Bluegill - Big Bluegill

Do you love big bluegill?

Will gills move into the shallows again in October and November? I don't have a boat and I'm hoping to get some fillets for my mother.

Views: 344

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

I'm still learning gill seasonal patterns so can't wait to hear the answer from the experts.

  Great question.

Bruce, in my experiences crappies will move back shallow in the fall. I caught fish over the past week in 3-8' of water. A huge factor will be if your fishing a lake or river, IMO. The lakes will have different characteristics. I was fishing the Neuse River.

I will be fishing a lake. I know now is a good time to fish for pike in the shallows so they must be targeting small fish.

Bruce in my region in Northeast North Carolina we seek surface temps from 70 down to 60 as it falls with colder air..........this will pull all sunfish species back to the shallows to feed heavily before turnover when they will head for their wintering spots........Like Jack stated it matters where you're fishing.........I most often fish river systems that I have patterned for many years so I can normally predict within a few days to a week in most locations........The key is a nice steady drop that can start around Columbus Day and last to Veterans Day,  water temperature swings of more than five degrees overnight can hurt the bluegill bite in my opinion, not so much on the crappie.Good luck and hope you get into a nice mess of fish for your mother.  Wish you were closer, I could show you some of the healthiest waters in America.........

Me, too, Jeff, me, too!

Bruce, I have great luck fishing the weedy flats from 4-9’ all year round… weeds are key! Fish the weediest flats even during the winter. Gills look for the larva from insects all winter long from those areas. Good luck!

I hope to be on the water in the next few days. I'll give a report on my adventure. Thanks

Hey Slip, I searched the flats for weeds and reeds yesterday. I found some fish, but I couldn't get into a batch big enough to fillet. There were 2 men and a boy fishing the bottom at a point from shore and they were catching some nice gills and perch fishing bait off of the bottom. I had a fly rod and was mainly fishing the top with a dropper off of a dry fly. I guess I should have taken my UL spinning rod. The pink gulp really appealed to them yesterday.

Well, I got out today on my local lake and I caught plenty of gills, but nothing over 6 inches. I just never found a pod of 7-inchers or better, that's my cutoff size. I did well on a black foam spider with yellow legs. I caught a few with a bully spider dropped the bend of the spider. I did the best with a size 16 red copper john, tipped with a pink gulp, and tied to the bend of the bully spider.

good thread here.  keep it moving.  it's educational.  and thanks to all who post to this.

Yep, Rich, I've learned much here and the people are very generous.

RSS

Latest Activity

wag replied to Danny Phillips's discussion Boats
" Sold 17 ft and bought a 2017 Xpress 16 ft front stick steer with 40 hp Yamaha ob.  "
yesterday
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…"
Tuesday
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."
Tuesday
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…"
Monday
John Sheehan commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Big Sow Full of Eggs….3/30/2025

"Great intel, Jeff! Thanks!"
Monday
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…"
Monday
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…"
Monday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Monday
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?"
Monday
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."
Monday
dick tabbert commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Monday
dick tabbert commented on Troy Dorman's photo
Monday
Bruce Tomaselli commented on Troy Dorman's photo
Monday
John Sheehan commented on Troy Dorman's photo
Thumbnail

Big male redear from today!!

"Fine Fish1From shore also!"
Monday
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