Favorite bluegill baits, lures, tactics

Looking for ideas to change up my usual bluegill tactic of an ice jig tipped with a waxie under a float. Works real well but need other options. Care to share yours?

Thanks

Use a spring bobber. I like the ones you can add to a rod tip. They are like a foam ear plug with a pen spring in them.
I keep a few sewing needles in my rod case to help me thread the fishing line through them as well.

Im no panfisherman, but I love a small ratso, or small slender spoon with some larva on it when i fish for them! I would say those 2 presentations never let me down

I have used the smallest slender spoon with some waxies or minnows head. You can usually get bigger fish with that.

For sunfish or crappies I am usually going with a Gill Pill or Diamond Jig from Custom Jigs & Spins, typically in a size 10 along with some sort of plastic added for attraction. I like Little Atom Nuggies added to the lure, if that is a no go then the ice jig and live bait is sometimes the only thing to trigger the bite.

Links to favorite lures/plastics below

Gill Pill

Diamond Jig

Little Atom Plastics

All of these are fished w/o a float and either watching my line or using a noodle rod to detect the bite, and keeping a close eye on the flasher to see how the fish is reacting to my bait. Rod selection is another topic as well as line, and electronics. Using the combo of flasher, line, rod a person can really increase your catching percentages vs. bobber, lure, and meat. Don’t get me wrong they will catch fish, but getting rid of the cork for example may increase your catch rate.

I like a Gill Pill with a Little Atom Wedgee. I like to start with something in a red, pink, or white color. I was a little slow to the plastic world, but it bailed me out a few times when I forgot bait or let them freeze overnight. Now I have enough confidence to start with the plastics and switch to bait if needed.

Right-on Cal – Diamond Jigs and Gill Pills are perennial favs. that should be a part of everyone’s arsenal. It’s amazing how well even smaller fish will take the nuggies as well, definitely a winner presentation. I prefer red and glow nuggies for the most part.

Similar to fife, I’ll start with plastics and work my way towards bait as/if needed. For the most part, even with finicky fish, bait can be less important than presentation.

I’ve always been a fan of soft-hackle wet-flies when panfishing gets seriously tough. Greens, blues, and whites work well, as that hackle seems to “breathe” when rigged on a dropper line, leaving the fly itself “weightless”.

Another little gem I’ve rediscovered is the nuclear ant. In pink/white, it’s been great fun on noodle rods. Often, the fish slurp in one of the plastic legs, then double-clutch to pick up the whole bait in their mouth. Swing after the first bite and you’ll get nothing.

Like others have said, start with plastics and if you cant get them to go then throw some meat at them.

For plastics, I like a size 8 glow green or glow red ratso. A size 10 works as well but you’ll catch A LOT more small fish by downsizing. Size 6 is too big.

For negative fish, I like a size 10 glow green or white diamond jig with 2 or 3 euro larvae.

The key is knowing how to work each presentation. When using euro larvae, I’ll pop the bait fairly aggressive until I have the attention of a fish. Once I have the fish coming towards the bait I’ll basically not move at all and let the meat do it’s job. On plastics its another story. Same start, jig to get some attention but once I have a fish coming then I’ll basically just try to wiggle the rod tip. Not too much, but just enough action to keep that tail moving… that’s the trigger on ratsos.

Custom’s Ratso and Shrimpo replacement bodies do a guy good to have on hand even if you are not fishing either factory bait. The Micro Nuggies are a good plastic too.

A micro Nuggie is seen here in this pic just to the upper right of the dime and is a flame red/orange. The other baits are custom numbers and when it comes to balancing a Gill Pill or a Diamond jig will do a better job, having way less weight and bulk at the hook.

In my opinion, tail action is the heart and soul of productivity in a panfish plastic. Including the Custom Jigs Ratso and Shrimpo bodies with those baits show here, tail action simply cannot get any better. Holding onto the head end of any of these plastics and attempting to keep the tail from moving is simply not going to happen….that’s tail action at its best.

Sometimes the big Mendota gills will only take a purist in red. I think they are Badger fans.

I started using a 1/8 ounce drop shot sinker a few inches under 1 size 8 gold hook with a second hook about 15″ above the first one. A small piece of crawler hooked down the center of the worm and out the side about 1/3 of the way into the worm does the trick. Watching the line and feeling the line over your finger signals bites before the fish have time to swallow the bait. Out of 59 gills caught this afternoon, only one was hooked deep enough for a forceps. Cast over humps with slow current and some structure and retrieve slowly with a lift-drop- stop cadence. You will get a few snags but using light wire hooks gives you a chance to pull them free as they bend enough to come free.

Drop shotting pannies has gone ballistic this year and with some super successes.

Grant we all know you are the king of panfishing! haha

Lil’ cecil glow in the dark red!!

To all who replied – many thanks!!
Already ordering plastics, jigs, etc to revamp my bluegill box. Planning on dedicating next year to pursuing big gills. I love all fishing but there is something about a 10″ orange belly that really trips my trigger!!!

Gut Hooked