Bluegill - Big Bluegill

Do you love big bluegill?

One thing I have noticed, season after season, is that once the water temperatures drop below 55 F the bluegills show a marked preference for smaller jigs and baits. Yesterday, 11-11-14, I had two rods rigged with small jigs...one was the Pink Shrimp Auto at 1/32 oz and a # 6 hook and the other was a 1/64th oz shad dart head with a #8 hook. Both jigs were spiked with very small worm segments and as the evening wore on the baits just got smaller as the gill wanted just a hint of bait on the jig. Both were fished on 4 lb mono with 5 ft drops below small sensitive bobbers. Worm segments were approximately 1/4 inch or slightly smaller.

The PSA caught some fish, but was clearly outfished by the SD head, likely because of it smaller size. Got just as many bites on the Auto, but missed many more fish. The bite was soft with the small plastic oval bobber just 'tilting' at times or slowly going under.

Mostly hen gills but a few males in the mix along with some pretty p-seeds. Best fish of the day was a 9.5 inch P-gill hybrid. Most fish were 8 to 9 inches, some larger.

More than likely, I will go to 100th and even 1/200th oz Trout Magnet Heads as the water temps continue to drop and tip with a couple maggots or perhaps a wax worm. And, will likely have to switch to more sensitive bobbers as well.

Yesterdays totals were 50 gills/seeds and 2 bass. Fish were stacked up against the dam face as the wind blew in heavily from the south west on this 6 acre public lake in southern PA. Five ft down, suspended over 8 ft of water.

Views: 5564

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

One of the first things I think I really learned in this gilling game is that they have small mouths and how can ya eat when it doesn't fit in your mouth......Smaller is better and caught many an accidental big one with a tiny 1/64feather jig tipped of course with red wiggler.

Think this excellent post by Jim Gronaw's needs reviving and brought into 2016.

Really enjoyed Jim's article in the 2016 Panfish issue. Can't wait to try some of my ice fishing jigs under a float on a perch spawning run at a local dam soon as the weather warms back up. Caught 3 nice ones last Sunday on Nightcrawler piece laying on the bottom but they were not very aggressive biting lightly. Now I know needed to downsize my hook and bait.

Fast forward to December 2016, where we have been doing pretty good along the Mason Dixon Line with 1/80th oz jig heads tipped with a variety of natural and manufactured baits. For the most part, I have come to use the 1/80th oz jigs almost year round now for the majority of my jig fishing scenarios for bluegills, tipping them with small baits such as Gulp! maggots, live meal or wax worms, or small pieces of earthworms. At times, I'll do well with just  a plain hair jig on a slow, straight retrieve below a bobber. And at other times have had very good success with the Gulp Alive 1 inch minnows in Emerald Shiner or Smelt patterns on the 1/80th and 1/64th oz heads. Did well on Bobby Garland plastics, the Itty Bit Swim 'R on a plain #8 Aberdeen hook fishing the plastic minnow wacky-style during much of the pre to post spawn periods. Am anxious to try the B-Y Micro Plastics that are popular among ice fishermen. Water as of today, Dec 5, 2016, is 40 to 44 degrees depending on where you fish along the Mason Dixon. Caught 32 smallish gills today with a nice big red ear and a hybrid to top the day off. Hoping to get a few more good days in before the first of the year.

Sometimes, we'll just use a plain, live earth worm on an Aberdeen hook to entice picky bulls when they are on the bed and won't respond or else are skittish and spooky...happens more than you think. Sight fishing is always a blast. Good luck everyone!

RSS

Latest Activity

John Sheehan added a discussion to the group Lure History
Thumbnail

Discontinued Lures

Some of my favorites I can't find anymore: Acme Fash King Flutter Spoon, Eppinger Flutter Chuck,…See More
16 hours ago
John Sheehan posted photos
19 hours ago
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

25"+Spoon Pick

"25+inch Pickerel was best of the 13 Fish caught today a day after the Worm Moon. Two Bass and the…"
yesterday
John Sheehan commented on dick tabbert's photo
Thumbnail

IMG_0186

"1/16th oz., good!"
yesterday
dick tabbert commented on dick tabbert's photo
Thumbnail

IMG_0186

"These are my last build. I added more colors."
yesterday
dick tabbert commented on dick tabbert's photo
Thumbnail

IMG_0186

"No Jon I went with the 1/16 oz jig heads so I could have a larger hook for crappies. It's a #4…"
yesterday
John Sheehan commented on dick tabbert's photo
Thumbnail

IMG_0186

"Colors are great !"
Monday
John Sheehan commented on dick tabbert's photo
Thumbnail

IMG_0186

"Thats a good Crappie size! Are they 32nd Oz Jigs?"
Monday
dick tabbert commented on dick tabbert's photo
Thumbnail

IMG_0186

"They are right at 2" long."
Monday
John Sheehan commented on dick tabbert's photo
Thumbnail

IMG_0186

"I Can see Crappie and Bass chomping on them, Dick!"
Sunday
dick tabbert commented on dick tabbert's photo
Thumbnail

IMG_0186

"I made these up for crappie in mind. They might be a little big for gills unless it a bigger gill."
Sunday
John Sheehan commented on dick tabbert's photo
Thumbnail

IMG_0186

"What Species you got in mind for these great Minnow ties , Dick?"
Sunday
dick tabbert posted photos
Sunday
John Sheehan commented on Sam k.'s group Trout Bums
""Trout Season opens April 6th 2024 in New Jersey. Waters are runnin' high for…"
Sunday
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's status
"An Instrumental Guitar recording of mine to commemorate. …"
Sunday
John Sheehan posted a status
"Trout Season opens April 6th in New Jersey. Waters are runnin' high for stocking."
Sunday
John Sheehan replied to John Sheehan's discussion Plastic Worm varieties in the group Lure History
"My favorites through the Years: Manns Jelly Worm, Manns Auger tail, Charlie Brewers 4" on a…"
Sunday
John Sheehan replied to John Sheehan's discussion Plastic Worm varieties in the group Lure History
Sunday
John Sheehan replied to John Sheehan's discussion Plastic Worm varieties in the group Lure History
Sunday
Troy Dorman commented on Troy Dorman's photo
Thumbnail

1000003444

"Thank you, Jeffrey!"
Sunday

© 2024   Created by Bluegill.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service