Between Ice-Out and Bedding bluegills - what to do, what to use? - Bluegill - Big Bluegill2024-03-28T19:36:50Zhttps://bigbluegill.ning.com/forum/topics/between-iceout-and-bedding?x=1&id=2036984%3ATopic%3A30956&feed=yes&xn_auth=noThanks for the encouragement!…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2009-04-13:2036984:Comment:324932009-04-13T22:17:58.668ZGLENN MARTIN MILLERhttps://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/GLENNMARTINMILLER
Thanks for the encouragement! Shallow, warmth collecting, branches ( crappie terroritory) and weighted floats. . . now, so long as I can get out, and stay warm I'll be enjoying.
Thanks for the encouragement! Shallow, warmth collecting, branches ( crappie terroritory) and weighted floats. . . now, so long as I can get out, and stay warm I'll be enjoying. I have to agree with what's a…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2009-04-11:2036984:Comment:321622009-04-11T00:58:28.843ZTony Livingstonhttps://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/TonyLivingston
I have to agree with what's already been posted. Pre spawn can definitely be a hot bite. Especially with the big females, they're up in shallow flats, gorging themselves. I find that you have to put the bait right on em', they sometimes won't move out far to get it. If you can find a southern facing bay, especially one lined with low, overhanging tree branches, the fish will be in tight to the bank- maybe a foot or two out. I like 4 pound test, a small weighted bobber, and a bee moth about a…
I have to agree with what's already been posted. Pre spawn can definitely be a hot bite. Especially with the big females, they're up in shallow flats, gorging themselves. I find that you have to put the bait right on em', they sometimes won't move out far to get it. If you can find a southern facing bay, especially one lined with low, overhanging tree branches, the fish will be in tight to the bank- maybe a foot or two out. I like 4 pound test, a small weighted bobber, and a bee moth about a foot or so deep. Awesome fishing! Hey Glen...we went today, 4-1…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2009-04-11:2036984:Comment:321602009-04-11T00:42:54.093ZJim Gronawhttps://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/JimGronaw
Hey Glen...we went today, 4-10, to a pond where the crappie are usually bedding up shallow this time of year. Not so today, couldn't see or catch any fish in the traditional haunts. Water temps still too cold, upper 40's, so we did the wind-blown/bobber/hairjig/tipped with bait gig to cover a shallow area that we thought might be warmer than the rest of the lake. We caught about 65 fish, mostly gills, and numerous crappie and a few bass. Great fun! and we know now where they are when the cold…
Hey Glen...we went today, 4-10, to a pond where the crappie are usually bedding up shallow this time of year. Not so today, couldn't see or catch any fish in the traditional haunts. Water temps still too cold, upper 40's, so we did the wind-blown/bobber/hairjig/tipped with bait gig to cover a shallow area that we thought might be warmer than the rest of the lake. We caught about 65 fish, mostly gills, and numerous crappie and a few bass. Great fun! and we know now where they are when the cold fronts come through. I posted a few pics of our trip a bit ago. One of the few times I listened to my own advice and it actually paid off! In truth, my wife Linda caught on to the shallow water bite and put a hurtin on me. Cold and blustery winds and overcast. Caught most fish 3-4 ft below a small weighted bobber. Some fish were in pretty close and shallow, too. Hope you smash em! Glenn...
There are several t…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2009-04-06:2036984:Comment:314122009-04-06T00:53:49.146Zrobsablokehttps://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/robsabloke
Glenn...<br />
<br />
There are several tackle supply places that carry the 1/100th ounce jigs... 'Tackle Craft' is one. Google fishing jigs... you'll be surprised what pops up.<br />
<br />
But honestly you don't have to have the jigs... the hook and cricket with a BB shot 12" above will work just as well sometimes better... Colours... I use black a lot with a little fine tinsel underneath... .. I've also had great success with yellow...(not chartreuse)... One year I tried something unusual... I painted my jig with…
Glenn...<br />
<br />
There are several tackle supply places that carry the 1/100th ounce jigs... 'Tackle Craft' is one. Google fishing jigs... you'll be surprised what pops up.<br />
<br />
But honestly you don't have to have the jigs... the hook and cricket with a BB shot 12" above will work just as well sometimes better... Colours... I use black a lot with a little fine tinsel underneath... .. I've also had great success with yellow...(not chartreuse)... One year I tried something unusual... I painted my jig with the closest match I could find to the natural colour of a cricket... the idea being.... the fish can't see any jig at all.... all they see is this big cricket... it really worked very well...<br />
<br />
When the fishing gets tough I experiment.... I'll use all sorts of colours and different materials... marabou... deer hair... that's part of the fun... and as wel all remember.... there's always the famous nightcrawler float combo.<br />
<br />
Tight Lines<br />
Rob Great advice ! Tough to find…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2009-04-05:2036984:Comment:313882009-04-05T21:21:49.009ZGLENN MARTIN MILLERhttps://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/GLENNMARTINMILLER
Great advice ! Tough to find the 1/100ths in the retail over-the-couter trade near me. . . looking over the "grizzly jogs" catalog" any other suggestions where to find the tinier jigs? Any "go to colors" or patterns?<br />
<br />
Thanks again !
