Bluegill Lure Color Selection - Bluegill - Big Bluegill2024-03-28T19:15:00Zhttps://bigbluegill.ning.com/forum/topics/bluegill-lure-color-selection?commentId=2036984%3AComment%3A129545&x=1&feed=yes&xn_auth=noThis appeared here on BBG, fr…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2011-03-05:2036984:Comment:1295452011-03-05T14:37:23.185ZDavid, aka, "McScruff"https://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/david553
<p>This appeared here on BBG, from another thread "Deep Water October Gills"...</p>
<p> </p>
<p><em>"<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>The only time we could get bites was when the breeze was very slight or calm and we let the jig go to the bottom and twitching it slowly along the bottom…. 30-40 ft. of water. Roland was doing the best with his <span style="text-decoration: underline;">FLUORESCENT ORANGE</span> jig compared to my <span style="text-decoration: underline;">PINK</span> one.…</em></p>
<p>This appeared here on BBG, from another thread "Deep Water October Gills"...</p>
<p> </p>
<p><em>"<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>The only time we could get bites was when the breeze was very slight or calm and we let the jig go to the bottom and twitching it slowly along the bottom…. 30-40 ft. of water. Roland was doing the best with his <span style="text-decoration: underline;">FLUORESCENT ORANGE</span> jig compared to my <span style="text-decoration: underline;">PINK</span> one. As soon as I switched to the same color I caught up quickly.</em> <br/><br/><em>Don't be afraid to work the bottom slowly with a jig, you might get surprised."</em></p>
<p> </p>
<p>A couple things pop up here:</p>
<p>1. Deeper water and reduced visibility go hand in hand. Bright, attracting colors help under those conditions.</p>
<p>2. You need a wide variety of colors available.</p>
<p>3. BBG's are fish of the deeper waters, as water temps cool.<em><br/></em></p> Yeah, then theres this:
"Lo…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2011-03-04:2036984:Comment:1296232011-03-04T23:18:40.244ZDavid, aka, "McScruff"https://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/david553
<p>Yeah, then theres this:</p>
<p> </p>
<p><em>"Looking for that lovely lure bluegill will find irresistible? Spinnerbaits, microjigs and ice tick jigs all work well. Miniature soft plastic lures and small tube jigs also are effective. <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Chartreuse, pink and white</span> are good colors for soft plastic jigs. Leadheads that have been tipped with twister tails, rubber grubs or marabou feathers are all excellent choices."</em> - from 'How Stuff…</p>
<p>Yeah, then theres this:</p>
<p> </p>
<p><em>"Looking for that lovely lure bluegill will find irresistible? Spinnerbaits, microjigs and ice tick jigs all work well. Miniature soft plastic lures and small tube jigs also are effective. <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Chartreuse, pink and white</span> are good colors for soft plastic jigs. Leadheads that have been tipped with twister tails, rubber grubs or marabou feathers are all excellent choices."</em> - from 'How Stuff Works'</p>
<p> </p>
<p>A pattern is emergin', I think...</p>
<p><em><br/></em></p> David, You've seen that lots…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2011-03-04:2036984:Comment:1293242011-03-04T22:46:47.623ZJohn McKeanhttps://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/JohnMcKean
David, You've seen that lots of guys used chartreuse, and,often a combo of chartreuse with black,green, or something similar. The good people at Fish-n-spin have used chartreuse/black or green tubes with their little (1/32oz) overhead spinner, but had a terrific time last season with their 3/4" CHARTREUSE tiny soft plastic CRAWFISH body and a copper overhead willow blade.As you say, something differant can yield super results!
