Fishing with bluegill 2024

Rayraff reply :

Over the summer I go fishing in a small pond in a neighborhood around the area. It was stocked 10 years ago and holds some monster bass (12+ pounds) The problems is getting them to bite. I have tried every lure, every method, and due to rules in the ponds you can't use bait fish bought from a store. So, I bring a ultra light and catch a couple of bluegill to fish with.

The blue gill work great and you get a bite ever 5 minutes or so but the problem is hooking the bass. I've tried hooking the bluegill everywhere....the tail, the lip, the back..... but whenever I set the hook the bluegill always pops out of the bass's mouth. I've tried waiting for 2seconds, 10 seconds, even 2 minutes when a monster took the bluegill but it never seems to hook.

So my question is, how can I hook these fish so that I get a pretty successful hook percentage.

Other. reply :

You might want to find out this is legal before attempting this.

Low_Budget_Hooker reply :

Yea, careful, It's not legal in RI.

MattLures Bluegill swimbaits are though....

Bassn Blvd reply :

Try using a 2/0 or 3/0 circle hook. Hook the Bream in the nostrils or just under the dorsal fin. Depending on the size bluegill, give the bass time to eat it.

The MOST important thing to do when using the circle hook is to NOT set up. Just raise the rod tip and start reeling.

jjbassjj reply :

I've done this a few times for big Flatheads and while i was doing I'd catch some big bass and i mean big. It may sound crazy...but bring some scissors along and cut the real sharp part of the breams dorsil. I always do this when fishing with bream. The results show.

I'd just tie a big treble and leave a 4 or 5 inch tag end. Then I'd tie a a big single hook(I'd use a 4/0 kahle). I'd hook the treble through the nostrils and the kahle under the dorsil. The key is really letting them eat it and dont set the hook like a worm or jig. Try that and bet you'll catchem

Good Luck! ;D ;D ;D Tell us if you catch her.

HesterIsGod reply :

if they dont let you fish with bait bought at a store i highly doubt it legal to fish with live gills. instead try lipless cranks or swimbaits in bluegill colors.

SDoolittle reply :

Quote
if they dont let you fish with bait bought at a store i highly doubt it legal to fish with live gills. instead try lipless cranks or swimbaits in bluegill colors.

In many places it is legal to use live fish only if they are caught from the waters you are fishing. The reason that store bought minnows are illegal is to keep from introducing fish that are not native to that body of water.

.dsaavedra. reply :

i emailed the fisheries guy at my local DNR to ask him if it was OK for me to use live bluegills as bait where i was fishing. in a very prompt repsponse he said it was perfectly legal.

so after that i went to the local park which is OVERRUN by bluegills about 3-4" long and i'd just drop a hook w/ a pice of white rubber (the best bait for them) in the water and catch a small bluegill.

then i'd hook it in the back just under the dorsal fin. make sure the hook is fully exposed. alot of times the hook will turn around and penetrate the bluegill instead of the bass on the hook set.

then i'd do a technique used on the chesapeake bay for striper called "live lining". what you do is you cast out your little fishie and wait for a bite. when you get a bite, open your bail or click into freespool. then let the fish run w/ your bait for about 30 seconds. after that close the bail or engage the spool and just crank down on it, dont set the hook with your rod. works well for me. i get great hook up ratios.

SenkoBasser reply :

I just don't see the point. If the water is over populated with bluegills (which is unheard of up here) then eat them! Bluegills are delicious. Not a big fan of catching bass with live bait. Sorry.

F150FishinNC reply :

I'm a big fan of catchin bass with anything....gotta be more sporting to catch em with LIVE bait I'd think....shoot, I've caught some little ones on worms and bobbers before fine by me lol

Rayraff reply :

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Not a big fan of catching bass with live bait. Sorry.

I live near Chicago where its almost impossible to find 10+ pound bass because the lakes are all over fished. The bass in the pond don't bite anything but bluegill, I've tried a bluegill lipless crankbait and that didn't work

SenkoBasser reply :

But you're fishing for 10+ pond bass. What's wrong with 5 or 6 pound bass? I'll fish for the rest of my life and will porbably never catch a 10 pound bass.

Grey Wolf reply :

Quote

Quote
Not a big fan of catching bass with live bait. Sorry.

I live near Chicago where its almost impossible to find 10+ pound bass because the lakes are all over fished. The bass in the pond don't bite anything but bluegill, I've tried a bluegill lipless crankbait and that didn't work

That's hard to believe that they won't hit any thing else.

