Bluegill Fishing – The Best Ways to Catch Bluegill

The best way to catch bluegill is to use live bait, an artificial lure, or a sinker. This will help you to lure the fish to bite on the lure. This species is native to eastern North America, and is often called “bream”, “brim,” “sunny,” or “copper nose.”

Live bait

One of the best ways to catch bluegills is with live bait. Minnows are great live bait to use if you want to catch larger bluegills. You should choose minnows that are about one to one and a half inches in length. They should be fished two to three feet under the float. When fishing with minnows, make sure you hook them through both lips and under the dorsal fin.

Wax worms are another great option if you want to catch bluegills. These are fat, little caterpillars that are about 3/4 inch long and are effective when fished in shallow water. One worm can easily be hooked onto a hook, which makes them a great choice for use as live bait for bluegill fishing.

Tadpoles can also be used as live bait for bluegill fishing. However, it is best to get tadpoles when they are small enough to fit into your fishing net. You should catch them early in the morning when they are most active.

Artificial lures

One of the most effective methods of bluegill fishing is using artificial lures. These artificial lures are durable and closely resemble different natural species. Soft plastic lures are ideal because they have a natural texture and the fish will likely mouth them for longer than a hard plastic lure. They can be threaded on a hook or fished with lead-head jigs. Many of these lures even have the hook molded into plastic.

When fishing with artificial lures, you should focus on the right areas. You should work the edges and cast to a visible cover. You should also pick a well-defined cove. Keeping your boat moving will help you choose the right spots where you can cast your artificial lures. You should treat larger bodies of water like small bodies of water.

Bluegill-like small, slender bait and small hooks. It is important to choose a bait that is small enough for bluegill to swallow. You can also use a bobber to keep the bait afloat. Using an artificial lure for bluegill fishing will produce more bites for you.

Lures

Using a variety of different lures is an effective way to catch bluegill. These small, soft-plastic baits will resemble real food and remain in the mouth of a fish for a longer period of time. Some of these lures are rigged on hooks, while others can be fished without a hook.

A common bluegill bait is the red worm. These worms are relatively large, measuring up to 6 inches long. Most fishermen break the nightcrawler into small segments and thread them onto small bait hooks. You can also use whole red worms, but be aware that they are very active.

Smaller lures are most effective when fished from shallow water. Try casting to spawning beds and twitching your lure. Small metal spoons are also effective when fishing in rivers and lakes. Make sure that you retrieve the bait quickly enough for it to undulate as it moves from the bottom. Using bait is the most effective way to attract bluegills.

Lures with a sinker

One of the easiest ways to catch bluegills is with lures that feature a sinker. This type of lure is perfect for any time of year. It runs smoother than a Texas rig and is easier to reel in. However, if you want to catch bigger fish, you must prepare your line with a heavier sinker.

Bluegills love the taste of insects and other small baits. A piece of nightcrawler is an excellent choice. Worms are plentiful in freshwater and can be purchased at a live bait store. The downside of earthworms is their sticky texture, so make sure to be careful when handling them.

Crankbaits are another good choice for bluegill fishing. Crankbaits are small and resemble baitfish or wounded insects. When used correctly, they will attract bluegills in shallow lakes.

Lures with a butterfly blade

When it comes to bluegill fishing, lures with butterfly blades are an excellent choice. They are easy to use and can be cast out and allowed to sink to the bottom. The butterfly blade spinners also allow you to vary the speed at which you present the lure, making them more versatile.

This type of lure also works well when fishing near structure. Bluegill tend to congregate in areas where vegetation is submerged, such as lily pads. You can cast into these spots and work parallel to the weed line. This type of lure also works well when you are trolling, allowing you to cover a large area.

Butterfly blade lures can be used in both clear and cloudy water. While a gold blade is a popular choice, a silver blade will work just as well. While the color combination you choose is important, you should also take the location into account. For example, white with a silver blade works well in clear or sunny waters.

Lures with a smile blade

Lures with a smile blade have several advantages over other types of spinnerbaits. First of all, these lures are super-easy to fish and allow for quick fine-tuning on the water. They slide over a Double Surgeon’s knot and can be fished two ways, the wide way to produce a slow rolling wobble, and the narrow way to produce a fast shake and spin. These lures can be tuned easily and effectively with just your fingers.

Another great benefit of these lures is that they provide a lifelike action at extremely slow speeds. The flexible blades allow the angle of the blade to be adjusted to suit the angle of your retrieve. You can fiddle with the blade angle to create a slow wobble, or you can use it to give your lure a more vigorous shake and spin. These lures also come in a range of colors and sizes.

Lures with a beetle blade

Using lures with beetle blades is effective in deep water. When fishing in deep water, slow, steady retrieves are best, pausing frequently to let the bait sink to the bottom. You can also use a safety-pin spinnerbait frame, which offers a larger offering and flash. This style of lure is also great for murky water.

A popular beetle spinner is the Beetle Spin. This bite-sized plastic beetle can be fished on light spinning tackle using four to six pounds of line. It is effective when trolled along a weedline or structure break.

Another type of beetle lure is the Road Runner. This type of lure is often used in bass and walleye fishing, but they can also be used for panfish. Many anglers prefer the soft plastic tail version. You can also fish a curly tail grub with this type of lure.

Moving to deeper water

Moving to deeper water for bluegill fishing can help you catch more of these fish. As the weather turns colder, bluegills will move into deeper water. Most commonly, you will find these fish hanging out near shoreline points or brush in 15 to 20 feet of water. Later, they’ll move onto flats in 10 to 12 feet of water.

Bluegill in deeper water are often larger and more abundant than their shallow-water cousins. To catch them, you’ll need to use a different type of bait. Nightcrawlers and bobbers don’t work in deep water. Alternatively, try a dropshot with an insect-style imitation plastic and a light rod & reel set.

If the water temperature is too warm for dangling worms, try fishing in creek channels. These are popular places for bluegill. Fish use these channels as a shortcut to deeper water. Also, try fishing in creek channels that join the main river channels. This way, you can easily locate the fish. You can also use a high-definition side-scan sonar to locate individual fish near structure. Once you’ve found these spots, you can load your livewells and stay there until the weather turns cool enough for big bluegill to migrate back to shallower waters.