Best tactics for picky BG

[chris kowaleski]

I've had an ongoing dilemma lately, and it consists of these big bluegill hanging out along this wall along with some smaller bluegill.  The water is incredibly clear, and the big ones will either show no interest in whatever is on the end of my line, or swim up to it and look at it.  I've used about everything in my arsenal to no avail.

What are some of your tips and tricks to get those picky BG to bite?

[chris kowaleski]

I also would like to add that they are river gills, in a highly fished river. I'd like to think they aren't fished very hard since to the general population of fisherman, they're "only" bluegill, but i feel that might not be the case.

[Tony Livingston]

Chris, is it safe to assume that since you can see the fish in that clear water, that they can also see you? If so, can you reach the fish with a long distance cast, while keeping a low profile? I would fall back on my usual suggestion: downsize your offering, and if you're using artificial try tipping it with something lively... try casting to a spot upstream and let the current carry your bait to the fish.

[chris kowaleski]

Oh yeah, it's the clearest water on earth if i've ever seen it. Up at the lake/source of the river, you can see straight to the bottom and it's like 20 feet deep. Fishing is not allowed at the lake, unfortunately. But it's better that way. I've tried from a long distance, and i usually use a nightcrawler floating towards em or on a small jig, with minimal weights and what not. Maybe an irresistable cricket could work em over.

[Jim Gronaw]

Spooky gills in gin clear water can be really tough, especially if they are shallow enough that you can see they're every move.

Back in the mid 1990's, we fished an ultra clear PA lake where the gills were big and spooky. Our best tactic was to cast a whole garden or redworm to them from a distance. on 2 or 4 pound clear mono. We baited them on a size 14 or 16 dry fly hook, and completely covered the hook with the worm. Sometimes the fish would be 10 to 14 ft deep under bridges, so we would make the longest cast we could and just waited patiently for the worms to 'slow fall' to the fish. We left our bails open with no resistance and let the fish run a few feet , then set the hook. This was a catch and keep scenario, as 50% of the gills would swallow the hook. When we tried to use bigger hooks, like 10's or 8's, we just didn't get any bites from these discriminating, picky fish.

[chris kowaleski]

I'm gonna try covering the hook completley with a night crawler next time and see what happens.