I had so darn much fun a couple of weeks ago that I went back this weekend.; We ended up with multiple species. I added some "non Blue Gill" pics you can view but here are the stars of the trip.
and here is the spot on the East Highline Canal where we are catching them.
We got there before any of these guys showed up. I was casting just in front of those three large rocks near the fence on the other side. I was rigged with a drop-shot sinker about 12" below the hook with 1/2 a night crawler. I did a sloooooow retrieve and about 1/3 of the way back is where all three fish were caught.
I talked to the Fish and Game folks and they said this was a banner year for large Bluegills. The desert was 90degF today on it's way to 110-115degF so you better hurry unless you can handle the heat. It was my last trip until fall.
Beautiful fish!, I might be tempted to head out that way when I'm down to visit the folks in May. Up here in the SF bay area, I am just starting to see blue gills in the shallows (< week).
I've fished the Imperial Valley in August (Sunbeam Lake and canals out in that direction) and liked it. Bring on the heat :-) I wish I still lived in SoCal, I'd take my float tube out to Sunbeam for sure.
BC, thanks for that note on 'gills in the shallows, will have to get out to the delta sometime soon.