Bluegill Fishing Tips

Bluegill Fishing

Brim Reaper by Blue Ribbon Lures

Bluegill are relatively easy to catch, especially if you are using
the proper tackle, bait and technique. Following a few basic principles
will greatly increase your success at catching bluegill.

Tackle selection—the lighter the tackle, the better

The bluegill has a small mouth, even when it reaches adulthood. Young
bluegill, like most small fish, feed on tiny, aquatic invertebrates
called zooplankton. As bluegill grow, they’re able to eat larger
creatures, such as insects. Bluegill are sight feeders and feed
primarily during daylight hours.


Bluegill do not grow to huge sizes, so select your rod and reel
accordingly. An ultra-light rod and reel with light line will allow you
to feel the bluegill's bite more effectively, and you will catch more
fish. In clear water, light line is less likely to be detected by fish.
Line weights from 2- to 6-pound test work best.

Bait and hooks—keep them small

Regardless of whether you use live bait or lures, you will need to
keep them small if you want to catch a lot of bluegill. Hook sizes from
No. 6 to No. 10 are most effective. Hooks with long shanks will allow
you to more easily remove them from the bluegill's tiny mouth, and thin
wire hooks work best for holding small baits. Live bait works especially
well for bluegill. The most common baits are worms and night crawlers
because they are readily available and bluegill love them. The key is to
use only a piece of a worm—just enough to cover the hook. Other
productive baits include crickets, grasshoppers, red wrigglers and meal
worms. Artificial lures also work well for bluegill. The Brim Reaper might be the best lure made for bluegill. Some of the best
lures are black jigs (1/32 ounce and smaller) and tiny spinners. Small
flies and poppers are very effective and can be used while flyfishing or
in conjunction with a bobber for easy casting.

Techniques—whatever works for you

Bluegill can be caught with a variety of techniques, all of which can
be effective under the right conditions. The key is to use a technique
you’re confident with and enjoy.

• Bobber fishing—The most popular technique for
  catching bluegill in spring and summer is the bobber and worm or Brim Reaper. This
  method is not only popular because it is easy, especially for kids, but
  because it works. Bluegill don't like to chase their food, so a slow or
  almost motionless presentation is often best. A small bait hanging below
  a bobber is usually more than a bluegill can resist. Be sure to use a
  small bobber—just big enough to float your bait. If your bobber is too
  large, the bluegill will feel the resistance and spit out the bait.
  Setting your bobber from 1 to 3 feet deep will usually do the trick, but
  if fish are deeper you will need to fish deeper. Slip bobbers are a
  must for the serious bluegill angler because they allow you to fish at
  any depth. I prefer a split shot about 6 inches above my Brim Reaper.
• Bottom fishing—Another effective technique is to
  cast your bait and let it slowly sink to the bottom. Use as little
  weight as possible so that your bait sinks slowly and so bluegill don't
  feel resistance when they pick it up. Using an ultra-light rod and reel
  with light line will allow you to cast your bait with no weight at all.
  If your bait sinks slowly, bluegill will often bite as it is sinking. If
  your bait makes it to the bottom without a bite, watch your line
  closely for a sign that a bluegill has picked your bait off the bottom.
  If you don't get a bite in a few minutes, reel in and cast to a
  different spot. This technique is especially effective when bluegill are
  in deeper water in early spring or following a cold spell.
• Drift fishing—A very effective method for catching
  bluegill, especially in late summer when bluegill are often suspended in
  open water, is to drift across the lake in a boat with baits down 10 to
  15 feet. Because bluegill will likely be found in schools, repeatedly
  drift through those areas where you have caught fish.
• Fly fishing—Although you may think fly fishing is
  for trout, it is also one of the most effective, exciting ways to catch
  bluegill. Because small insects are a major part of the bluegill's diet,
  an artificial fly resembling these insects is usually irresistible.
  Bluegill are not as picky as some trout, so most fly patterns will work.
  The best flies are typically small and black.

Location—fish where the bluegill are

Using the proper tackle, bait and technique is critical in catching
bluegill, but it is important to know where to find bluegill in a lake,
depending on the season. Because bluegill use different habitats at
different times of the year, the best locations in spring probably won't
be as good in late summer or winter.

• Spring and early summer—Bluegill spawn in spring
  and early summer, and this is a good time to catch them. When water
  temperatures exceed 70F, begin looking for spawning bluegill in shallow
  water. The tell-tale "elephant tracks"—groups of nearly round craters
  that mark spawning nests—will give away their location. Once you find a
  spawning colony, take care not to spook the bluegill as you fish. Cast
  beyond the nests and retrieve your bait through the colony. Male
  bluegill will guard nests against intruders and will aggressively take
  small lures.
• Late summer—You can readily catch bluegill after
  the spawning season, when they move into deeper water as summer
  progresses. In summer, bluegill can be found along the edges of weed
  beds, around brush piles, stake-beds and flooded timber, especially if
  deeper water is nearby. Bluegill are commonly found in water more than
  10 feet deep in summer and typically hang just above the thermocline
  (the depth where water temperature changes dramatically and below which
  oxygen levels are usually low). Best fishing is usually in the morning
  and evening when the fish are most active.
• Fall—Look for bluegill in the same locations as
  late summer and also fish shallower water near weed beds, brush or other
  types of cover. While morning and evening are the best times to fish
  during summer, midday fishing success often improves as water cools in
  the fall.
• Winter—Look for bluegill in water 12 to 20 feet
  deep. They school near underwater structures, usually near the bottom.
  Bluegill do not feed as actively in winter, so be sure to use small
  baits and slow presentation. Using light tackle and line is also
  essential because bluegill bite very lightly in winter, and these bites
  would go undetected with less sensitive tackle.

Finding a good lake or pond

If you just want to catch a lot of fish regardless of size, most
lakes and ponds will provide ample bluegill action.


Don't overlook farm ponds! Some of the best bluegill fishing can be
found in ponds, and many of the biggest bluegill on record were caught
in farm ponds. To find a good pond, talk with other anglers and pond
owners to get some tips. Always ask permission to fish on private ponds.

Ice fishing for bluegill

Ice fishing in Missouri is usually restricted to the northern part of
the state and varies in duration from year to year. When conditions are
right, bluegill fishing can be fast and furious through the ice. Look
for actively feeding bluegill near the bottom around weed beds,
brushpiles, and points in water 12 to 15 feet deep. It is helpful to
note these locations during summer fishing trips. You can also use a
portable depth finder when ice fishing to look for brushpiles and check
depth. Fishing is usually best soon after the ice forms and slows as
winter progresses and ice thickens. When fishing has slowed in mid to
late winter, concentrate fishing effort during dawn and dusk hours.
Fishing can be very slow during mid day but outstanding at dawn and
dusk. Never judge the quality of ice fishing on a lake until you have
fished the last half hour of daylight.


Ice fishing requires some special gear. If the ice isn't too thick, a
spud bar will work. An ice auger works best in most situations and will
allow you to easily move to different locations until you find the
right spot. Carry a dipper to clear the hole of ice chips after drilling
and to keep the hole ice-free while fishing. A sled is very handy to
haul around your gear and carry your fish. Ice-fishing rods are short
(often made from broken rod tips) and often with pegs instead of reels.
Using a small bait and hook is especially important in winter because
fish, including bluegill, are not aggressive and don't feed as much.
Standard gear for bluegill includes small, brightly colored hooks (often
called tear drops), a small bobber just large enough to suspend your
bait, and live bait such as wax worms, meal worms, mousies or goldenrod
grubs. Set the bobber so your bait is within a foot of the bottom. Every
30 seconds or so twitch your lure a little—this will often induce a
bite. You must watch your bobber closely because bluegill, like many
fish, bite very lightly in winter.