Bluegill - Big Bluegill

Do you love big bluegill?

I'm new here and wanted to introduce myself. I'm stationed at Shaw AFB in Sumter SC. The fishing here is great once you find out where the buggers are hiding.

I like to see what folks are using and what their rigging ideas are.

This is what gets to to the fish. A Vapor 10. I have a console that clips to the cockpit combing. It is made of PVC pipe with a board to mount the fish finder..pliers..rod holder..and an adjustable mount for my phone so I can shoot video or use mavrick for navigation. The mount is made from a paint roller so it makes a great place to stage my lures.

I have an LED light mast on the back. Made that from pipe and led strips from amazon.

The anchor trolley needs some work. I will move the read pulley forward a few inches to help it work more smoothly.

My stake out pole is an aluminum broom handle that is partly filled with sand to make sure it hits bottom point down. The point is a a paint roller handle. The roller part was cut off and the stud that was left sticking out was sharpened. It works great.

I can go out and buy ready made equipment but I like the challenge of using other items. Its cheap n saves the money for more fishin trips.

What do yall roll around in?

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Replies to This Discussion

I've got a Perception Search 13.  SOT, 13',sonar, anchor trolley, drift sock, milk crate with extra rod holders zip-tied to that.  I typically troll open water, or fish the weedlines.  Lures, flies, bait, etc.  I've even rug jugs out of it.

Rug jugs? Run jugs?
Jugs.....haven't tried that yet. I would love to tie into a nice catfish on mine. A sleigh ride would be a lot of fun. I did take mine frog gigging a cpl weeks ago but had no luck. Thats really not something you can do solo.

Yes, I will run jugs every now and then.  I only have 6, made from magnum pool noodle with a core of 3/4" schedule 40 pvc pipe.  I can carry 9 jugs in my crate, but prefer to keep it at 6.  This leaves enough room for a Plano box, so I can fish with rod-and-reel while watching the jugs, troll to-and-from, etc.

I've never gotten into any decent sized cats.  Most of the small lakes take my kayak to don't allow jugs, and the few that do don't have any Blue Cats.

Sometimes, though, you just never know what's going to happen.  Last year, I was bass fishing, throwing a Jitterbug to the weedlines.  I got a huge hit, and my pole doubled over.  A 5 lbs Channel had grabbed my lure.

A couple years ago, a buddy of mine was fishing for Stripers with crankbaits.  A 30 lbs Blue grabbed his lure and pulled him around for an hour before he landed it in his kayak.

ANOTHER reason I want the bigger MAD RIVER 14 is it leaves some room for catting. I can't run jugs either, as it might offend or disturb the enjoyment of boat and property owners around Lake Murray.
But I can run set hooks, so I was going to make anchored sets. The idea is as you suggest Allen: paddle along and deploy them at intervals along channel edges, deep structure, etc. Then lurk around the area fly casting, spin fishing, etc., I'm fine with channel cats, too, especially those in the 2-3 lb class.

PS my favorite "Plano" box is the Magnum satchel type, in the 1100 series. I got my first one years ago at a thrift store and it just clicked with me. That one was broken by my son, so I now have another 1122 and am working to get a back up.
I wanted to run limb lines at sparkelberry swamp but found out they r banned there. I think jugs are a no go there too. Ill have to take a trip on the wateree river to try it out I guess.
Sparkleberry Swamp - now THATS an SC name!
Its the upper reaches of Lake Marion. I like it better than Scape ore swamp over in Bishopville. SC has some really interesting names for places.

I kinda like the name   Kudzu County , Mississippi         LOFR

Especially down in the Low Country.
There're are a few good ones scattered around:
Lick Fork is a fave
Grunt Slough is good
Beulah Land, right by my house, is nice.
But down there they have the names down pat.

here in Arkansas we have names like   " Possum Trot, Possum Grape , Weiner, Goobertown, and  Oil Trough , named for a place where they rendered bear fat.  LOFR

James Brown, the iconic entertainer, is known for his attachment to Augusta, Ga. But few know he was born outside of Barnwell, SC. His ramshackle birth home no longer exists, but was sited in a backwoods area then known as Piney Town. It got its name because turpentine manufacture was a major industry at that time; his father worked the small cottage mills, according to James.
We have other "towns" that spring to mind, as well:
Stiefeltown
Potters Town
Hamptown
Geechi Town
Town Creek

Most places have fun and unique names - South Carolina is. I exception. And while these names have nothing to do with kayaks or canoes, they are fun to relate.

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