Question about crickets for bluegills

[BluegillslayerfromWi]

Hi Everyone,
Just had a quick question. I never thought about using crickets before for bluegill but what a great idea. I might have to try it next time I go. Just a quick question.
Where do you hook crickets?
I have never used them before but I am willing to trying it out and see what I can catch. Let me know
Thanks
Scott

[John Sheehan]

Yes the Eagle Claw 215 is the Cricket hook. They come in size 4,6,8,10

[Jeremy R. Mayo]

And its sharp 2! My fav size is a #8. If crappie are in the same hole then I go to a true turn long shank #4. Its kinda small as most people prefer a #2 for crappie but it gets the job done and I can still harvest the smaller bluegill. If the crappie are getting in the mix a slower down fall a side to side or a lift on the cork means its most likely a crappie so I letem swallow it so I can get a good hook set.

Theres your hook tip of the day!

[John Cachel]

I was thinking about a drop of superglue on back hardshell cricket then put bottom edge of hook on the superglue and wait for a few seconds then ready to go. It would keep cricket alive much longer but will it work? Might need a small file to remove old superglue on the hook before add new cricket with a drop of fresh Superglue. Sounds might work but be careful with Superglue!

[Jeremy R. Mayo]

Theres this stuff called bait stick. You just dip your hook in and then dip the coated hook in the cricket bucket. Ive never used it but according to the website theres some pretty good reviews on it. Try it out and let us know.

[Bruce Condello]

I will admit that I've learned a lot of new stuff on this website. But "bait stick" blows my mind.

Wish I'd've thought of it.

[Jeremy R. Mayo]

Its pretty cool stuff but it takes to long to use and it makes a big mess. Just stick that joker and ROLL ON!

[Terry Hutcheson]

I have a friend who uses plastic crickets on jig heads for crappie he is a awsome crappie fisherman, he orders them by the thousand, really, so I would think gills would respond to them as well.

[John Sheehan]

What brand plastic cricket does he use ?

[bluegillboogieman]

I am stunned that there are brands of "plastic crickets". I googled and found one on Cabelo's. D & J Plastic Cricket. The following is a review on that page. It sounds like one of my reviews for gulp! Yes the reviewer is from Alabama. No I don't know him.

JLCFosters from Fosters, Alabama


"I've had absolutely no success with the product. I used them on an outing when I had both live and the artificial crickets. I constantly had success with the live cricket. But, whenever I placed the artifical cricket on, I had no bites! I would then change back to the live bait and the fish would immediately bite again. At one time I placed the artifical cricket on along with a live cricket. The fish would take the live, but not the artifical cricket."

Get REAL John. Real crickets that is.

[Clint]

More than a few folks have brought Crickets to fish in my ponds and all have struck out. For some reason BGs in my ponds shun Crickets. Worms always work. There are lots of places on Kentucky & Barkley Lakes that Crickets are the preffered bait and many a BIG BG has been taken on them.

I wonder what makes the difference?

Clint in far west Kentucky

[Jeremy R. Mayo]

Whats the weather like when they bring the buggers. If its cold then crickets aint worth a flip! They go into a deep sleep when there exposed to those colder temps and just look like a dead blob on the end of a hook. Worms can take that colder water temp and are able to get there wiggle on wich triggers that oh so famous bobber poppin reaction. I dont have any scientific studys or pages of reserch to prove it just trial and error from bluegill fishin 3 days a week for the past year now.

[John Sheehan]

Sounds like match the hatch and seasonal availability is KEY .I have a Crayfish ...excuse me CRAWFISH pattern on a certain brook that works for trout but it's a June thing.