Crankbaits for gills?

[NJAngler]

Hey guys. I don't know if this has been brought up here already, but does anyone here use smaller crankbaits when gill fishing? It's never mentioned when baits are being discussed but I have had success on the large Lake Wallenpaupack in PA using them.

[John Sheehan]

I've been catching a few Gills targeting Crappies and White and Yellow Perch with a Bomber 4f...(tracks4-6 ft.)I troll to find fish then drift for them.The 4f is too big for numbers of gills but they catch panfish well when they are suspended .I'm gonna check to see if Bomber makes a smaller crank and get back to you .Thanks for putting me onto this.I would also like to find a great BGill crank.You know the small rapalas work when gills are shallow...but again I'm not sure about consistent catches...that's the ticket.. finding a lure that numbers are caught on.If you don't mind catching White Perch,Yellow Perch,Crappies and Bluegills and Sunfish that are in thier summer patterns and suspended then you might try a Bomber 4f.

[Bluegill Chaser]

I caught a bunch of bluegills the other day on a lipless Rapala sinking crankbait in trout pattern. It's about 1.5 inches long and I fished fast it near the edge of cover. They'd shoot out and nail it. Lots of misses though, because they aren't super accurate and the speed of it. Maybe when you see them shoot out pause it for a split second? Anyway, it was the first time I threw one and it worked well.

[John Sheehan]

That sounds like a great Pattern ! Especially with the summer lily pad growth.Thanks Man!

Cranks are a great search bait that cover the water quickly.

[Bluegill Chaser]

Oh, one thing I forgot to mention, make a few casts along the exact same line, it seems like the first one or two casts got them interested, then they actually start biting.

[John Cachel]

I don't use crankbait for bluegills but I did caught some nice bluegills on no. 7 floating Rapala while fish for smallmouth bass in river! My friend caught some bluegills on no. 3 floating and sinking Rapala! Rebel Crickehopper and Bumble Bug in size 1 1/2 " and Rebel Minnow size 1 5/8" are good crankbait for panfish!

[John Sheehan]

Yes The Cricket hopper does well for my brother and his son ,,Gills,Crappie(earlier in the season) and small bass

[NJAngler]

When I go up to Wallenpaupack, I do general fishing off of the dock - bass and panfish mostly. Believe it or not, I've had much success catching gills using my excalibur shallow fry crankbait.

[Patrick "Bullworm" Olson]

I have several small and very small cranks that I use for gills. I have some Strike King Bitsy Ponds, Rapalas (floating sinking and suspending), Yo-Zuri Pins minnows, Rebel Baits has a good line up with Teeny Wee- craws and frogs, and a tadploe! One trick I love to do, is to remove all the trebels and just put one small circle hook, size 10 or 8 in the back. It will be alot easier on you and the fish when you remove a hooked gill! Good luck with the crankin'!

[John Sheehan]

Yes I forgot the Teeny wee R's work well for gills and perch .The larger Wee R is killer for trout and big Yellow Perch.
Good tip with the single hook.

[NJAngler]

Good tip. I prefer to use cranks whenever I can; I find them to be the most enjoyable and fun lures to use.

[James Feasel]

I've had success with the little bomber fat a (1.75 inches long including the dive lip) and the smallest big o, 1/10 oz (2 inches long including diving lip). Retrieve like you would a floating rap, which is also good in size 5. I've stuck many aggressive green sunfish on just about every plug and topwater I throw in the smallmouth creeks.