Looking 4 some help.

[Corey]

Im only 27 and have little fishing knowledge. I love to fish i have 2 boats. It seems i can never get on the fish. I love to fish for Bluegill. I just dont really have any solid info on where, when and how to find the fish. I have caught fish here and there but dont really feel like ive ever been on the fish. This year ive been reading alot about water temp can help you find the fish, time of the year and local spawning times. I live in south western Indiana and was interested to here any advice that anyone would be interested in sharing, as well as any members from the area that were willing to share some local knowledge. Any advice would greatly be appreciated. Thanks. 

[David Dillman]

When I was a kid I fished  in southern Indiana.  We would fish In May around spawning time and we would catch alot of fish.    Look in shallow water for dug out holes in a clusters.  You should be able to see if the fish are bedding on their beds.  Since your starting out I would use a regular bobber, some splits shot and small hooks.  Tie on your hook,  use the internet to find out info about knot tieing.   Put some split shot six inches to 12 inches above the hook.  Split shot are lead sinkers that you slip on your fishing line and crimp it to the line with pliers.  Then put your bobber  two to three feet above the hook.  Adjust your bobber by the depth of the the water.  If your bobber is laying on the  water you need to make your bobber closer to the hook.  For bait use crickets.   Grab the cricket and turn it over.  insert the hook at top of the thorax.  Wax worms are easy to put on your hook also.

The rest of the year look for weed edges. under tree branches or lay downs which are trees laying down in the water.  look on the edge of cattails.  any where the fish can hide and ambush their prey. 

This should get your started.  It has been a long time since I have fished this way, so some of the live bait fishermen should be able to give you the specifics of the weights of the split shot and the size of the hook and the best bobber to use. 

[Tony Livingston]

Corey, I don't know where in Indiana you're at, but I live in south central Indiana myself. The forecast for this upcoming week looks good for us as far as temperatures, and I suspect that next weekend could be some very prime angling. You didn't mention the type of water you are fishing, but my general suggestions for next weekend would be:

Try shallower water first, look for a place up in a small cove, or flat where the water depth is 4' or so, and preferably one with a steep bank, where the water gets deep right off the shore. I prefer a brushy shoreline, with lots of overhanging limbs....it can make casting challenging, some folks use long "cane" poles and just extend the bait in.A cove with quick and easy access to deeper water is a plus also, as the fish will not be committed to shallow water this early in the season, rather they will move in and out while feeding on warmer days.

I agree with David - live bait suspended below a float will probably be your best bait. Use the smallest float that you can reliably cast, coupled with just enough splitshot to achieve near neutral bouyancy. My fish have been more aggressive the past couple of weeks, but there are still plenty of light biters, and you need a properly balanced float to register the light takes.

For hook size, I would recommend keeping a few different ones, with sizes 8-12 being your primary "go to" hooks. If the fish are not highly pressured, or are aggressive, you can catch them on a size 6 a little later in the season.

If you like artificial lures, you might try a small spoon, inline spinner, or a combination spinner/grub type. Remember that the water is still cold, and the Bluegills lethargic. They will probably not be inclined to "chase" a lure very far, at least not yet. A few more degrees rise in the water temps will change that. Good luck!

 

 

[dick tabbert]

I think David and Tony pretty well covered it the only thing I would add is the north side of lake will warm up first that's where I would start and again and most important this time of year is to slow your bait presentation down. If you know the lake at all and know where the fish have spawned in the past I would start in the deeper water from there. If an old weed bed is present fish the outside of it and good luck and GOOD FISHIN..

[dave]

in fisherman has great info for beginner to advanced  give them a look online or check out all the books videos and dvds  its good stuff

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