If you ask any angler what their first fish is they’ll probably tell you it was a little bluegill. The first time my dad took me fishing we went to a local Hatchery that was loaded with bluegill. There were so many fish in that lake that it took absolutely no skill to bring one in. I simply dropped in the line and I was guaranteed a bite. After that first fishing trip I thought I was an expert fisherman only to find out that there’s a little more skill involved at most lakes.
How To Catch Bluegill
At some point in my life I started to give up the bluegill and go straight after Bass. I fell into the Trap of thinking that the only fish that mattered had a large mouth. Once I graduated for my foolish immaturity I realize it was still a lot of fun to catch bluegill.
Where To Catch Bluegill
You can catch bluegill in just about any Lake across North America. They provide plenty of action and have filled a countless number of my dinner plates. When the bass just aren’t biting time to jump on the bluegill train, but that’s easier said than done. So where are the bluegill hiding?That’s going to vary depending on the season.
Bluegill Fishing Tips During Different Seasons
Spring
Spring is everybody’s favorite time to go looking for bluegills. After the snow and ice melts in the Sun comes out bluegill return to the shallows for easy bank fishing. if you can’t find bluegill in shallow water look for the closest deep-water adjacent to the shallows. They tend to come into the shallows during warmer days and Retreat back into the deep water when it gets cold.
The bluegill spawn normally happens a few days after the traditional Bass spawn. as soon as the best move out the bluegill start to move in and take over their beds in the shallows. This is prime bluegill season and catching them is going to be as simple as dropping in a worm. This is the perfect time to bring out your fly rod with realistic or try out this power honey worm for even more bites. Males guard the nest and will attack anything that approaches the spawning beds.
To find early Spring bluegill you’re going to want to look for early weed growth that offers shelter. Try and check out the northern part of the lake first because it gets the most direct sunlight. The best spring fishing is always after a few days of stable warm weather. Once the water temperature increases the 70° get ready for the spawn.
Summer
Immediately after the spawn the females will all leave their beds and go into hiding to recuperate. This is when the females are at their fattest and trying to feed. look for females in the weeds, lily pads and nearby down logs and Timber. most of the time they’ll stay close to their spawning beds in the nearest adjacent deep water. males on the other hand are still going to be guarding their nests and as aggressive as ever.
Since Crickets and grasshopers are the main staples of a panfish diet try fishing for them using the Rebel Crickhopper. With its realistic body style it’s the perfect choice for fishing the shallows. In deeper water I like to use a Rapala Ultra Lite Minnow. The unique swimming lip is designed to create a realistic wobble that mimics injured baitfish.
To catch summer bluegill you’re going to want to fish for them anywhere you can find weeds. You can either bring in a boat or catch a ton of bluegill straight off a dock or Shore. bluegills fish from a dock are typically going to be a little bit smaller and the larger bluegills all had to deeper weed lines. Catch gills using jigs, soft plastic worms or traditional nightcrawlers. Most of the time I’m going to be fishing for the bigger deep water bluegill.
Fall
To catch fall bluegill you’ll have to be adaptable. They aren’t going to be in their usual spots in the shallows, but they will bite if you can find them. To look for fall bluegill start in the Deep weed beds that insulates them from colder. at some point they’re going to leave the weeds for deeper water alongside the crappie. Use your electronic fish finder to find suspended bluegill and crappie in the deeper water. When searching deeper water I like to use a small spinnerbait like the Lunker Lure Crappie Spin. You can quickly cover a lot of water using a tiny spinnerbait meant for panfish.
Find The Bluegill Spawning Ground
To find a bluegill spawning area look for small nests that look like round indentations. They’ll almost look like little meteor impacts. Most of the time they’ll head to the shallows and find the firmest breeding grounds possible. It’ll usually be right after the bass have left the same areas during their breeding ritual in the spring. Most nests are going to be found in areas of 1-4 feet of water unless the lake is unusually clear. In clearwater lakes head towards deeper water where the visibility drops off.
How to Fish For Spawning Bluegill
Fishing for spawning bluegill is as easy as throwing your line in the water. during the spawn bluegill are extremely vulnerable to fisherman because they’ll strike just about anything that enters their breeding area. It’s usually the easiest time period of the year to catch bluegill.
They might go after just about anything but they can also be easily spooked. So you’re going to have to use lures that don’t make a lot of ruckus. Use baits that you can present quietly without drawing them out of their beds. This is normally when I bring out my fly rod with a few realistic artificial flies. Just Fish the outside edges of a spawning colony and you might even land a monster bass looking for an easy meal.
If you don’t have a fly rod you’re going to want to think small about bait selection. My favorite live baits for bluegills include basic nightcrawlers, crickets and grasshoppers. Since the fish are so small you’re going to want to use ultra light tackle. A few suggestions would be a small 1/8 oz Inline Spinner, Strike King Shadalicious Swimbait, Rapala Ultra Light Shad Crankbait, and Small Jigs.