Bluegill - Big Bluegill

Do you love big bluegill?

Let's discuss how to succeed finding hooking and landing Smallies that live in rivers !http://bigbluegill.com/group/fishing-for-smallmouth-bass-in-rivers

Views: 914

Replies to This Discussion

Clear water; fish mid river troughs .Muddy water ;hit the banks and look for clear water runoffs dumping into the river.This has paid off for me in the past .Muddy water gets the Chartreuse spinners and Spinner bait call.

Deep Holes under Bridges are hot spots .Here are a few low river near bridge smallies I caught 1st time fishing the Shenandoah for two days .The water was fairly quick as it was funneled through the bridge openings and the smallies were back in a feeding zone coming to them . I particularly like the Turquoise hues of the Red Breasted Sunfish I caught there. This was back in 2010 in July . Boy was it hot! Had to sit down in the river to cool off .

I found a hole by a steep bank and got three smallies out of it in two times fishing .Three different sizes ranging from about  6-10"

A real treat getting the biggest and most energetic on a fly rod .Took a Burke plastic Hellgrammite.

Reading John Tertuliani's book ,'Smallmouth Bass and Streams', (Thoughts on Fly Fishing) Stresses the importance of Bedrock, Large Boulders , moderate flow current and Scour holes for Smallmouth Habitat .

Just below a dam spillway is a good starting point for finding scour holes .I look for steep banks too .

Latest Smallie River Rig .Catches multi species and Smallies love it .Cinching the Spinner and bead  6" above hook/bait  works great .

This rig took 14 fish from the river including Five Smallies last time out . 6 species Cr, BG, RBS, SM, LM ,Walleye.

RSS

Latest Activity

John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

augpick

"Yes, and mean eyes, Jeff. A bandit with the black across the Eye!"
8 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a status
"I found an influx of salt water in some creeks and the bite was muted, moved inland to locate better water conditions and it paid off.."
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a status
"We finally started settling down from crazy water level swings from Hurricane Erin, coolest surface temps in August in 15 years here…"
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

augpick

"Distinct colors and markings……pretty chain pickerel……"
yesterday
John Sheehan posted photos
yesterday
John Sheehan posted a photo
yesterday
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

late augspoongill

"Me too ,Jeff!"
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a photo

Picture of our Water Level Impacted by Hurricane Erin….8/26/2025

You see where I placed the yellow circle we lost two feet of water level which empties many…
Tuesday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

late augspoongill

"I enjoy using small tackle…..I always go to it when the water temperature dips below…"
Tuesday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

late augspoongill

"Having a little fun with the gills….."
Tuesday
John Sheehan posted photos
Tuesday
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

Mid August shore

"This Bass was wound  , Dick. High 70-80 degree water temp."
Aug 21
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

md august shore 2

"I hear ya Dick ,but its been a long time finding numbers of these great critters for me !"
Aug 21
dick tabbert commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

md august shore 2

"I can take these all night long."
Aug 20
dick tabbert commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

Mid August shore

"Nice LMB."
Aug 20
dick tabbert commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Aug 20

© 2025   Created by Bluegill.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service