Jake. reply :

You've tried large swimbaits? 10-12" plastic worms? Big jigs?

Rayraff reply :

I have tried everything...Crank baits, Worms, Jigs, Spoons, Night crawlers, top waters, spinner baits, the only other thing that worked was a fly, but I'm not that big of a fly fisherman.

Their feeding habit is really weird as well. They only eat until 8 a.m. and then they stop. You'd think they'd go into deeper water because of the water temperature but they stay shallow and whenever you walk along the shore you see them.

guest reply :

In Florida fishing with Bream is legal provided you catch them yourself.

try using a 3/0 Kahle hook, and hook the gill up through the bottom lip and out the top through the nose.

Use a Heavy rod and low stretch line (braid is ideal)

Using a cork is the easiest method.

Let the cork go under, allow the bass to start to swim off with the bait.

Tighten up the line and keep it perfectly straight between you and the bass, then set the hook like you mean it.

I also use a regular offset worm hook, typically 4/0 owner and have a good hook up rate with these as well.

bass will take the bait head first, so don't worry about him having the hook in his mouth. The problem is usually too soft a rod (this is not the place for that nice flexy tip) or a less than determined hook set.

cross her eyes bubbha.

dave reply :

I once fished a small private pond with a friend. It was his uncles' pond and they had stocked it years before. I tried and tried with a majority of lures. Nothing. He caught bass after bass on big shiners. He said they had been feeding (fishing with only live shiners) for years since they were kids and the fish were conditioned to only hitting live shiners. I tied on a jerk bait and started catching fish. My friend was shocked. Match the hatch. Use a blue gill imitator.

grimlin reply :

Try these...close as you are gonna get to match the hatch.

http://www.mattlures.com/bluegillswimbait.htm

SenkoBasser reply :

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I'm a big fan of catchin bass with anything....gotta be more sporting to catch em with LIVE bait I'd think....shoot, I've caught some little ones on worms and bobbers before fine by me lol

What? More sporting catching them on live bait?

F150FishinNC reply :

well maybe i mis-spoke....but I don't see anything wrong with it...

AKFerzy7 reply :

anyone ever tried fishing with field mice? ive caught some monsters on them. cant force myself to hook one but rubber band them to the hook and toss em out and let em swim.

F150FishinNC reply :

ok stupid question here but does it kill the field mouse when the bass hits it? lol do you wait a minute and let it breathe after a cast? this is just so hilarious to me but i bet it does work

AKFerzy7 reply :

yea it kills the mouse when a bass hits usually. but the mouse usually doesnt live long enough to drown.

watch these videos ones of a chipmunk the others a squirrel

fishizzle reply :

Its legal in CT to use bluegill

Illegal to use bass and trout

Bass hit bait from behind then turn it around in their mouth and swallow head first. I have seen a dead 4 lb. bass with a big bluegill in its mouth that got stuck.

Yes heavy equipment and swing for the fence after a 10 count or so.

Hook the bluegill in the mouth

Use a bobber to keep fish off bottom if weedy

Just like Avid said

Rayraff reply :

I have a mouse shaped top water lure thats black and i've caught a load of bass on it.

hamer08 reply :

I've never used bluegill for bass. When I use them for catfish, I hook them under the dorsel fin with a hook about 2x the width of the bluegill. I've caught some LM bass on cut bluegill on the bottom when fishing for cats. This was in IL also (where its legal to use gills for bait). I may have to try them myself this summer. I can think of a couple of lakes that only have a few large bluegills. These are usually in lakes with activately managed bass and muskie populations.

Del from philly reply :

I remember fishing when i was a kid, we would cast out our small bluegill catches and would get hit so hard it broke the line every time.

I was thinking maybe a musky, but it would have been 6 or 7+ bass!

that hit was the hardest i ever felt..

BTW

Dont let these guys put you down....

even tho i agree with them, i hate using live bait, it seems like sometimes a few of the guys on here try and push their beliefs on everyone....

theyre good people, but when they dissagree with a method....WATCH OUT!

they start with the "thats illegal" comments, and the "thats unethical" comments......

just do what you gotta do to enjoy fishing!

Del from philly reply :

Rigging the bluegill:

use a big circle hook, and to hook them on, try tying them on with wire or thick fishing line....it works in salt, and might work here too....

guest reply :

I have to make sure I go out and get a copy of DEL's GUIDE TO ANSWERING POSTS

What is wrong with helping someone by letting them know something they are asking about may be illegal????? GEEZZ!!!!