David, You've seen that lots of guys used chartreuse, and,often a combo of chartreuse with black,green, or something similar. The good people at Fish-n-spin have used chartreuse/black or green tubes with their little (1/32oz) overhead spinner, but had a terrific time last season with their 3/4" CHARTREUSE tiny soft plastic CRAWFISH body and a copper overhead willow blade.As you say, something differant can yield super results! Hey David, First of all, welc…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2011-03-04:2036984:Comment:1295292011-03-04T16:56:30.898ZDavid, aka, "McScruff"https://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/david553
<p><em>Hey David, First of all, welcome to the site. I hand pour my own soft plastic 1" curl-tail grubs and tube jigs and experiment with a lot of colors. I have found that bottom bouncing a black curl-tail with red pepper (glitter) works well. Also, chartreuse with red or black glitter works well.</em> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Thank you for the welcome, Nick. Black seems to be a universal color, either alone or in combination. I'm not certain about how well bluegill see colors, but from my research…</p>
<p><em>Hey David, First of all, welcome to the site. I hand pour my own soft plastic 1" curl-tail grubs and tube jigs and experiment with a lot of colors. I have found that bottom bouncing a black curl-tail with red pepper (glitter) works well. Also, chartreuse with red or black glitter works well.</em> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Thank you for the welcome, Nick. Black seems to be a universal color, either alone or in combination. I'm not certain about how well bluegill see colors, but from my research I believe they see at least a limited range. It may be rather extensive, being as they are fishes of the light.</p>
<p>Regardless, most "creatures" on their menu tend to be dark in color, especially in the first part of the season. Your black/red glitter bouncer sounds something resembling a small crawfish, to me.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><em>Having talked with a lot of the local panfishermen and ladies here in Ga., most of the consensus is a combination of chartreuse and another color combination.</em></p>
<p> </p>
<p>And then there is chartreuse. This one seems to be another universal color, along with yellow, white, black/brown and green. This one eludes me, however, as nothing comes close in their natural forage suite. I'm guessing that under water, in filtered light, it resembles something to the brim that doesn't click with OUR logic. Black/chartreuse is another of those combinations that always pop up.</p>
<p>As for the glitter element, I'm not sure - I suspect that it appeals to the fisherman as much as the fish. But I'm not aware of any studies that compare glitter or a lack of it, so it's just my opinion.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><em>I fish them slow and off the bottom.</em></p>
<p> </p>
<p>The "bottom" is yet another universal element to catching big bluegill. The larger specimens tend to favor deeper water and 6-14 ft seems to be the right range - just off the bottom qualifies, depending on the individual body of water. If there is cover nearby, like weeds or wood, so much the better.</p>
<p>Brim are also not "fast" fish - they don't run their prey, they ambush it. I think of them as 'hover and snoop' fish, poking and nosing around for their food. This jibes with their natural forage, aquatic invertebrates and insects. The shape of their bodies makes them able to turn on a dime, but they are not speed demons.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><em>With all due respect to our bretheren panfishermen and ladies here, I believe that experimentation with a variety of shapes and colors (keeping plenty in your tackle box) is the way to go.</em></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Here I tend to agree with you. While I want to mark out a basic color suite for bluegill, based on their natural forage, I also want to have the resources on hand to offer something different should it be needed. You never know what might work, or what the fish are feeding on down there in the depths. Again, constants exist. It can usually be determined what they fish are feeding on once you catch a few.</p>
<p>But variations abound, too... at times it the fish have a mind of their own. I also know that snow white, vibrant yellow and that darned chartreuse work as well as anything at times. I personally think much has to do with the very nature of the <em>Centrarchidae</em> clan, themselves. They are naturally curious and assertive when they are feeding.</p>
<p>Now, they can be finicky, depending on everthing from the water color to the barometric pressure. But they live to do two things: eat and breed.</p>
<p>They can often be goaded into feeding with the right presentation. Like you, I think you should be prepared to give them BOTH what they are used to - - and something radically different if needs be.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p> Hey David, First of all, welc…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2011-03-04:2036984:Comment:1293082011-03-04T15:39:28.437ZNick Holthttps://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/NickHolt
Hey David, First of all, welcome to the site. I handpour my own soft plastic 1" curl-tail grubs and tube jigs and experiment with a lot of colors. I have found that bottom bouncing a black curl-tail with red pepper (glitter) works well. Also, chartreuse with red or black glitter works well. Having talked with a lot of the local panfishermen and ladies here in Ga., most of the consensus is a combination of chartreuse and another color combination. Again, I use a 6' ultralite rod spooled…
Hey David, First of all, welcome to the site. I handpour my own soft plastic 1" curl-tail grubs and tube jigs and experiment with a lot of colors. I have found that bottom bouncing a black curl-tail with red pepper (glitter) works well. Also, chartreuse with red or black glitter works well. Having talked with a lot of the local panfishermen and ladies here in Ga., most of the consensus is a combination of chartreuse and another color combination. Again, I use a 6' ultralite rod spooled with either 4 or 6 pound test line. I fish them slow and off the bottom. With all due respect to our bretheren panfishermen and ladies here, I believe that experimentation with a variety of shapes and colors (keeping plenty in your tackle box) is the way to go. Nick Holt. Thanks for the reply, Mike. I…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2011-03-04:2036984:Comment:1292962011-03-04T04:44:13.331ZDavid, aka, "McScruff"https://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/david553
