Plastics for big blugills??

I was fishing a metro lake tonight for crappies and accidentally ran into some trophy bluegills. I didn’t have my camera and didn’t measure any I caught but when I got home I pulled out a ruler and estimated they were around 9+”.

I was targeting crappies using a small white tube jig and I caught maybe 6 or 7 of these big gills along with a few smaller ones.

Wondering what type of plastics I could use to target these bigger gills?? What about 1″ gulp minnows?? Would I also need a vertical jig with gulp minnows??

I plan to target these again tomorrow or Saturday and I will report back with pictures…

A bud of mine uses 2″ gulp minnows all year long for crappie, perch, and gills. Through the ice too… He mainly drop shots them…

Think the Bulls are in protect mode.I caught over 20 Sunday on a #4 Shad Rap.Yes,they are still protecting.Going back to get a few when they are done.

I was just reading the latest edition of In-Fisherman and they have an interesting article on some of the smaller versions of swim baits that they use on Crappies and Gills. Looks like a cool idea.

I know In-Fisherman seems to be the worlds largest swim bait pushers. But still looks like an interesting change of pace and something that I personally didn’t know was out there.

Have had awesome luck using plastics under the ice on big gills. Northland Impulse, little atom, and gulp make some awesome plastics. I haven’t bought live bait for gills in two years. Big gills love the wiggle of plastics.

There are times when a 1″ gulp minnow (yellow) is simply killer on good gills. I have used them on jigs, or small gold hooks on a double drop shot rig if fishing deep.

Couple days ago, 1/32 oz pink jig with a 1.5″ spike style tale in translucent white was wide open on crappies and the better gills when fished under a very small round bobber in shallow water. Kept it moving slowly, and it was far better than small minnows, or waxies.

I’ve used the little gulp alive minnow with great success on gills on a public lake near me. Bonus is sometimes picking up a nice crappie or even a largemouth. I’ve found that the fish can be picky when it comes to the jig you use so you just have to keep trying until you find what they want that day.

The custom jigs and spins #12 Froggie Diamond jig tipped with a 1” Gulp Alive.

Thanks for the feedback and I think I will try the smaller gulp minnows and other smaller pastics. I also need to pick up a “wing it” bobber for better casting.

Hopefully, I will report back with some pictures.

Deans tackle box (which is now Anglers Guide HQ ) has some awesome flukes and paddle tails. I have trimmed the flukes for gills with some success but have done better on smallies and crappies using them. I can’t see 9inch and bigger gills ignoring them.

Gulp Alive! in just about any shape for me has worked. Powerbait has some good ones out there the 2″ minnows, Atomic tubes and the 2″ Ripple shads are amazing! I fish basically plastics only now.. The only time I have bought live bait was for musky’s last fall.. Or for tip ups this winter..

for big gills i stick with hair jigs either untipped or tipped with honeyworms from berkley. otherwise, tube jigs shot full of nibbles from a bait pump kill them too.

i too happened upon a spot with trophy gills in it.

I have had good results using a 1 1/2 inch tube with a 1/32 inside head. The tube is fished under a fixed bobber.