Do you love big bluegill?

Reelfoot Trip

I was thinking about planning a trip to Reelfoot Lake sometime this year for some crappie and bluegill. I was just wanting to get your thoughts on the lake and if it is worth the trip. Thanks for any help that you all can give me.

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Permalink Reply by Bruce J Miller on January 31, 2010 at 3:33pm

I have fish Reelfoot a few times. #1; Get the package deal. And use their boat and motor! Stumps everywhere. #2; Timing is everything, go too soon,when it is still cool, slow bite, small fish. last week of April, 1st week of May or later are good, IMHO! #3;Chicken jigs or flu-flu jigs tipped with beemoths, small icefishing jigs or spoons work good also! Get right up next to cover and cypress stumps. Use long crappie rods and spyder rod set up for drifts over open flats for crappie. #4; take lots of jigs, lures,etc. and when drifting be ready for snags. It will happen, so I use 4lb to break off real easy and just retie. That way the other rods are still working! #5; bring your own transom mount TM and battery and charger. Next time I go, I will bring my Carolina Skiff 16J. I know the lake better now, Just take it easy so I won't tear the lower unit up. I will have the comfort of my seats, fishfinder-gps, bowmount TM. But a first timer should "learn" the lake with their boat & motor. You will hit underwater treetops and stumps. Just hit them going slow! Good luck and hope this helps you!

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Permalink Reply by Ryan Dorris on February 1, 2010 at 11:11am

Hey Mark..My uncle and I went there last year for the first time. We went the 2nd week in may..The bite was slow but we did manage to find a few spots holding some of the biggest bluegill Ive probly ever caught! We fished for 3 days and ened up with a bout 300 fillets of bluegill and a few cats to go along with. The package is the way to go though. They supply your bait and your boat gas too.. We didnt really do any crappie fishing but i seen a bunch of nice ones taken from there..My uncle actually caught one while fishing for gills. It was a big one. But we a had a great time there and are already planning our trip to reelfoot this year!