Finding bluegills in cold weather/water.

[glenn spruille]

how do you entice the bluegills to bite when the water temp. are in the 30-40 degrees range? im fishing in 3-10 ft of water with no luck.the bass are biting; along with the bullheads...or should i just wait until the weather/water temp. to improve? im fishing sand lake and rasmussen lake in antioch, il.

[John Sheehan]

I think you need a different location on the same lakes .I was catching Bass the other day and switchin poles for Gills but none came .Went to a different location and it was some gills but no Bass.

[Johnny wilkins]

Glenn,

I have a small group fishing just to the South West of you- the water will be that temperature! These fish are there - you are just fishing right past them. They are subtle biters this time of year in our cold waters. I know it is a holiday weekend so if you can't make it tomorrow, I will post photos.

 

This bag of gills was caught 2 weeks ago in Downers Grove

 

 

[GillnBrian]

First it helps to really be familiar with the lake you are fishing.

I start gill fishing almost immediately after ice-out in canals and backwaters off the main body of water I fish. I look for slower, warmer water than the norm for the lake. Even one or two degrees may concentrate the fish.

 

This time of year the gills are biting very lightly. So rather than the typical slip bobber set-up I use. I switch to the lightest Thill bobber I can get away with and use a 1/80th-1/100th

ounce jig head and a tiny plastic lure tipped with a mousie or meal worm.

The bite will be so light that you will miss many strikes with a bobber that is too big for the presentation. (the 2" thill pencil bobber is about as big as I go)

 

Typical depth I find the gills at is anywhere between 5 and 7 feet. If they are holding close to the bottom and I need more line beneath the bobber..., rather than go with a slip bobber set-up. I switch to a longer 7+ foot rood to get the presentation where I need it. 

The fish are bitin...but you gotta be able to detect those bites.

[Johnny wilkins]

Don't make me come up to Antioch! Actually, I might be heading up there this summer for some clients. Don't fish the post-cold rain periods when the water temps drop. Skip the mornings because fish warm up in Spring and the afternoon bite will be better. The gills should be in that 5 foot of water by you as they are all over just a few miles down the road here. They are as shallow as 3 feet now and starting to move around.

Now- if you have a ultra-deepwater lake with 30 foot of water, you might have to try in the 8 foot range as the lake might still be turning over from ice-out. I went out on Saturday and caught over 300 in Bloomingdale on a telescopic pole with live bait.

[glenn spruille]

thanks johnny for the tips i shall be mindful the next time im out on the lake or my favorite pond that i fish.