How to catch Bluegills

Bluegills are a blast to catch as they put up a fight (by circling) that no other fish compares to. Now they are small compared to other fish spices, however their taste is second to none and makes it worth the time to clean them. The best method to cleaning is to fillet them, removing all bones and leaving just a small tasty fillet of meat. See how to fillet Bluegills using a standard fillet knife.

Now depending on the time of year you will want to use different methods for catching Bluegills. Mid to late May is the best time to use a dry fly or ant on a fly-rod (can be used behind a bobber as well), then a bobber & jig will produce the best results for the Summer, Fall, and Winter.

Fly Fishing for Bluegills

The best action you will ever experience for catching Bluegills will be with a Dry-Fly or an Ant on a Fly-Rod. Now you can use a Dry-Fly or Ant with a bobber, but the action is not quite the same. You may also think that a Fly-Rod is to hard to use, is for trout only, or to expensive, but that is not true. You can purchase a Fly-Rod for $20-$25 with reel and line, which is perfect for the Bluegill sport. And for learning, you can pick it up in just a few tries as I have taught a lot of people, including my entire family on how to use one. You can also make your own baits for pennies. Here you can see how to prepare your Fly Rod for Bluegills, how to use a Fly Rod, How to catch Bluegills with a Fly Rod, and how to make your own bait for pennies.

Bobber Fishing for Bluegills

In the Summer the Bluegills move to deeper water and the weed lines where the water is much cooler. To find them you can use worms, crickets, Corn-borers (Maggots), or Gulp Maggots, however the hook plays a very important role as well. I have found that by taking a small 1/64 jig and adding a small skirt (Flashbou) you can get the Bluegills to bite more aggressively. This jig behind a small bobber, preferably a tube bobber does not require any sinker as the jig has enough weight to sink quickly on it’s own. The two best baits in Summer and Fall are the live cricket and the pink Gulp Maggot. Use these in 3ft to 8ft of water. In deep water you can use either a slip bobber or a cane pole, which is also a lot of fun to use. If you find the bluegills stage up in lest than 3ft get the fly rod out and give it a try, in a lot of cases it works well.

Here is how I add a little flash to my jigs that makes a big differences.

In the Winter the Bluegills move around in schools, so focus on the shallow bays. “Hint look for the Ice Shanties” Those in shallow water will be your bluegill fishermen and those in deeper water are fishing for Crappies or Walleyes. Here you will use a much smaller fishing pole (2-3ft long) with light line, a small bobber, and a Tear Drop jig. The best baits to use are corn-borers (maggots) or Gulp Maggots.

HAVE FUN!