Bluegill - Big Bluegill

Do you love big bluegill?

Hello all, first post here.

Recently decided to devote more focus to fishing and building a tackle box with purpose behind each item. I have acquired a bunch of crappie sliders, Mister Twisters, and tubes in the smallest sizes available. While shopping at Cabela's and Bass Pro I found jig heads for these items. The thing about them is that my rod is a St Croix light rod rated for 1/16-5/16 oz lures but the 1/16 jig heads have a size 4 hook. I picked up some 1/32 heads with size 6 hooks. How come they don't make 1/16 jig heads in the standard panfish hook sizes of 6 8 and 10?

I tapped out my budget for now so I will make do with what I have. I will post up the whole list of what I've gotten later. Essentially I gt a variety of sliding and fixed bobbers, jig heads in 1/32 and 1/16 oz sizes, Berkley powerbait power grubs, mister twisters, crappie tubes, crappie sliders, some Countdown Rapalas in the CD-1 size, Blakemore Roadrunners both the kind with marabou and the plain kind in 1/16 oz, and northland Firefly jigs in 1/16 and 1/64 oz. Also got a split shot assortment and 6/8/10 Aberdeen hooks and bait holder hooks. Due to budget I didn't get all of the lures in the 4 colors I wanted of white black chartreuse and pumpkinseed for most of them I have a chartreuse and a black variety.

Will the 1/16 jigs that come with size 4 hooks be OK or I am going to have to fish the 1/32 and 1/64s under bobbers to cast them out with my rod?

Thanks!

Views: 7624

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

The absolute best jigheads I've found, as a long time jigging specialist, are those offered by www.leadfreejigheads.com . The owner, Keith, offers a 1/24 oz roundhead with a no 8 sickle hook which is perfect for bluegill, plus he'll gladly custom make any size head with "panfish-perfect" size hooks ! His quality is top notch, prices &quantities very reasonable, free shipping, and very fast service!

I just discovered this company that offers a lot of panfish and trout gems - Gapen Fishing. They aren't in any of the big box stores not in national stores except in Minnesota and upper Midwest. They have always been a small tackle store company and still are. Kind of a secret up until now - in some outdoors magazines and in business for 75 years!

Most every lure listed is produced in Minnesota, Michigan and some from the East Coast. Quality on these ties is standard and monitored by tying master and Hall of Fame angler Dan Gapen - a 3rd generation fly angler.

Here are some awesome panfish products:

Beaded Maggot: You could call them bearded maggots - those things have a cool tipping-rocking action that works on the drop- the falling action on this is potent.

Crappie Vixen: Arctic Fox hair jigs that knock out crappie, gills & trout. This jig's tail swims in the water column.

Freshwater Shrimp: Dancing little fly jig with tinsel and flash.

Spin Bee: Flash, Fly and fish - fish hone in on these elements. 

Check them out - there are more cool plastic jigs, ice jigs and also really cool jigging spoons that would make great components for your panfish tackle box. Good luck and report back with your successes!

Pictures pictures!!

Great Fish'n - Friends.

Johnny, THANK YOU!!!!  I just got a chartreuse-dyed fox tail a few weeks ago, and have yet to do anything with it.  With the pic you posted as a starting point, I can begin playing with tying things.

I may need to get a few more fox tails.......

A place I get a lot of my stuff when I can is ARKIE lures. they have a lot of pan fish sized items . you can find them on the web. Hope this helps...

RSS

Latest Activity

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

1000003891

"Pretty Northern strain bluegill Troy!"
15 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Troy Dorman's photo
Thumbnail

1000003887

"Great fish….this is the right kind!"
15 hours ago
Troy Dorman posted photos
22 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Picked up Several Nice Yellow Perch Shallow…..4/29/2025

"Thanks John….never get tired of quality perch bites…"
yesterday
John Sheehan posted photos
yesterday
John Sheehan commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
yesterday
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

493726391_10238746707466370_4942384414329687790_n

"Good job ,Jeff! The ones I caught were probably in 5-6 ' but long cast from shore. These…"
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a photo

Picked up Several Nice Yellow Perch Shallow…..4/29/2025

Also caught two nice white perch shallow also…
Tuesday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Tuesday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Tuesday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a photo

Dock Crappie…..4/29/2025

We had blue skies with 81 degrees…strong southwest wind but our water was still blown out from the…
Tuesday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Tuesday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a status
"It was still windy but a friend and I splashed this afternoon, nice mixed bag ….low water at 70 degree surface temperatures…good times…"
Tuesday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

493726391_10238746707466370_4942384414329687790_n

"Nice John….I caught several white perch this afternoon very shallow…"
Tuesday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Troy Dorman's photo
Thumbnail

1000003851

"Pretty specimen Troy!"
Monday
John Sheehan commented on Troy Dorman's photo
Thumbnail

1000003857

"Posting some nice Fish, Troy!"
Sunday
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

492222666_10238698533862060_5336729201480880262_n

"Fish are flopping around like its July up here and we haven't seen May yet! Very weird year!"
Sunday
Bruce Tomaselli commented on Troy Dorman's photo
Thumbnail

1000003857

"I can just taste the fillets!"
Sunday
Troy Dorman posted photos
Sunday
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Saturday

© 2025   Created by Bluegill.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service