Bluegill - Big Bluegill

Do you love big bluegill?

Targeting Golden Shiners

Information

Targeting Golden Shiners

Golden Shiners have always been an incidental catch in my experience. Anyone care to share their catches and hopefully conditions when you did, so we can understand this tiny mouthed favorite Prey of Apex Predators?   I have no idea how to target these Golden Shiners . I'd probably go with a #6 or smaller Aberdeen hook and a piece of worm if I did though . I recall catching around 6 in a row as a kid next to a Willow tree and that was the most at one time I ever caught . Come to think of it this one was caught very near an over hanging willow as well as Maple Tree .     Photos - Bluegill - Big Bluegill (ning.com)   

Members: 2
Latest Activity: Nov 20, 2023

Discussion Forum

This group does not have any discussions yet.

Comment Wall

Comment

You need to be a member of Targeting Golden Shiners to add comments!

Comment by John Sheehan on November 20, 2023 at 7:34pm
Comment by John Sheehan on May 28, 2023 at 7:11am

Great contribution Jeff thank you. I agree that a light wire hook Aberdeen #6 ,8 or 10 is perhaps the best hook to use when catching these small, mouthed Shiners. In fact I use 3" shiners to catch Crappie and generally use a 4,2 or 1 Aberdeen hook when trolling or drifting for 12" and bigger Slab Specks. The longer shanks are good for removal. With the light wire, whatever bait you use is less burdened and stays livlier.

Comment by John Sheehan on May 28, 2023 at 6:58am

You mention Grass Shrimp which I understand is a favorite Yellow Perch Bait. I recall  Greg getting a Golden Shiner one Year when we were fishing over in a cove by a stream inlet. We were on the Yellow Perch quite well when Gregs shiner was caught. 

Comment by Jeffrey D. Abney on May 27, 2023 at 6:49pm

Although Tooty’s bead head was on a heavier #6 hook, my grandkids and I have used them to catch hundreds of big golden shiners in our community lake…..it’s no wander the bass and catfish are big in there…..eating good…

Comment by Jeffrey D. Abney on May 27, 2023 at 6:30pm

Just because you’re crappie fishing with a 1/32 ounce jig/live cricket combination doesn’t mean a big golden won’t strike….see below!

Comment by Jeffrey D. Abney on May 27, 2023 at 6:28pm

I received some of Tooty’s homemade ties over ten years ago….I dubbed them “cotton candys”…….almost every time I fish them I catch a golden shiner…..there is a little red piece of plastic in the pink thread…..my guess is this resembles something that they really like……..

Comment by Jeffrey D. Abney on May 27, 2023 at 6:13pm

Comment by Jeffrey D. Abney on May 27, 2023 at 6:12pm

Comment by Jeffrey D. Abney on May 27, 2023 at 6:12pm

With so many grass shrimp in our creeks and rivers I have determined that the golden shiners will feed on these…..I’ve caught many in cold water with a small firefly jig tipped with a grass shrimp……you will find that a wire hook is best similar to a Sabiki rig….they will often grab the bait while swimming fast in schools…..I will attach a couple I caught in cold water in my region…..the firefly has a #10 wire hook…

Comment by John Sheehan on May 27, 2023 at 5:22pm

An 1837 watercolor painting of a golden shiner by Jacques Burkhardt. An 1837 watercolor painting of a golden shiner by Jacques Burkhardt.

 

Members (2)

 
 
 

Latest Activity

John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

Lower numbers of Perch this Year

"This guy gave in and didn't raise his Dorsal tall for the photo!"
13 hours ago
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

Always great to see these Guys!

"Me too, little fightin' sports!"
13 hours ago
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

Cooked

"It was great! Thanks, Jeff!"
13 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

Cooked

"Love the cast iron prep…..brings out my southern roots….looks great!"
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on John Sheehan's photo
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

Always great to see these Guys!

"Love them seeds…."
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Very Sunny Yesterday……5/7/2025

"Yes Bruce…..the tourney folks caught the bass during their spawn….now the bluegill…"
yesterday
John Sheehan posted photos
yesterday
Bruce Tomaselli commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Very Sunny Yesterday……5/7/2025

"It seems you've been running into bass lately. After watching that bass tournament it…"
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a photo

Gravid Shellcracker…..5/6/2025

She was around an old prehistoric cypress stump….
Tuesday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Tuesday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Tuesday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a status
"Fishing was tougher behind last nights frontal boundary….surface temperatures at 76 degrees today…25 total fish…"
Tuesday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Beast of a Coppernose…..5/3/2025

"Thanks Troy…..these are my addictive dynamics…."
Tuesday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Few More Weekend Winners on the Estuary….5/5/2025

"Thanks Troy….we’re taking off with the full moon next Monday…"
Tuesday
Troy Dorman commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Tuesday
Troy Dorman commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Tuesday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Monday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Beast of a Coppernose…..5/3/2025

"Thanks Bruce….not sure what’s going on but glad you got back on…..these fish…"
Monday

© 2025   Created by Bluegill.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service