Rayraff reply :

In salt water you can actually tie the fish's nostril to a hook but I don't know if that will work with a blue gill

bigbill reply :

Its a fact that the bigger bass only eat bluegills/sunfish as a regular diet. I use only bluegill lures and jig with then like the bluegill is in trouble making it an easy prey for the bass. I have also found out the bigger bass are close to shore in the dark and low light situations ambushing the bait. If your really stealthy in the dark and quiet with your tacklbox you can do really good fishing from shore. Walk softly too they do get ground vibrations as you walk too. Even wear dark clothes too, camo is better. It can truely pay off when we do it right even from shore.

guest reply :

Thats not a fact everywhere and on every body of water. Check out those Cali trout fed bass, on the susqy here it's crawfish, on some bigger impoundments it may be Shad!

Where I live there are some ponds that the bluegill is definitely what the bass are eating, On Tuscaroa, i would wager crawfish. Bass are abushers and will eat whatever looks like a meal, I wouldnt eliminate any possibility when fishing for them

roadwarrior reply :

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Its a fact that the bigger bass only eat bluegills/sunfish as a regular diet.

Hmm...

I don't know where you heard that, but nothing could be further from the truth. On certain bodies of water, bass or any other predator may have a preference for certain prey, but in the waters I fish bluegill are definitely not the primary forage.

8-)

HesterIsGod reply :

Quote

Quote
Its a fact that the bigger bass only eat bluegills/sunfish as a regular diet.

Hmm...

I don't know where you heard that, but nothing could be further from the truth. On certain bodies of water, bass or any other predator may have a preference for certain prey, but in the waters I fish bluegill are definitely not the primary forage.

8-)

Youre right RW. In fact, many accomplished fisheries bioligists believe bass will not eat bluegill if their is an ample amount of other kinds of prey available. The only reason the bass strike the bluegill is because of territorial or predatorial instincts. Bass usually much prefer a soft shelled crawfish or a soft shad or trout to a spiney bluegill.

Rayraff reply :

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Even wear dark clothes too, camo is better. It can truely pay off when we do it right even from shore.

Sorry for bashing on you man but dark clothes are the absolute worst thing you can wear fishing because it's easier for the fish to see you body against the sky.

Btw, this pond is the wierdest pond ever... Its about a 1/4 of a square mile and it holds 6lb walleye, 20+lb carp, 10+lb bass, Nice channel catfish and I caught a 35" pike on one of the bluegill. They don't just throw the big fish in there because it hasn't been stocked in 10 years. And like I said the ONLY thing that the bass bite are live bluegills, they won't even touch the dead ones.

jwo1124 reply :

I think it is absolutely SADISTIC to use a mammal as fishing bait. Anyone who does that should 1.) Be ashamed of themselves, and 2.) Go to prison for animal abuse.

Worms and fish are so primatively evolved I see no problem in using them as bait. They probably forget they are on the hook after you toss them into the water. But using a mouse, or a squirrel or a chipmunk is screwed up.

I saw a guy catching small perch to use as "BIG"Bass bait, so I tired catchign a small sunfish to do the same, but I couldn't find it in me to hook the sunny to toss out for a bass to eat...I guess I just felt bad like the fish was better than to be used as bait. Bluegill, even though they are small and annoyign at times, are still gamefish, and I think they deserve more respect than to be used as bait.

If you want to use bait(live or dead/cut) to catch bass, or any other gamefish, that's your perogative. I think the only reason bait fishing gets such a bad rap in bass fishing is mostly because everyone is trying to emulate the Pro Anglers who fish for hundreds of thousands of dollars, and they think that by catching bass like them, they are just like them. Similar to when kids go out and buy hundred dollar Air Jordans becasue they "Wanna be like Mike" I guaren...d**n...tee that if Pro Bass Anglers fished with bait in BASS Tournaments no one would have a problem with it and say it is "unsporting".

Anyone who denies the claim that they use lures because they try to be like the pro's and the guys on TV are liars. I know because that is the reason I spend so much money on rods, reels, and lures, and tons of other fishing paraphanilia I see advertised by Bill Dance, or KVD, or on any other fishing show on TV.

Unless you are practice fishing for a tournament, there is really no reason to shun live bait. Except for the fact you may get a nose or two turned up at you by tournament anglers, and wanna be's.

