Bluegill - Big Bluegill

Do you love big bluegill?

I've heard that these work great for crappie and panfish too when you tip a jig with them. Used them for the first time yesterday and got 2 strong hits that completely sunk my cork but no fish either time I set the hook. Seems like the fish are just hitting the nibble maybe?? But seems like it would have to get the hook too?? Opinions are appreciated!! Not sure if the gills or the crappie were hitting it. It was almost dark. Thanks a lot.

Views: 6240

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Also guys, I was using it to tip a trout magnet.

Don't know if there's catfish where you were fishing Jason but they do a pretty good job slipping those nibbles......I like a circle hook for those bait stealers......I present different baits different ways depending on how I'm fishing that particular day....

As Jeffrey stated, circle hook is the way to go for bait stealers. I concur that the crappie nibbles are great for panfish, because there are ingredients, which you can make yourself, composed of "shrimps". Yep..shrimps..beside the other amino acids and lipids to attract the fish even more. However, these little thing get so saturated that it get ripped off easily. The suggestion most anglers geared for is a #16 treble hooks. I don't like using treble hooks, but it's a sure fire to catch the bait stealers.

I'm not saying the fish were bait steelers. I'm saying it seemed like the fish were grabbing the nibble and not taking te actual hook well enough to get a decent hook set.

Jason, we may think the fish are foolish and stupid as they grab our baits without thinking. Bruce, Tony, Walt, and the rest of the fish whisperers and hunters know that they evolve..oooohh..do they evolve. I'm not surprised if they're laughing their heads off as they took a branch, poked the baits off, and grabbed the line a few inches above the hook and yanked it.

In seriousness, best to have the hook buried half way inside the nibble, while exposing the hook's tip for a good chance of a hookset if the fish decides to run. Reduce the total size of the nibbles to prevent stealing, since the small piece of nibble will increase the chance of hook engulfment. 

Reducing the size of the nibbles works well. I cut each nibble in half to make a short cylinder. I put them into an empty waxworm container that is not airtight. This lets the nibble dehydrate slightly, making it much tougher.

I use them on home-tied feather jigs and/or plastic body (Mini-Mite etc.). I put the tip of the hook completely through the nibble & slide the nibble to the hook bend. Works great for me on both crappies & for B.gills.

hit the same place this evening right at dark for maybe 30-45 minutes; used 1'' gulp minnows (smelt) tipped with glow chartreuse nibbles, caught 2 bg's and had a bump were the fish didn't commite fully; i was happy considering i rushed home just to fish for that length of time; standing there in bibs and a hoodie and catching a fish made me happy; haha

I fish with these a lot.  Primarily for crappie and gills.  Color is essential.  Use the same color as your favorite jig head.  Crappie seem to always strike from behind the lure and run towards my yak.  Usually all you feel is a slight tap.  Gills tend to strike and turn.  Making gills easier to catch.   Learn to set the hook every time you fill a tap.  A slight twitch of the wrist on a 7' rod is all it takes.   Don't wait for the fish to turn.   Your not bass fishing.  I believe the niblets double my catch. 

Tight lines.

I use crappie nibbles and have had great success on them.  You will miss fish, and they will get the nibble.  Russ Baily from Midwest Crappie tv show has a syringe in which you inject the nibbles into the plastic.  It works great on hollow tubes, because you fill up the hollow area.  On other plastics make a hole in the plastic with the syringe and fill up the hole.  You can use a regular syringe, and a needleless medication prep cannula to inject the nibbles into the plastics.  I have to admit sometimes it is a pain, but you don't have to put nibbles on every cast.

Dilly

I might have to give in and buy some of those nibbles. Heck, nothing else from Berkley does much good for me; maybe these will.

Thanks for the good usage tips, guys. I really like the idea of stuffing them in a tube.

They are definitely "bait stealers". Fish that are accustomed to high fishing pressure 'learn' after awhile. They don't always take the hook. I've observed the gills approach my offering and from a very small distance, literally suck the bait off the hook without getting hooked. I've seen this a hundred times over the years. My fix has been to keep going to a smaller hook size until I get the right size so that when they suck the bait they also suck in the hook. I have also went to circle hooks for increased hooking ratios.

Where do you get teensy-tiny, brim sized circle hooks?

RSS

Latest Activity

Jeffrey D. Abney commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

Ringwood Brook Rainbow Trout

"Smoker time…..enjoy John!"
10 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on John Sheehan's photo
10 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

489926224_10238683871295505_5852549182092207622_n

"Seeds always come to the party if they are in the area.,,,"
10 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

492222666_10238698533862060_5336729201480880262_n

"Nice gill John…..on the little rap……..my dad loved putting that bait on a fly…"
10 hours ago
John Sheehan posted photos
20 hours ago
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's status
"Somewhat surprised because it seemed like a quick turn on."
Thursday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on John Sheehan's status
"Good deal John…..were you confident or somewhat surprised by today’s success from…"
Wednesday
John Sheehan posted a status
"Some decent Gills and Crappie today from shore. Wish I got a Water temp. They were active between 11-noon!"
Wednesday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

In the Net….4/20/2025

"Look how little my popeye jig looks by the tail.......catch so many bass every year on these small…"
Monday
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

491836771_10238604253985122_2836813665102144302_n

"Mid-May is a guess without checking my records, Jeff. "
Sunday
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

wacky Bass on the Flats

"Thanks Dick, this lake is not producing like it has for Greg and I like it has in the past. We hope…"
Sunday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a photo

Pretty Colors to the East Minutes Before Sunrise…..4/20/2025

Beautiful sights fishing so close to the ocean…..
Sunday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Sunday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Sunday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a status
"Finally had winds below 20 knots this am so I splashed for three hours ….found 66 degree surface temps…..20 bites, caught 19 bass on jigs"
Sunday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

491836771_10238604253985122_2836813665102144302_n

"Glad you guys were able to get out…….when do you typically hit 60 degree water…"
Sunday
dick tabbert commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

wacky Pickerel

"Another toothy critter, awesome."
Sunday
dick tabbert commented on John Sheehan's photo
Sunday
John Sheehan posted photos
Apr 18
dick tabbert commented on Troy Dorman's photo
Thumbnail

1000003809

"Nicccccce"
Apr 16

© 2025   Created by Bluegill.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service