PATTERN-RIGGING-PRESENTATION for Bluegill

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So you had a great day on the water… you caught many gills or sunfish and you had a specific rigging and a presentation you made to nail em. You are one proud angler! Share that information with us. Describe the conditions the rod, reel and line and how you presented the bait to them. Start a discussion and post pictures of the event. We are interested and that’s why we are here. No rigging is to simple or complex. Some days simpler is better. We are all varied in our skills as bluegill fisherman from the novice to the masters. Even if it’s just sharing your favorite rod, reel and line combination… anglers ask for this information all the time! We could all learn something new.

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FISHING THE THERMOCLINE BREAK

by Slip Sinker

Jul 22, 2016

Just thought I’d share one of my trophy/Lunker presentations for the hot summer periods. Its fishing the thermocline break with the drop shot.

 

At most periods or times of the year big fish have access to the whole area of the lake shallow or the deepest region. When the thermocline develops during the hottest part of the year the summer period a barrier develops at the thermocline where the oxygenated layer separates from the coolest layer at the deeper areas of the lake. The thermocline break is the intersection of the lake bottom and the thermocline depth. Fish that line and you have an increased chance of finding fish concentrations and the hawgs that have been moved up from the deeper regions

 

In my local area many lakes develop a thermocline separation at 16-18 ft during the summer period. Remarkably this concentrates (depending on the lake) all fish to the shallower areas for easier angling access. Here is a screen dump of a lake with shallower areas less than 17 foot are in dark blue. A huge decrease in searchable fishable water!. Most fish will relate to the bottom rather than suspending in deeper water above the thermocline at this time.

 

So the the work of finding fish was just made easier by that thermocline.

 

To find this thermocline with a sounder turn up the sensitivity and a distinct line will show up at that level of separation.

 

I use drop shot and vertical ice jigs at this time. Fish close to the bottom and you will find this spectrum of fish.

A recent catch at the thermocline break in 15 ft of water.

20160720- CLASSIC AMERICAN TOAD... CPR'ed

  • up

    David, aka, "McScruff"

    Simple explanation of a quasi-complex subject.
    I especially like your breakdown of the "intersection"

    All I need now is something more mobile than a float tube!
    2

    Jul 22, 2016

    • up

      Kelly Peterson

      Do you drift over these areas or anchor?

      Do you ever fish the break without seeing fish there?
      7

      Aug 2, 2017

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      • up

        David, aka, "McScruff"

        Ken has hit on a crucial piece - knowing the structure.
        He spends an impressive amount of his time creating a "build up" of the waters he's fishing.
        He has high tech tools, yes, but the goal is to create a layout of the features.
        That comes before finding fish. Sure he lucks into fish in the process, but the payoff comes when he can confidently say both WHY and WHERE.
        Lots of people get hi-tech fish finders, hoping it will point out fish. What I see Ken doing is learning where the fish must be... And then meeting them there.

        Aug 9, 2017