Bluegill - Big Bluegill

Do you love big bluegill?

Will gills move into the shallows again in October and November? I don't have a boat and I'm hoping to get some fillets for my mother.

Views: 346

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

I'm still learning gill seasonal patterns so can't wait to hear the answer from the experts.

  Great question.

Bruce, in my experiences crappies will move back shallow in the fall. I caught fish over the past week in 3-8' of water. A huge factor will be if your fishing a lake or river, IMO. The lakes will have different characteristics. I was fishing the Neuse River.

I will be fishing a lake. I know now is a good time to fish for pike in the shallows so they must be targeting small fish.

Bruce in my region in Northeast North Carolina we seek surface temps from 70 down to 60 as it falls with colder air..........this will pull all sunfish species back to the shallows to feed heavily before turnover when they will head for their wintering spots........Like Jack stated it matters where you're fishing.........I most often fish river systems that I have patterned for many years so I can normally predict within a few days to a week in most locations........The key is a nice steady drop that can start around Columbus Day and last to Veterans Day,  water temperature swings of more than five degrees overnight can hurt the bluegill bite in my opinion, not so much on the crappie.Good luck and hope you get into a nice mess of fish for your mother.  Wish you were closer, I could show you some of the healthiest waters in America.........

Me, too, Jeff, me, too!

Bruce, I have great luck fishing the weedy flats from 4-9’ all year round… weeds are key! Fish the weediest flats even during the winter. Gills look for the larva from insects all winter long from those areas. Good luck!

I hope to be on the water in the next few days. I'll give a report on my adventure. Thanks

Hey Slip, I searched the flats for weeds and reeds yesterday. I found some fish, but I couldn't get into a batch big enough to fillet. There were 2 men and a boy fishing the bottom at a point from shore and they were catching some nice gills and perch fishing bait off of the bottom. I had a fly rod and was mainly fishing the top with a dropper off of a dry fly. I guess I should have taken my UL spinning rod. The pink gulp really appealed to them yesterday.

Well, I got out today on my local lake and I caught plenty of gills, but nothing over 6 inches. I just never found a pod of 7-inchers or better, that's my cutoff size. I did well on a black foam spider with yellow legs. I caught a few with a bully spider dropped the bend of the spider. I did the best with a size 16 red copper john, tipped with a pink gulp, and tied to the bend of the bully spider.

good thread here.  keep it moving.  it's educational.  and thanks to all who post to this.

Yep, Rich, I've learned much here and the people are very generous.

RSS

Latest Activity

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

Wanaque river Trout

"Good job with the Colorado spinner….."
19 seconds ago
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

Wanaque river Crappie

"Nice crappie….I like seeing the old school baits…."
1 minute ago
dick tabbert commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Tagging Black Crappie on Shallow Wood…..6/12/2025

"Looks like the crappie bite is on."
23 hours ago
dick tabbert commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
23 hours ago
dick tabbert commented on John Sheehan's photo
23 hours ago
dick tabbert commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

Wanaque river Crappie

"John, nice looking crappie."
23 hours ago
John Sheehan posted photos
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a photo

Good Shoulders. On this One….6/12/2025

This was a fun day…..80 black crappie dominated this party…
Thursday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Thursday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Thursday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Thursday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a status
"Finally got a low wind morning on the coastal marsh….coangler and I had falling wind tide and the tidal crappie were chewing.. this was fun!"
Thursday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thursday
Troy Dorman commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thursday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Beautiful Coppernose Which Just Pushed Shallow This Week….6/9/2025

"Thanks Tracy……all of these fish were released and I hope to see them again…"
Wednesday
tracy willis commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Wednesday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Tuesday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Jun 9
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Jun 9
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Fish of Dreams on the Albemarle…..6/9/2025

"Thanks Troy…..major league fishing were on Kentucky and Barkley lakes this…"
Jun 9

© 2025   Created by Bluegill.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service