Tell me how to catch pre-spawning bluegill

[David]

I like to catch bluegill and use them for live bait. When they are in the shallows in May, they are easy to find and catch. How can I locate and catch them in April?

-David
Mesa, AZ

[Bruce Condello]

If it's like Nebraska, they will be not far from the spawning area. Maybe just out in deeper water. Fish with slower presentations. Try to use a bobber with a 1/128th ounce black jig and let it drift through cover area. The little bluegills will hammer it!

[Terry Johnson]

Hey David,
I am gonna guess that you might be fishing for Cats with these bluegills :-), I know I have used them "eatin size" for trotline bait. Don't know your game and fish laws out your way, but I have always used a homemade wire funnel trap. I wish I could send you exact plans, but don't have any. Thats just because its not rocket enginering :-). Heres the basics.
You take a piece of 1x1in or 1/2 x1in welded wire Galv, thats 36-48 in. wide and long enough to make a tube at least a foot across with about 2 in. overlap. Hook it together with cage c-clips , then you form a funnel or 2(if you want a funnel at both ends) with more wire that will fit in the ends of the tube facing to center and at least 10-12 in. ,attach with clips. I would suggest the small opening in the funnel be at least 2 in. wide. Put you a door somewhere big enough to pour fish out, block the other end if you didn't put a funnel.
Bait it bread, if bread is still a little soft, squeeze it into a tight ball.
Put a heavy cord on it, drop it in 6-10 feet of water near some cover brush if you can find it, and leave it at least an hour. If it is somewhere you feel safe to leave it, over night is good.
I tried a fast sketch of one.
If your fish are always smaller than you want, open the throat a little. Again, I don't know your local laws on using something like this. You can build one of these that will catch fish handsize or bigger.