I am probably gonna get some negative feedback by guys going on the defensive, and that wasn;t my intentions. I'm just stating the truth, whether they want to except it or not.

I have started not to use bait more often then I do, mainly because getting bait is a hassle, it's expensive($5 for 12 shiners, half of which will fly off the hook on a cast, some will die, an many will get eaten by dink bass. In other words it's gonna be $15 for a good few dozen baits for a fishing trip. If you fish a few times a week it gets expensive.) Then going out of the way to the bait shop, making sure it is open...

Plus I have fell into the baitfishing is for kids and the ignorant mentality, which I admit is wrong, since fishing is fishing whether you use lures or bait, niether of which is more prestigous than the other. JUst my opinion, some may like it, some may hate it, others could care less.

HesterIsGod reply :

From what ive read from other posts it looks like in most lakes it is in fact legal to catch bluegill and use them as bait. Around here (N.E Illinois) it is illegal to do that in a lot of lakes/ponds, so that is what i was basing my assumption off of. Sorry if i misguided anybody.

hamer08 reply :

It seems odd to have that as a lake specific regulation, especially given its specially mentioned in the IL fishing regulations. Although you do have to follow creel limitations for harvest (some lakes gills must be 8").

http://dnr.state.il.us/fish/digest/digest.pdf

pg 2.

guest reply :

jwo1124: We all do not fish for the same reasons nor does everyone think just like you. Hey I use artificial baits, because way back in the 60's an older man who taught me about fishin , tied on an Original Floating Rapala in Silver, and i caught my first bass. I do not follow the Pros, and I certainly do not use a lure because some pro does

OK I GUESS I AM A D##N LIAR NOW: GEEZZZZZZZ!!!!!!!!!

Rayraff reply :

I fish with live bait if nothing else is working. My dad used to fish tournies and I plan to do the same some day so artificial comes first. On the other hand if I'm not catching cr@p then I'm switching to live because I go fishing to have a good time.

As for mammals , I could never hook a mouse on my hook, but I could tie it to the hook. Mice are pests and I kill 10+ a year with traps in my basement. I'm not saying I've ever/will use mice for bait but if i did they would be caught with human traps and put in a cage till my next fishing trip. The way I see it, I was going to kill them anyway so they might as well be used for something usefull.

skillet reply :

Muddy, he said anyone, so I guess that makes 2 ********* liars. There is the old saying about all fishermen being liars. Well, that's all it is an old saying. Have nothing against what anyone uses for bait. It's their karma. I have been using artificial bait since before Bill Dance had a show and am not competitive enough to give a care about pro fishing. You are being REALLY offensive. YOU DON'T KNOW ME!!!

As Ever,

skillet

BTW and NO I don't accept what your version of the truth is....

-ebby- reply :

with the using sunnys for bait- it is illegal where i am to so it is always good to tell someone it might be and to check it out

AKFerzy7 reply :

Quote
I think it is absolutely SADISTIC to use a mammal as fishing bait. Anyone who does that should 1.) Be ashamed of themselves, and 2.) Go to prison for animal abuse.
Worms and fish are so primatively evolved I see no problem in using them as bait. They probably forget they are on the hook after you toss them into the water. But using a mouse, or a squirrel or a chipmunk is screwed up.

I saw a guy catching small perch to use as "BIG"Bass bait, so I tired catchign a small sunfish to do the same, but I couldn't find it in me to hook the sunny to toss out for a bass to eat...I guess I just felt bad like the fish was better than to be used as bait. Bluegill, even though they are small and annoyign at times, are still gamefish, and I think they deserve more respect than to be used as bait.

If you want to use bait(live or dead/cut) to catch bass, or any other gamefish, that's your perogative. I think the only reason bait fishing gets such a bad rap in bass fishing is mostly because everyone is trying to emulate the Pro Anglers who fish for hundreds of thousands of dollars, and they think that by catching bass like them, they are just like them. Similar to when kids go out and buy hundred dollar Air Jordans becasue they "Wanna be like Mike" I guaren...d**n...tee that if Pro Bass Anglers fished with bait in BASS Tournaments no one would have a problem with it and say it is "unsporting".

Anyone who denies the claim that they use lures because they try to be like the pro's and the guys on TV are god d**n liars. I know because that is the reason I spend so much money on rods, reels, and lures, and tons of other fishing paraphanilia I see advertised by Bill Dance, or KVD, or on any other fishing show on TV.

