Do you love big bluegill?

One year later...........

The years seem to go by faster and faster the more often they happen. After losing the majority of 2009 to a second back surgery, I have found myself and my children once again fishing for panfish. Starting in 2010, we have ourselves starting again at the same place we left off - the warmwater flow of the Susquehanna River.

This year started off much different then before - here's the start from the first weekend in January:

Location: Susquehanna River/Saginaw area
Time: 9:15am - 11:35am
Water Temp: 58
Air Temp: 21-27
Bait: Artificials

Presentation(s): free line
pegged float
Fish: Bluegill (19)
Redbreasted sunfish (1)

Mrs. Zig thought I had officially lost my mind. "You do realize it's only 19 degrees out there right now................and windy." is what I heard as I gathered a few more last minute items.
She was right - it was cold. However the chill was forgotten very quickly once I made that first cast.
I headed to the warm water discharge flow area of Brunner's Island:

I was carrying an 8' Zebco Slab Seeker matched w/a "new to me" Plueger Trion reel. Spooled w/4lb chartreuse Sufix Elite mono and rigged with a double jig rig, I had a high feeling of confidence. I was curious how this line/reel/rod combination would work with a pair of 1/64oz. jigs. I was curious how well I would be able to see strikes with the bright chartreuse line. I was very curious how the Berkley angle worms I had along would work.

When I reached the first area I wanted to fish, I tipped the pearl white/pink marabou jig that anchored the rig w/a white Crappie Nibble, and opted to thread an angle worm on the 1/64oz. Firetiger jighead that hung 16" above the marabou jig.

Response was swift and immediate. The very first cast was answered by what turned out to be the days average bluegill:

The fact that it took the marabou jig over the angle worm made me start paying attention. While I had full confidence in this new bait, the facts started adding up a different picture. There were a few things that became obvious early on; the marabou jig was outfishing the jighead/angle worm, the marabou jig was bringing in the largest 'gills, a Crappie Nibble was of utmost importance, as the first fish that came on the angle worm was a result of an untipped marabou jig.
While the 'gills weren't trophy class, their size would make any panfish angler smile. Who doesn't like a bluegill with shoulders?

I ended up losing the original rig to structure, and opted to stay with a jighead/jig rig. I was curious if a suspended presentation would do any better, so I added a pegged float to the rig:

The marabou was swapped out w/a blue/chartreuse green hair jig and the Firetiger was replaced with a hot pink jighead. The float was moved around from 28 to 32" to keep the lower jig just above the bottom. (Set point adjusted to allow an even drift with the current - no drag on bottom)
This choice of jig brought the largest fish of the day to hand, a flawless 9.25" double hump bluegill:

There were a few times that the double jig rig messed with the numbers. What I found interesting was that each double always brought the smallest 'gills to hand - both in length and weight.

While I mentioned the angle worm not performing like I had hoped, I do have to clarify that thought. It was cold. Very cold. Cold enough that I really didn't want to take my gloves off as often as I did. That being said, the angle worm was always in the upper water column. Had I really wanted to see an accurate view of the true potential of this bait, I should have switched it to the lower jig location. The chance that the 'gills were willing to feed no higher then just above the bottom may very well have everything to do with the success of the hair and marabou jig success.
Every 'gill came from the upstream side of wood cover - not a single fish was caught on the downstream side of any cover: