10 Best Practices for Bluegill Fishing
Small freshwater fish like bluegills can be found in lakes, ponds, and streams. They can be used as food or bait, among other things. In the United States and Canada, the bluegill is a common species of fish. It can also be found anywhere in the world.
The bluegill has an anal fin on each side of its body and two dorsal fins on each side of its body. Its body is round. It has dark spots on its back and sides, an olive-green color, and yellowish stripes on its sides, as shown in the image below.
This is a 10-step article and if you want to go really in-depth with your understanding of this fish altogether, you can check on Bluegill Fishing Tips: 7 Tricks Guaranteed to Work.
1. Best Time to Catch
Bluegills Spawning is the easiest time of year to catch bluegills. It attacks anything that approaches its spawning site during this time, making it vulnerable. You can also check out HOW TO CATCH BLUEGILL for a more detailed explanation.
2. Spooky Bluegills
Bluegills in the shallows are also extremely spooky, despite the fact that bluegills are at risk during the spawn. They are harder to catch because of this. You can keep them from leaving their nests by using baits that you can quietly present. I use the ZACX Fishing Pliers for all my fishing activities which comes with a plier and lip gripper which is definitely necessary for a Bluegill as their lips really get hooked hard as their lips are quite sturdy and thick.
3. Colony Fishing
Cast a fly rod containing artificial flies along the edges of a spawning colony to catch bluegills on the outside beds of a colony without disturbing the nests inside. Flies such as woolly worms or woolly buggers of varying sizes can be utilized. The BASSDASH Fly Fishing Flies Kit and FISHINGSIR Fly Fishing Flies Kit are the fly kits that are recommended to be used which I get for myself on Amazon.
4. Bluegill Fishing in Hot Water
When fishing a large lake in hot weather, it’s best to go deeper to find bluegills. They will descend to lower temperatures, where they will continue to receive oxygen. You will be able to search in depth for bluegills if you use a slip float. I used to use the Thill Pro Series Slip Float but I don’t use them any longer.
5. Bluegills at Docks
Bluegills seek shade at docks to avoid the heat and protect themselves from predators. However, it may be difficult to reach them when the dock is low and the water is high. Some will even travel to deeper locations where casting cannot be used to target them. Shooting them is the only option in such circumstances.
6. Small Live Baits or Lures
If you want to catch a lot of bluegills, you should always use small live baits or lures. Pick hook sizes starting with No. 6 to No. 10. Additionally, use hooks with long shanks to remove the hooks from the bluegill’s mouth more easily. You could get a 100 of them at a very reasonable price from here High Carbon Long Shank Fishing Hooks that is definitely worth the money for myself personally.
7. Small Locations
In shallower waters close to weed beds, brush, and other types of cover, you can find bluegill in the same places in late summer. During the summer, early morning and evening are the best times to fish, but as the water cools in the fall, you can catch bluegill at midday.
Giant Bluegill Fishing
8. Live Baits
The best live baits for fishing nesting bluegill include worms, grasshoppers, and crickets. The bait should be 1 to 3 feet below a small bobber. If you’re very careful with your bobbers, you can just get the Lindy Thill Wobble Bobber which is a single, high quality bobber or the Owevvin 50 Pack Bobber Bulk where you’ll get 50 of them, I recommend that you perhaps get the bulk as bobbers get ruined quite fast.
9. Bluegill Not Spawning
In deeper waters, you can find bluegill that are not reproducing. They will be in deeper water on large lakes during the summer. However, in order to obtain oxygen, they will remain shallow in ponds. If you want a very basic and step-by-step guide for beginners, you can check on Fishing for Bluegill and Sunfish: Simple Techniques and Tips too.
10. Lure Slow Descend
Slowly decelerate your lure so that the bluegill has time to react. As it descends, give it time to notice your lure. Avoid rushing to the bottom then REEL IT IN.
Conclusion
Once you’ve caught your bluegill, it’s time to cook them and this fish has a firm, white flesh with a mild flavor. It is an excellent fish for beginners to try because it does not require any special preparation or seasoning. The only thing you need to do is clean the fish and then cook it! The best way for you to cook it for me has to be frying them, they taste really good fried.