Unless you are practice fishing for a tournament, there is really no reason to shun live bait. Except for the fact you may get a nose or two turned up at you by tournament anglers, and wanna be's.

I am probably gonna get some negative feedback by guys going on the defensive, and that wasn;t my intentions. I'm just stating the truth, whether they want to except it or not.

I have started not to use bait more often then I do, mainly because getting bait is a hassle, it's expensive($5 for 12 shiners, half of which will fly off the hook on a cast, some will die, an many will get eaten by dink bass. In other words it's gonna be $15 for a good few dozen baits for a fishing trip. If you fish a few times a week it gets expensive.) Then going out of the way to the bait shop, making sure it is open...

Plus I have fell into the baitfishing is for kids and the ignorant mentality, which I admit is wrong, since fishing is fishing whether you use lures or bait, niether of which is more prestigous than the other. JUst my opinion, some may like it, some may hate it, others could give two crap$ less.

no one cares about your opinion when it contradicts itself in every way.

what exactly is so different between the shiners you admit to using for bait and the sun fish you couldnt hook that was " better than to be used as bait." what did you do throw him back in hoping for him to find nemo?

what is the difference between a field mouse or any other of god's creatures being used as bait. Ive done it occasionally at a pond so send me to jail I reckon. why dont you go put on your PETA pajamas and hit the sack pal.

and by the way i am a tournament angler, i enjoy fishing artificials for bass due to the SPORT of it. that does not mean i turn my nose to anyone fishing just because their not doing it like me. dont be so quick to label a group of people buddy.

AKFerzy7 reply :

and oh yea. bluegill are panfish not gamefish.

guest reply :

burleytog reply :

Quote
I think it is absolutely SADISTIC to use a mammal as fishing bait. Anyone who does that should 1.) Be ashamed of themselves, and 2.) Go to prison for animal abuse.
Worms and fish are so primatively evolved I see no problem in using them as bait. They probably forget they are on the hook after you toss them into the water. But using a mouse, or a squirrel or a chipmunk is screwed up.

I saw a guy catching small perch to use as "BIG"Bass bait, so I tired catchign a small sunfish to do the same, but I couldn't find it in me to hook the sunny to toss out for a bass to eat...I guess I just felt bad like the fish was better than to be used as bait. Bluegill, even though they are small and annoyign at times, are still gamefish, and I think they deserve more respect than to be used as bait.

If you want to use bait(live or dead/cut) to catch bass, or any other gamefish, that's your perogative. I think the only reason bait fishing gets such a bad rap in bass fishing is mostly because everyone is trying to emulate the Pro Anglers who fish for hundreds of thousands of dollars, and they think that by catching bass like them, they are just like them. Similar to when kids go out and buy hundred dollar Air Jordans becasue they "Wanna be like Mike" I guaren...d**n...tee that if Pro Bass Anglers fished with bait in BASS Tournaments no one would have a problem with it and say it is "unsporting".

Anyone who denies the claim that they use lures because they try to be like the pro's and the guys on TV are god d**n liars. I know because that is the reason I spend so much money on rods, reels, and lures, and tons of other fishing paraphanilia I see advertised by Bill Dance, or KVD, or on any other fishing show on TV.

Unless you are practice fishing for a tournament, there is really no reason to shun live bait. Except for the fact you may get a nose or two turned up at you by tournament anglers, and wanna be's.

I am probably gonna get some negative feedback by guys going on the defensive, and that wasn;t my intentions. I'm just stating the truth, whether they want to except it or not.

I have started not to use bait more often then I do, mainly because getting bait is a hassle, it's expensive($5 for 12 shiners, half of which will fly off the hook on a cast, some will die, an many will get eaten by dink bass. In other words it's gonna be $15 for a good few dozen baits for a fishing trip. If you fish a few times a week it gets expensive.) Then going out of the way to the bait shop, making sure it is open...

Plus I have fell into the baitfishing is for kids and the ignorant mentality, which I admit is wrong, since fishing is fishing whether you use lures or bait, niether of which is more prestigous than the other. JUst my opinion, some may like it, some may hate it, others could give two crap$ less.

That deserves a big :

IBTL...

roadwarrior reply :

** MODERATOR NOTE**

It seems we have drifted a bit off-course overnight. Fishing bluegill and live bait can be discussed again, but this thread is done.

-Kent a.k.a. roadwarrior

Global Moderator

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