Bluegill - Big Bluegill

Do you love big bluegill?

Targeting Golden Shiners

Information

Targeting Golden Shiners

Golden Shiners have always been an incidental catch in my experience. Anyone care to share their catches and hopefully conditions when you did, so we can understand this tiny mouthed favorite Prey of Apex Predators?   I have no idea how to target these Golden Shiners . I'd probably go with a #6 or smaller Aberdeen hook and a piece of worm if I did though . I recall catching around 6 in a row as a kid next to a Willow tree and that was the most at one time I ever caught . Come to think of it this one was caught very near an over hanging willow as well as Maple Tree .     Photos - Bluegill - Big Bluegill (ning.com)   

Members: 2
Latest Activity: Nov 20, 2023

Discussion Forum

This group does not have any discussions yet.

Comment Wall

Comment

You need to be a member of Targeting Golden Shiners to add comments!

Comment by John Sheehan on November 20, 2023 at 7:34pm
Comment by John Sheehan on May 28, 2023 at 7:11am

Great contribution Jeff thank you. I agree that a light wire hook Aberdeen #6 ,8 or 10 is perhaps the best hook to use when catching these small, mouthed Shiners. In fact I use 3" shiners to catch Crappie and generally use a 4,2 or 1 Aberdeen hook when trolling or drifting for 12" and bigger Slab Specks. The longer shanks are good for removal. With the light wire, whatever bait you use is less burdened and stays livlier.

Comment by John Sheehan on May 28, 2023 at 6:58am

You mention Grass Shrimp which I understand is a favorite Yellow Perch Bait. I recall  Greg getting a Golden Shiner one Year when we were fishing over in a cove by a stream inlet. We were on the Yellow Perch quite well when Gregs shiner was caught. 

Comment by Jeffrey D. Abney on May 27, 2023 at 6:49pm

Although Tooty’s bead head was on a heavier #6 hook, my grandkids and I have used them to catch hundreds of big golden shiners in our community lake…..it’s no wander the bass and catfish are big in there…..eating good…

Comment by Jeffrey D. Abney on May 27, 2023 at 6:30pm

Just because you’re crappie fishing with a 1/32 ounce jig/live cricket combination doesn’t mean a big golden won’t strike….see below!

Comment by Jeffrey D. Abney on May 27, 2023 at 6:28pm

I received some of Tooty’s homemade ties over ten years ago….I dubbed them “cotton candys”…….almost every time I fish them I catch a golden shiner…..there is a little red piece of plastic in the pink thread…..my guess is this resembles something that they really like……..

Comment by Jeffrey D. Abney on May 27, 2023 at 6:13pm

Comment by Jeffrey D. Abney on May 27, 2023 at 6:12pm

Comment by Jeffrey D. Abney on May 27, 2023 at 6:12pm

With so many grass shrimp in our creeks and rivers I have determined that the golden shiners will feed on these…..I’ve caught many in cold water with a small firefly jig tipped with a grass shrimp……you will find that a wire hook is best similar to a Sabiki rig….they will often grab the bait while swimming fast in schools…..I will attach a couple I caught in cold water in my region…..the firefly has a #10 wire hook…

Comment by John Sheehan on May 27, 2023 at 5:22pm

An 1837 watercolor painting of a golden shiner by Jacques Burkhardt. An 1837 watercolor painting of a golden shiner by Jacques Burkhardt.

 

Members (2)

 
 
 

Latest Activity

John Sheehan posted a photo

Tabbert cricket

Swallowed the Black Tabbert Cricket
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a photo

Lot of Coppernose Over a Piund this Summer….9/11/2026

Story to come in the next couple months…,,,
Sep 11
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Had a Great September Morning Earlier This Week…..9/10/2026

"Thanks John…..dabbled in a few other places but Facebook didn’t like my dictionary…"
Sep 11
John Sheehan commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Had a Great September Morning Earlier This Week…..9/10/2026

"Nice to see you back here, Jeff! Been awhile! Got 78 water temp this past Tuesday, fishing for…"
Sep 11
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a photo

Had a Great September Morning Earlier This Week…..9/10/2026

Fished a mini urchin from blind squirrel baits under a float on a telescopic pole……surface temps…
Sep 10
John Sheehan posted photos
Sep 9
John Sheehan posted photos
Aug 29
John Sheehan posted photos
Aug 26
John Sheehan posted photos
Aug 20
John Sheehan posted photos
Aug 12
John Sheehan posted photos
Aug 5
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

grt26

"The Hot Crank Bait."
Jul 24
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

gtjuly26

"Been a long time getting a Greenie! Got two."
Jul 24
John Sheehan posted an album
Jul 24
John Sheehan posted photos
Jul 24
John Sheehan commented on dick tabbert's photo
Thumbnail

Floating snake 2

"Dick, have you tried it out?"
Jul 21
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

july26

"Nice to see them coming back in bigger sizes in my home lake of Cupsaw Ringwood NJ."
Jul 21
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

JULY26HELGIE PICKEREL

"Yes Dick .Iv'e eaten both Pike and Pickerel and sometimes laziness gets me taking back strap,…"
Jul 21
dick tabbert commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

july26

"Nice"
Jul 21
dick tabbert commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

JULY26HELGIE PICKEREL

"Nice pickerel, John. I know Northern Pike are good eating but the bones are something else."
Jul 21

© 2026   Created by Bluegill.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service