Bluegill - Big Bluegill

Do you love big bluegill?



Hi everyone,
Just got home from a belated Father's Day trip at Lake of The Ozarks, here in Missouri. Spent the last three days with family and snuck out early (4:30 am.!) each morning to do some fishing. Nothing like motoring to your favorite fishing spot under the cover of darkness and a full moon!

Ty and I fished for Hybrids early in the morning, using 5" swimbaits, in a shad color pattern. Each morning we arrived at our spot a little early, but knew when 5:30am came around the fish would show up, and they did.

Is was so exciting seeing a school of Hybrids chase a lone shad to the surface. Then watch the shad walk on water with just the tip of his tail, in an effort to try and avoid being eaten, as the water boiled beneath him. A fresh live shad is to freshwater, same as a shrimp is to the ocean. Everything wants to eat them.

While we were using artificial baits that simulate a real shad, there's nothing like the real thing. Problem is that they are scattered right now and hard to locate. However this morning, a boat pulled up as I was reeling in a hybrid which I had just caught. These guys were in a nice Skeeter saltwater Bay boat, which happened to have a shad tank on board. They had just come back from getting shad, and after a brief conversation with them, they offered to give me a few. I couldn't resist.

I already had two 7' spinning rods with braided line and Owner Mutu circle hooks on them. I filled my front livewell with water and placed the shad inside. I took one of the shad out and carefully placed a hook thru the top of its back, halfway between the top and back fins, so it could swim around looking natural. No weight....just a live shad on a hook. Carefully pitched the bait in the water, opened the bail and let out approximately 20 feet of line, then closed the bail shut. Wasn't long before my rod was bent in half, by the weight of a good fish. He took off like a freight train, with several long bursts that sent my drag screaming. Got him in and it was one of the biggest fish of the trip!

I always keep a casting net stored inside my boat, so that if I see shad, I can get them. But I have to confess: I need practice throwing the net, so if anyone has some good tips for me I'd welcome them!

Ty even caught a nice largemouth on topwater and a Channel Catfish off the deck at the condo using a Wade's Blade and waxworm!

Till next time......

Tight Lines,

Greg












Views: 73

Comment

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

Join Bluegill - Big Bluegill

Comment by Greg Wade on June 28, 2010 at 6:01pm
Thanks Tom! I'll check it out.
Comment by Tom Beauchamp on June 28, 2010 at 6:14am
Check out how to throw a cast net on you tube.

Latest Activity

Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Troy Dorman's photo
Thumbnail

Big male redear from today!!

"Pretty Troy…..let’s go!"
10 hours ago
Troy Dorman posted a photo
10 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
11 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
11 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
11 hours ago
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"
11 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Mar 24
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Down East North Carolina Daily Double…..3/23/2025

"Understand……hope you get out soon Bruce!"
Mar 24
Bruce Tomaselli commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Down East North Carolina Daily Double…..3/23/2025

"I think it won't be until near the end of April until the water warms enough to start the…"
Mar 24
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Nice Take, Hook Set at 12 O’clock…3/23/2025

"This shot was cool with the jig visible through this crappie’s mouth…..love the 12…"
Mar 24
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Some Beautiful Clean Crappie…New Arrivals Shallow….3/23/2025

"You can tell this fish has been out deep…..very clean both sides , fins not busted up, tail…"
Mar 24
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Down East North Carolina Daily Double…..3/23/2025

"I hope it’s soon Bruce….looks like a pretty big warmup in the south, hope some it…"
Mar 24
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Down East North Carolina Daily Double…..3/23/2025

"Thanks Dick…this was our best trip for shallow crappie this year……I love…"
Mar 24
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Mar 24
Bruce Tomaselli commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Mar 24
dick tabbert commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Mar 24
dick tabbert commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Mar 24
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Mar 23
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Down East North Carolina Daily Double…..3/23/2025

"Thanks John….still keep having cold fronts and clippers but the fish here are so ready to…"
Mar 23
John Sheehan commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Down East North Carolina Daily Double…..3/23/2025

"Beauties with Tuxedos! Good work, Jeffrey!"
Mar 23

© 2025   Created by Bluegill.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service