was suspended over a deep weed edge which I think was bottoming out at 20' or more .Again cover neer deep water .That was an October fish .Often a few bigger than average  Gills come when I upsize a lure looking for Bass .Small Bass lures in 1/4 or 1/8 th oz sizes will sometimes get the bigger Gills. Deadsticking a jig/worm deep can sometimes account for reluctant to chase big sized Gills. Predicting or knowing the mood of those target sizes and Species is a thoughtful activity not just a poke and hope event.