Non-Target Specie

Comment

Comment by John Sheehan on October 18, 2011 at 6:32pm

Thanks very much Jim!

Comment by Jim Gronaw on October 18, 2011 at 4:56pm

Pretty simple rig, John...I use a medium heavy spinning out fit with 30 lb Green Power Pro braid as a main line. Using a 50 lb barrel swivel, I attach about 30 inches of 15 o 20 lb test Ande, or Berkley Big game mono. Braid end...use Palomar Knot, mono end of swivel, use an improved clinch.

Then I usually use a 2/0 Gamakatsu circle. I'll usually snell the hook first, then attach it to the swivel with the clinch knot. Put a 3 inch cigar-shaped float about 3 feet above the hook and hook a 5 inch bluegill up through the lower jaw and out one of the nostrils.

Pitch it out and hang on! When the gill becomes weary, I try to switch them out with a fresh, active bait. Do not 'set' the hook with the circle, just tighten up and let the rod load, hooking the fish.

My experience is that if you are fishing a place and see big bass swiping at bluegills as you play them in, you have a very good chance at catching one if you employ a live gill.

hope this helps...good luck!

Comment by John Sheehan on October 17, 2011 at 6:52am

Jim,would you please explain   your rig when you use up a bluegill for bait ?What float do you use and what hook?I would really appreciate it. 

Comment by Slip Sinker on October 16, 2011 at 7:13pm

i know what you mean they can become a nuisance. :)

Comment by Jim Gronaw on September 24, 2011 at 6:33pm

Yes Andre...Matt and I have tried the frogs in the past when the pond was actually weedier than what you see here. We tend to miss many strikes on frogs. Most of our bigger bass here have come on either Senkos, live bluegills or live night crawlers. Buzzbaits, too. My two largest bass...24 and 25 inches...were from here. I figure this 2 acre ponds has 7 or 8 individual fish in it that currently exceed 5 pounds and many of those have been caught and photographed numerous times since 2005.

Comment by Andre Sturkey on September 23, 2011 at 11:20pm

Jim have you ever used a Top-Water frog at this pond?  It just looks like it holds some nice fish.  Maybe not a lot of numbers but I bet there are some more like that one in your hands!

Comment by Jim Gronaw on September 11, 2011 at 2:37pm

Yup...got this one on a whole nightcrawler.

Comment by John Sheehan on September 11, 2011 at 7:36am

Beautiful. Crawler?