<p>Thanks for the reply, Mike. Ive been concentrating on jigs as I "gear up" for this season. But I've seen the Firetiger patterns, which strike me as yellow perch-like. I'll get around to crankbaits as the season grows warmer and Ill look for some in the Firetiger line.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>As for canoes, you and I are on the same page. I am most familiar with them. I have been looking at some other types, but would feel most comfortable in a canoe as a "man-powered" boat. Like you, I like to poke…</p>
<p>Thanks for the reply, Mike. Ive been concentrating on jigs as I "gear up" for this season. But I've seen the Firetiger patterns, which strike me as yellow perch-like. I'll get around to crankbaits as the season grows warmer and Ill look for some in the Firetiger line.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>As for canoes, you and I are on the same page. I am most familiar with them. I have been looking at some other types, but would feel most comfortable in a canoe as a "man-powered" boat. Like you, I like to poke into the secluded waters, far from the madding crowd. I saw a portage canoe in the weeds at a place yesterday. I going to stop in the next few days to inquire about it.</p> A lot of good information he…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2011-03-04:2036984:Comment:1293872011-03-04T00:42:03.385ZMichael Coxhttps://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/MichaelCox
<p>A lot of good information here. I like the firetiger patterns when using the little teeny cranks and F3 Rapalas. It seems to be a good all around lure pattern. I have to say that the rivers around here that white/pearl are terrific colors. And one of my favorite lures that won't set you back much but is exremely effective is a beetlespin. Plus you can change the color on them as needed.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I fish almost exclusively from a canoe when not on the bank and love it. Keeps a low…</p>
<p>A lot of good information here. I like the firetiger patterns when using the little teeny cranks and F3 Rapalas. It seems to be a good all around lure pattern. I have to say that the rivers around here that white/pearl are terrific colors. And one of my favorite lures that won't set you back much but is exremely effective is a beetlespin. Plus you can change the color on them as needed.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I fish almost exclusively from a canoe when not on the bank and love it. Keeps a low profile, is nice and quiet and can get you places other boats can't reach. Kayaks are nice but my back can't take it and I like the extra storage room in a canoe. Just my two cents.</p> I found this in Steven L. Wud…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2011-03-03:2036984:Comment:1292822011-03-03T13:42:09.351ZDavid, aka, "McScruff"https://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/david553
<p>I found this in Steven L. Wuderle's book, "New Techniques That Catch More Bluegill" :</p>
<p><em>"When Steve (Vogt) says a small jig, he isn't kidding. He suggests anglers use 1/64-1/32 oz. jigs. Steve has found through experimamntation that there are two basic color patterns. The two he recommends are... </em></p>
<ul>
<li><em>1. Yellow hair jig</em></li>
<li><em>2. Mini jig with black body and chartreuse curly tail</em></li>
</ul>
<p><em>When fishing is really tough, he tips the bait with…</em></p>
<p>I found this in Steven L. Wuderle's book, "New Techniques That Catch More Bluegill" :</p>
<p><em>"When Steve (Vogt) says a small jig, he isn't kidding. He suggests anglers use 1/64-1/32 oz. jigs. Steve has found through experimamntation that there are two basic color patterns. The two he recommends are... </em></p>
<ul>
<li><em>1. Yellow hair jig</em></li>
<li><em>2. Mini jig with black body and chartreuse curly tail</em></li>
</ul>
<p><em>When fishing is really tough, he tips the bait with a wasp larvae or wax worm."</em></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Uh, oh. Yellow hair jig and black/chartreuse? Thats It?</p>
<p>I have a gazillion grubs and tube bodies, in every color of the rainbow - and more on the way! :-)</p>
<p> </p>
<br/> I found this interesting:
"Bl…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2011-03-02:2036984:Comment:1286802011-03-02T05:15:00.110ZDavid, aka, "McScruff"https://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/david553
<p>I found this interesting:</p>
<p>"Bluegills are popular <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_fish">game fish</a>, caught with live bait, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fly_fishing" title="Fly fishing">flies</a>, corn, small crankbaits, spinners, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_cheese">American cheese</a> pushed around a hook, maggots, or even a bare hook.</p>
<p>They mostly bite on vibrant colors…</p>
<p>I found this interesting:</p>
<p>"Bluegills are popular <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_fish">game fish</a>, caught with live bait, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fly_fishing" title="Fly fishing">flies</a>, corn, small crankbaits, spinners, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_cheese">American cheese</a> pushed around a hook, maggots, or even a bare hook.</p>
<p>They mostly bite on vibrant colors like</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>orange,</strong></li>
<li><strong>yellow,</strong></li>
<li><strong>green,</strong></li>
<li><strong>red</strong>,</li>
</ul>
<p>chiefly at dawn and dusk."</p> Now this is what Im talking a…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2011-02-28:2036984:Comment:1287062011-02-28T14:14:43.338ZDavid, aka, "McScruff"https://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/david553
Now this is what Im talking about - thanks fella's! Now where's my order form?
Now this is what Im talking about - thanks fella's! Now where's my order form?