Bluegill - Big Bluegill

Do you love big bluegill?

I have never fished deep creek lake but I am going to start this winter. I would love to catch some bluegill and maybe some walleye or perch. This lake is very large it seems and I was wondering if anyone would be so kind as to help me out with a start maybe. I am a college student in wildlife and fisheries resources and I am just looking to get out on the ice and do some fishen and just have no clue where to start on this huge lake. Thanks for any help or advice.

Views: 2664

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Dear Chris,

 

Deep Creek is a great lake for enormous bluegills & 'football' sized yellow perch. The best place to learn about ice fishing DCL is to go the the Fishing Deep Creek message board. There are over 500 members. You will find many members who will share tips & suggestions. I suggest that you spend an hour or so checking out past threads- they will answer many suggestions. http://fishdeepcreek.websitetoolbox.com/

 

There will probably be a gathering of ice fishermen for a weekend later this month. Keep watching the message board.

Hey Chris...that message board that John mentioned is a great start and there are tackle tips galore on that site.

Deep Creek has huge panfish, but can be a tough nut to crack. By the time you read this the perch will be transitioning to deeper waters than they were in early ice. Most guys right now are getting 11 to 14 inchers on tip-ups baited with minnows, and they are having some difficulty finding the minnows from any shops...not many local shops around there. They are catching fish in the 20 to 25 ft depths. Ice thickness varies greatly at the lake, so always go with a friend and keep an eye on the board about safety issues. We always jig,and in Feb, the 'winter slump' period, it can be an all-day effort to get your 10-perch limit, but most of the fish will be huge. Throw in a couple walleye and it's a great trip!

We use #5 Jigging Rapalas tipped with maggots or waxies, right off the bottom for the perch.  The Deep Creek State Park ares and the shoreline from  Arrowhead produce fish in late winter, but they are also heavily fished. In and around Glendale Bridge get fished too, but stay away from the ice near the bridge it self as it is always thinner than the rest of that area. Hope this helps.

RSS

Latest Activity

wag replied to Danny Phillips's discussion Boats
"  Sold my 17 ft  & and bought a used  2017 Xpress 16 ft front stick steer. "
1 hour ago
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Big Sow Full of Eggs….3/30/2025

"Understand John….we were so windy in March ……..hope it drops off…"
6 hours ago
John Sheehan commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Big Sow Full of Eggs….3/30/2025

"I have yet to see 50 degree WT and it's too windy today."
14 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Big Sow Full of Eggs….3/30/2025

"Always welcome…….I waited 16 days to go from 50 to 60 on this river….its a…"
yesterday
John Sheehan commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Big Sow Full of Eggs….3/30/2025

"Great intel, Jeff! Thanks!"
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Big Sow Full of Eggs….3/30/2025

"Not in my region Dick….typically our shallow crappie bite centers around the March full…"
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Nice Predator up Shallow….3/30/2025

"Thanks Dick…..the Bassmasters Elite series comes to town for the North Carolina open next…"
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
yesterday
dick tabbert commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Big Sow Full of Eggs….3/30/2025

"Jeffrey don't it seam like the crappy bite is a little early?"
yesterday
dick tabbert commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Nice Predator up Shallow….3/30/2025

"A great test for any panfish gear. Congrats."
yesterday
dick tabbert commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
yesterday
dick tabbert commented on Troy Dorman's photo
yesterday
Bruce Tomaselli commented on Troy Dorman's photo
yesterday
John Sheehan commented on Troy Dorman's photo
Thumbnail

Big male redear from today!!

"Fine Fish1From shore also!"
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Troy Dorman's photo
Thumbnail

Big male redear from today!!

"Pretty Troy…..let’s go!"
Sunday
Troy Dorman posted a photo
Sunday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Sunday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Sunday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Sunday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a status
"Grandson Cody and I splashed this afternoon…mixed bag of 38 fish dominated by shallow black crappie…surface temperatures up to 66.2 degrees"
Sunday

© 2025   Created by Bluegill.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service