Do you love big bluegill?

9 Inch Golden Shiner.

We have double digit sized Largemouth in these lakes and they are eatin' good with schools of these bait fish available.

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Comment by John Sheehan on January 3, 2012 at 3:48pm: Yes thought so, the mouths are too small for a bait fish ,but they will attack a lure or object in their face .Reaction strike or territorial strike I would think.

Comment by Jeffrey D. Abney on January 3, 2012 at 3:30pm: Zooplankton, algae, plants and insects and they can reach up to 12 inches....I've caught many on a #4 long shank hook so I'm thinking you would be fine....In our community lakes they just boil on live crickets.......almost frenzy like!

Comment by John Sheehan on January 3, 2012 at 3:20pm: I never targeted them but have run into them.If I did a #12 or 14 would be about right I would think.What do shiners forage on I wonder?

Comment by John Sheehan on January 3, 2012 at 3:18pm: I never targeted them but have run into them.If I did a #12 or 14 would be about right I would think.

Comment by Jeffrey D. Abney on January 3, 2012 at 2:38pm: John, I catch these shiners on my bluegill gear all the time....# 4 hook.....and as you can see, they get pretty big and hit pretty hard when they get going...

Comment by David, aka, "McScruff" on October 26, 2011 at 4:13pm: I actually enjoy catching these large shiners. When a school of them comes around, the action is nonstop. It can be a bit of a challenge to hit on just what will coax a take from them, and the hook must be small. But once you have these two things dialed in, the shiner school will keep the water boiling as they clamber over each other to get your bait.

Then, just as soon as they appeared - they will be gone and the bite will be over. You will be left standing there with pole in hand, poised and waiting. And waiting. And waiting....

In Britain they call them "roach," and consider them sport. I've heard of people eating them, too, although I've never had a go.

Comment by Jeffrey D. Abney on October 26, 2011 at 4:08pm: In the Summer I catch these shiners on whole kernel corn and sail them out under a big float and wait for Mr. Largemouth......The strange thing to me is catching a bass just a couple pounds on a 6 to 7 inch shiner, just shows you how prolific a bass is in the food chain.