These are fairly large worms often 6 inches or more and where readily available they are among the most common sunfish baits. Most fishermen break them into small pieces, and thread one or two smaller segments of nightcrawler onto a small bait hook. The key difference between red worms and nightcrawlers is size; red worms are typically no more than 2 or 3 inches long, which is small enough that they can be used whole to catch bluegill.
Often called red wigglers, that active habit helps make them irresistible to panfish. Sunfish typically eat very small morsels in their natural environment, which makes larvae baits including mealworms, waxworms and grubs highly effective.
They are the most commonly used bait for ice fishermen but also work very well in warmer water. Many anglers swear by crickets as sunfish bait. They are most effective in summer, and should be hooked lightly through the thorax with a small hook so that the crickets stay alive and wiggling. You can fish them float on the surface of the water or sink them for deeper fish. There are endless variations to live bait techniques for bluegill and sunfish, but most can be broken down into two categories: bottom fishing and bobber fishing.
Simply let the conditions along with the behavior of the fish shape your approach. Common variations of bottom fishing for sunfish include a split-shot rig, which involves attaching one or two small split-shot sinkers to your line 6 to 12 inches above the bait; and a drop-shot rig, which involves attaching a bell sinker to the end of the line, usually about 12 inches below the bait.
This is any technique that involves affixing a bobber or float to your line to keep the bait suspended above the bottom. Fishing with a jig or other type of lure is a more active tactic for bluegill and sunfish fishing, and as a result, some fishermen find it more enjoyable. Using artificial lures can also be a good way to avoid catching small bluegill, and instead focus on larger fish. Jigs are the most popular style of lure for bluegill. Typical bluegill and sunfish jigs are made with a light jig head, to which may be attached any combination of hair, feathers or soft plastic intended to mimic the small aquatic creatures that sunfish eat.
Soft plastic jigs, such as tube jigs, are among the most popular. They allow you to quickly and easily switch colors and styles of lures to find the most effective presentation. This makes fly fishing a fun and effective way to pursue them, especially during spring and summer when many aquatic insects are breeding and hatching.
Both dry and wet flies can be effective for bluegill. Most fly fishermen choose flies that are a little bigger than what one might commonly use for finicky trout, but not as big as jumbo bass flies. Small streamers, large nymphs, wet flies, sinking bugs and poppers are all great choices. Fly fishing allows you to fish relatively deep water while wading, and flies can effectively catch bluegill in weedy areas in which other lures would be easily snagged. Light tackle is best suited to sunfish and bluegill fishing.
Light tackle allows you to cast small baits and lures farther and makes it easier to feel light bites. Plus, the lighter the tackle, the harder the fight of a fish feels, so light tackle can make fishing for bluegill more enjoyable. Light or ultralight rods and reels in the 5- to 6-foot range work well for sunfish. Spinning rods are effective and user-friendly because they tend to be easy to cast and operate.
Close-faced spinning reels, with a push-button release, are often the easiest for new anglers. Try to use the lightest line you can and match it to your rod and reel. For a light rod and reel, 4- to 8-pound test line can be used. For an ultralight setup, the line may be as light as 2-pound test, but be aware that line that light is more likely to break if fished around structures. Because bluegill will likely be found in schools, repeatedly drift through those areas where you have caught fish.
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. 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. 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. 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. 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.
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. If you just want to catch a lot of fish regardless of size, most lakes and ponds will provide ample bluegill action. You can also use corn, cornmeal, bread, and cheese as well.
Each of these bait options are inexpensive to buy and very user-friendly. You can fish with these and experience great results if you place these baits right in front of a willing fish. In my experience, this paste is every bit as effective as most live bait options. When it comes to nighttime fish for bluegills, live bait is your best option.
Bluegills will not venture out of shelter to pursue a lure. I mean they might but very rarely will this occur. If you really want to succeed, you must present them with attractive live bait and place it right in front of them. Fish Tight to Cover. Bluegills will not leave shelter at night. There are too many dangers waiting for them out in the open. Rarely will a bluegill venture more than a foot or two away from cover at night.
This one is important. Day time bluegill fishing is action-packed with rarely a dull moment. Night bluegill fishing is the exact opposite. It can take long hours of perseverance and a little luck to land a couple bluegills. Just be patient and your work will pay off. While you let your bluegill baits soak, you can also cast for catfish and walleye to kill the boredom. Fish are attracted to light sources. Artificial light attracts insects and plankton which attract baitfish and game fish a like.
Dock lights, boat lights, and even floating crappie lights are excellent ways to lure in game fish. Big bluegills will often hover just outside the range of the light looking inwards. This is where you should cast your line. Bluegills will bite after sunset for a few hours. My advice is switch to walleye or catfish fishing or just go home.
The hottest summer days will be the ones where bluegills are most active feeding after sunset. Burley or Attractant. Create a burley or toss some cornmeal in the water at night to draw in baitfish and bluegills.
Seek Water without Predators. If possible, fish water with only bass or pike as the primary predators of bluegills. Both bass and pike are largely inactive at night. This means bluegills would be more willing to leave shelter at night to feed.
Bluegills may actually be down deep at night around cover like boulders or even boat-wrecks. Calm water and windless nights seem to produce better results for bluegills than the opposite. What is the best time of day to catch bluegills? The best time of day for bluegill fishing is late evening right up until sunset. The sun rays in particular cause bluegills to hold tight to cover during midday. By late evening, these lose their grip on the bluegills who can now venture freely without being blinded by the glare from above.
Even though bluegills are inactive at night, yellow perch, warmouth, rock bass, and black crappie can become very active and voracious at night as they feed on aquatic invertebrates like shrimp and nymphs. These panfish will also readily consume any small fish that ventures far from the school or protective shelter.
This article is just scratching the bluegill surface. Click here to check it out. I am an avid angler and outdoorsman. I grew up fishing for anything that swims but really cut my teeth fishing for trout, chain pickerel, bass, and bullheads in my teenage years.
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