Bluegill Fishing

This one is probably a surprise to most people landing on this page. Bluegill are known among most people as perch or bream. Talk to people about bluegill, and the first thing that comes to  mind are the small, bait stealing nuisances that inhabit the areas under boat docks and around the banks of virtually all lakes.

But when I talk about bluegill as second of my favorite fish, I'm talking about the kind on steroids.....like the one below. This kind of adult bluegill in lakes that are managed for them, provide light tackle action that is second to none. All it takesto go bluegill fishing with crickets is a hook, sinker, bobber and cricket and you're fishing for big bull bluegills. These will keep your rod bent for hours during the spring and early summer each year. Bluegill and fishing from small boats go hand in hand because when bluegill are biting fast, they are in relatively shallow water, so coves and protected banks are ideal hunting spots. Springtime grasslines are also prime territory.

                                            

When bluegills begin to move to shallow water to spawn in spring, they bunch up in small areas called "beds" that can contain hundreds of fish. It's not unusual to pull up on a big bluegill bed and catch over 50 fish that will fill your basket or stringer. And whether you're fly fishing for bluegill or using any number of small jigs or live bait, that's likely to be the result.

God made bluegill just so people could take their kids fishing without getting bored. This classic picture below was staged by Ralph  (small fish holder) with his son Dillon. Those two fish really were caught at the same time. We had a lot of fun with this picture.....and I guess I still am. All of the pictures below were from trips fishing from my small boat.

Bluegill fishing with your kids is a tailor made way to hook them on the sport. Lots of action to keep them from getting restless. But when you take a kid fishing, don't be a big grouch. Make the trip for them. Take plenty of snacks and if they get hot let em jump in the water. They won't melt and it'll go a long way towards an enjoyable experience for them. My daughter likes to cool off a little on a hot fishing day.

On light tackle, bluegill can fight with the best of them. If they got as big as largemouth bass, you'd have to have deep sea tackle to get them in the boat. 

                          

 

And finally, when the day is done, the reward is some of the sweetest meat that swims in fresh water.

                         

 

 

These fish are abundant, will bite like they are starving and can be found in shallow areas by the hundreds in the spring and early summer. They require only light, simple tackle to catch, and their taste is unequaled by any freshwater fish. They multiply quickly and limits are liberal. They are perfect for getting kids hooked on the sport of fishing. So why are they not number one? Because for all the positives about them, in most reservoirs the times to catch them in abundance in shallow water is relatively short during the spring spawning season. After that, they can become difficult to locate and hard to catch in good numbers. But they stay around long enough and provide enough entertainment to make number two on my Fishing From Small Boats list of my favorite fish.

Below is a parting shot that illustrates why I have a love affair with bluegill fishing.



Here's to your good fishing ~ Mark Rogers