Bluegill - Big Bluegill

Do you love big bluegill?

Today's technique is one I've been experimenting with. Sort of a pre-ice, ice fishing setup. I took the boat, and simply dropped vertical over the side. No weight, and no float. A single 3 mm tungsten tipped with a spike took today's fish.

The rod is a 4.5' St Croix ultralight, and the reel is an Eagle Claw inline meant for ice fishing. Straight line means no line twist, which is a huge turn off for big gills.

Hit the free spool and let the jig fall to the bottom under it's own weight, slowly, then take up the slack, and raise and lower the jig under tension. Bites were light, but the sensitive rod let me know when it was time to set the hook. No casting, just vertical jigging. Worked great, and no float to watch!

Rating:
  • Currently 0/5 stars.

Views: 105

Comment

You need to be a member of Bluegill - Big Bluegill to add comments!

Join Bluegill - Big Bluegill

Comment by David, aka, "McScruff" on December 1, 2014 at 1:27pm
I've got a couple rods like that, which I've use for vertical presentation.
Certainly much easier to maneuver around the confines of a boat. My SIL uses ice rods for the same purpose, out of his 12' Jon boat.
Comment by Tony Livingston on December 1, 2014 at 5:13am

Jeff, the reel uses the old "star" drag system, and while it is quite smooth, it is easy to bump the star and change the settings...especially when using light line, which means it isn't cranked down very tight in the first place.

Some guys take the reel apart and add an additional washer to the friction clutch, which supposedly helps a great deal. I haven't had to do that, but I'm not using 1 lb test either.

Comment by carl hendrix on November 30, 2014 at 11:00pm

real good looking set up Tony;; neat idea of using the in-line reel!

Comment by Jeff Soto on November 30, 2014 at 8:43pm

Hey Tony, interesting reel.  Does it have a good smooth drag system?  Might be kind of fun for my vertical float tube jigging at Lake Perris..

Comment by dick tabbert on November 30, 2014 at 6:21pm

WTG Tony finesse fishing at it's best.

Comment by Tony Livingston on November 30, 2014 at 5:53pm

Close..... 2 lb. Asso mono.

Comment by Slip Sinker on November 30, 2014 at 5:51pm

let me guess your line of choice on this rig ...Celsious blue 2lb test mono?

i had that reel in my hands at an outlet store... felt nice.

Comment by Tony Livingston on November 30, 2014 at 5:15pm

Thanks guys. Jim I tipped with spikes today....the tungsten really comes into its own when fishing in this manner. I need to downsize for the colder water, but do not want to add weight because that sacrifices sensitivity. The heavy metal jigs let me do just that. Heavy enough to sink under just their own weight, but small enough to tempt the shy biters.

Ken I had my ice sonar with me, and while I did mark fish with it, I found it's greatest usefulness was in depth location.

The inline reels are the hot ticket for ice fishing. I have switched over to them exclusively. I've got spinning reels on fly rod blanks, this is sort of the reverse of that....inline reels (fly reels) on spinning rods. For delicate presentations, I think it holds a great deal of promise. Looking forward to further experimentation.

Comment by Slip Sinker on November 30, 2014 at 4:45pm

Nice Tony! 

are you using a transducer also to mark fish and your jig?

i used a four ft UL to reach back comfortably to jig under my transducer... your right just like ice fishing. i love it!

that in line real is the ticket... 

Comment by Jim Gronaw on November 30, 2014 at 4:35pm

Cool! No bait tipping...I assume?

Latest Activity

John Sheehan commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Stunning Colors on This Redbreast Sunfish…….5/16/2024

"The Shenendoah River has some beautiful turquoise finned RBS!"
2 hours ago
John Sheehan commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Stunning Colors on This Redbreast Sunfish…….5/16/2024

"Excellent Jeff. I usually catch them in the Wanaque River Headwaters from the Greenwood Lake Dam.…"
2 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Stunning Colors on This Redbreast Sunfish…….5/16/2024

"Thanks John….I appreciate every RBS I catch…….Growing up in Louisiana I only…"
4 hours ago
John Sheehan commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
23 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Stunning Colors on This Redbreast Sunfish…….5/16/2024

"View full size to appreciate this fish….."
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a photo

Stunning Colors on This Redbreast Sunfish…….5/16/2024

With so many Coppernose on the Albemarle…..it’s a pleasant sight to catch the growing RBS ……love…
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

The Highly Desired “Whales” or Jumbo Soft Shells…..5/15/2024

"Love them……friends and family love when I cook soft shells……. This is a…"
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Murray Bridges Watches Over His Salt Water Tanks a Few Years Back…

"Thanks John….one of my first jobs growing up in Louisiana was at a seafood market working…"
yesterday
Bruce Tomaselli commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
yesterday
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

bbod3.3

"Thanks Jeff.! Greg and I had a good time ."
yesterday
John Sheehan commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
yesterday
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

MIDMAYCATCHERS

"Yea Jeff , a little prism tape never hurts. One of my best spinnerbaits. "
yesterday
John Sheehan commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

The Highly Desired “Whales” or Jumbo Soft Shells…..5/15/2024

"I’ve fished for blue crabs my entire life…….the only type of fishing that my…"
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a status
"It’s soft shell crab season in coastal North Carolina and I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Mr. Murray Bridges, a legendary water-man"
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a status
"After heavy rain overnight and no thunderstorms north of the sound, I decided to go to a Creek by my house to fish a couple hours late today"
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Another Quality Pair of Gills……5/14/2024

"We have a month going for sure……Mother Nature is threatening us now with…"
Wednesday

© 2024   Created by Bluegill.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service