A blind squirrel can find nutz

[Smoltz]

I finally got my biggest gill. A 9 incher.
Many of them actually. And with in the first few casts. Then it became easy.... And it wasn't because I had the right rod set up or live bait or because I was using my custom tied hair jigs. It was because for the first time I actually found water that held quality fish. Not easy to do it seems on public lakes in Pennsylvania.

I seen so many on here catchin pig bluegills and I could never break that 8" mark. I fished lots and lots of different lakes locally. All public as I have no access to private lake/pond honey holes. I put in so much time while having fun come away frustrated. Never getting the sizes I had hoped for.

I went up to northern pa to a place I had researched. What I do is pull up and read biologists reports from every single lake. And read them through looking for ideas in the fish class and also predators. More larger predators mean less small fish. And no alewives baitfish or white perch to destroy n feed on bluegill nests. When you do that n travel around n find these places n just keep trying you finally figure it out.
And I found that you can basically catch em on anything. One of the easiest fish to catch. But you have to fish the lakes that have the quality fish in the first place. Stop wasting your time with equipment and special micro baits n stuff. And find water that contains large gills. Put more effort into location then tools and techniques.

Techniques do matter. But are low on the list compared to the water fished. Thanks to all those who have helped be obtaining my 9" gill quest.

[Slip Sinker]

same here.... may, June and  July

wish i could still fly-fish...

[Smoltz]

Thanks Jim.
I have also fly fished gills some. It's actually hard not to catch them on fly rod. They love insects.

[Kelly Peterson]

Smoltz I did the same with walleyes and bluegills, have tons of jigs, plastics and tied jigs mostly purchased on the recommendations from guys here and the Infisherman Panfish Annuals. I have caught fish on some of them but most recommend tipping with some sort of live bait. So have tried crawler bits along with Gulp 1" minnows, Slips Lil-Minnow Helgramites and other small scented plastic and again have caught fish. But the old standby of slipbobber, regular hook and a leech still continues to out produce the above 3-4 times to one.

Probably the best non live bait rig has been the 1/64" jig tipped with lil-minnow. Caught my first bull bluegill (about 8.5")on a 1/32" jig/pink waxie the other day, but only one. Rest we caught on leeches.

[Smoltz]

That's really nice fish congrats! Isn't it nice to actually have one like that in hand...

I hear ya on the tipping thing. May as well fish plain bait is what I always figured too. But i still try tipping hair jigs I tie. Idk.
We don't have access to leaches here locally. Have to order them. But I bet they are pure death on em. Look so deadly in the water!

[tracy willis]

the biggest factor in using solunar tables has to do when the moon is directly above and underfoot. although, moonlight during the phase makes it a little better. when the major period aligns with dusk or dawn it can be downright fun for a couple of hours.

i started using the tables years ago deer hunting and kept a log. i actually logged more deer sightings. what it doesnt do is account for things like a high presssure, low pressure or storm fronts.

Sullivan published his findings last year as it pertains to deer hunting and pretty much agrees that the 12 oclock and 6 oclock position of the moon does increase deer activity.