Great advice ! Tough to find the 1/100ths in the retail over-the-couter trade near me. . . looking over the "grizzly jogs" catalog" any other suggestions where to find the tinier jigs? Any "go to colors" or patterns?<br />
<br />
Thanks again ! Thanks Jim! The lake I usuall…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2009-04-05:2036984:Comment:313862009-04-05T21:19:02.147ZGLENN MARTIN MILLERhttps://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/GLENNMARTINMILLER
Thanks Jim! The lake I usually fish ( a two tier fisherey: coldwtaer walleye/trout/perh and all warm water species) usually has shallow water bays never far from the old valleys of this old impoundment. One of the things to figure out about this lake is when it "trun's over, especially when windy and sunny occur together.... In summer, fishing the thermocline can yield lots of surprises.<br />
<br />
Since the lake's built up with docks and boat houses, I look for concrete docks/walls near depth, and often…
Thanks Jim! The lake I usually fish ( a two tier fisherey: coldwtaer walleye/trout/perh and all warm water species) usually has shallow water bays never far from the old valleys of this old impoundment. One of the things to figure out about this lake is when it "trun's over, especially when windy and sunny occur together.... In summer, fishing the thermocline can yield lots of surprises.<br />
<br />
Since the lake's built up with docks and boat houses, I look for concrete docks/walls near depth, and often find big bluegills taking position prior to the bedding season. . . maybe I should start to keep a fishing journal... Fast action Ultra-light rod..…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2009-04-04:2036984:Comment:311722009-04-04T16:10:49.128Zrobsablokehttps://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/robsabloke
Fast action Ultra-light rod... 2LB test line... small hook (10's or 8's) I use a 1/100th ounce jig tied with a little marabou at the tail and tip it with a cricket.<br />
<br />
But, failing that... the simplest method is to put a cricket on a hook with a BB shot (or two) about 12" above the hook and fish slow. Watch your line on the sink.... Strike at the slightest 'Twitch'... and once your bait is on the bottom... let it sit there for a minute or maybe two... then drag your cricket as s l o w l y as you…
Fast action Ultra-light rod... 2LB test line... small hook (10's or 8's) I use a 1/100th ounce jig tied with a little marabou at the tail and tip it with a cricket.<br />
<br />
But, failing that... the simplest method is to put a cricket on a hook with a BB shot (or two) about 12" above the hook and fish slow. Watch your line on the sink.... Strike at the slightest 'Twitch'... and once your bait is on the bottom... let it sit there for a minute or maybe two... then drag your cricket as s l o w l y as you can... back towards you.<br />
<br />
I mentioned this in the forum before... but many people don't know how much line their reels retrieve with just one turn of the handle. My spinning reel retrieves 24" of line for one full turn of the handle so 1/4 turn pause 2 or 3 seconds... another 1/4 turn... pause and so on.... vary the pause from time to time... you'll be surprised how successful this method can be... remember the water is cold... the fish can be lethargic... but they are also hungry ... Just prior to the spawn... The best chance of the year for a Big Bull Bluegill...<br />
Tight Lines<br />
<br />
Rob Here in Maryland, we seldom h…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2009-04-04:2036984:Comment:310582009-04-04T01:21:12.502ZJim Gronawhttps://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/JimGronaw
Here in Maryland, we seldom have cold enough winters for safe ice fishing, so I ice fish without the ice. Here are a couple of things I have noticed over the years...<br />
<br />
Several warm, sunny days can push gills in shallow, especially if a southerly wind is shoving warmer surface water into the northern sections of a small lake or pond.<br />
<br />
Drift-fish these areas with 'wind-blown' bobber rigs with sensitive floats and small jigheads tipped with bait. Small live earthworms work good at this time…
Here in Maryland, we seldom have cold enough winters for safe ice fishing, so I ice fish without the ice. Here are a couple of things I have noticed over the years...<br />
<br />
Several warm, sunny days can push gills in shallow, especially if a southerly wind is shoving warmer surface water into the northern sections of a small lake or pond.<br />
<br />
Drift-fish these areas with 'wind-blown' bobber rigs with sensitive floats and small jigheads tipped with bait. Small live earthworms work good at this time too.<br />
<br />
Fish shallow, woody cover on the northern shores of a lake where all kinds of aquatic life is setting in motion and hungry panfish, to include gills, will follow.<br />
<br />
When cold fronts come, and they will, you might want to drop back into deeper waters near these areas and suspend baits deeper than up in the shallows...small baits and lures are the ticket on gills long before prespawn. Look for gills to elevate higher in the water column as weather moderates or gradually warms.<br />
<br />
Good Luck! Jim Gronaw Got it. And I am a natural sl…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2009-04-03:2036984:Comment:310342009-04-03T21:34:26.998ZGLENN MARTIN MILLERhttps://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/GLENNMARTINMILLER
Got it. And I am a natural slowpoke anyway when fishing ( after I get over the excitement of being out of doors again). But what, what, what is your "go-to lure, bait or set-up"?
Got it. And I am a natural slowpoke anyway when fishing ( after I get over the excitement of being out of doors again). But what, what, what is your "go-to lure, bait or set-up"? great thinking. I lucked out…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2009-04-03:2036984:Comment:310172009-04-03T19:59:20.245ZGLENN MARTIN MILLERhttps://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/GLENNMARTINMILLER
great thinking. I lucked out by fishing some beds near an island with a 8'-10' depth within casting range. Did a lot of cath and release, and that's where I'll start ( though I think it was shady in the June heat, so maybe..... well I think I've got it anyway. . . a good map and the depth finder whould poitn the way.
great thinking. I lucked out by fishing some beds near an island with a 8'-10' depth within casting range. Did a lot of cath and release, and that's where I'll start ( though I think it was shady in the June heat, so maybe..... well I think I've got it anyway. . . a good map and the depth finder whould poitn the way.