Fishing the 2018 cold water period for B.Gills

[Slip Sinker]

B.Gill fishing the cold water period…

Cold Water: This period occurs twice, once in early spring and again during late fall. Fish establish specific patterns. Fishing can be very good. (according to the In-Fisherman fishing system)

Cold Water Period for Lepomis water temps are from 39° to mid 50’s for the period... one of the toughest periods of the year to fish for Lepomis... for me anyways.

What’s everyone’s feelings of B.Gill fishing at this time?... I hardly see any fishing pressure on the lakes and few postings on BBG... please share your proven methods or thoughts.

Read more: http://www.in-fisherman.com/biology/the-in-fisherman-system/#ixzz5A... 

 

[John Sheehan]

Last year my 1st Gills came at a spot that reached 60 degree WT in Mid April.Perch were caught for two weeks at that same spot when the water was 52 degrees and climbing .

[Slip Sinker]

Can’t wait for my waters to reach those levels… I have better luck with the B.Gills also. The problem I’m having is when ice is first gone and water temps are in those 38-45 degs. Where are they? ice fishing late ice we are usually on a very hot bite and is a very popular time to be on the ice. The depth is usually at the 8’ 10 ft levels. Just nailing em right and left with jigs and waxies both gulp and live types. I figure the fish would be in the same spots when ice leaves. Here’s where I lose the pattern. Tagging many LMB and B.Crappies at those temps no problem with those depths and baits but very few b.gills looking at my historical records.

[Slip Sinker]

John… given that you spot the yellow perch in shallows at some shoreline locations and y.perch spawn at night… have you ever gone back at night during those times and locations to fish for them?

[John Sheehan]

No i may stay to just at dark if I'm catching but I catch Perch any time of day when they are near that water inflow pipe I always fish

[Slip Sinker]

Last year at this time there was 40% ice still at the south shore… we fished the north shore in clear water. Cruising the shallows slowly with the boat on that particular day we could not spot any life whatsoever. LMB and B.Crappie were tagged sparingly and sporadically at the 8-10’ levels.

On sunny calm days when warming waters attract swarms of minnows we nail the LMB’s and B.Crappies in 1-4’ but still not nailing the B.Gills in numbers to call it a solid pattern.

[Slip Sinker]

Ive been finding small pockets of large numbers of B.Gills concentrating tightly to the bank in the warmest waters of the BOW mainly in small bays and large canal water types. Finding them in mere inches of water. Slip/floating fails to the point of spooking them before they become interested with the bait. Throwing a tiny .016 oz jig/waxie or nite crawler bit and drag and twitch along the bottom with some good success.

Northeastern shorelines with sun exposure shows the best results.

[Slip Sinker]

all fish tagged on a slowly dragged and twitched tipped jig thru the school. …

…the Lepomis in this group collage were tagged long-casting tiny tipped jigs to the bank and dragged and twitched along the bottom.

…

…

[Slip Sinker]

20180426-The “Shallow at the Bank Pattern” continues with water temps in the low 50’s… timing a fishing trip at the solunar Major.Period found many tags and a steady methodical bite. Fish were mainly in the 1.0' to 1.5' range.

...

...