Bluegill?

[Crappie Fisherman]

Has anyone been bluegill fishing? If so, have you been catching any nice ones yet? Last year it seemed like July was hot for the big ones on the gravel flats. I'll probably try it this weekend.

[Martin]

Crappiefisherman,

I can't really tell you about the "nice ones", since I'm not fishing for big ones, but I can tell you this. I've been catching bait for a trotline everyday since Mother's Day, and the real Bluegills (not green sunfish, not orangespotted sunfish) are just starting to show up in the last few days. I haven't caught any of the real giant ones, but some pretty good ones right at the shoreline. If a guy would move deeper and try crickets or nightcrawlers, you could probably get some good ones. My guess is that they are just starting, so this weekend and on into July should be great.

Good luck !!

[abkeenan]

I was down last weekend and i wasnt fishing for them but my Uncle and his son tore the bluegills up on crickets near the 86 bridge off one of the islands there. I believe it was the island past the "one tree island" from the 86 bridge if u are heading towards the dam. They also caught quite a few keeper bass, catfish and goggle eye mixed in. They just kept the crickets right off the bottom they said. Hope this helps.

-Brett

[Predator1]

what is the limit on bluegill? And your combined catch?

[jay bird]

Went last night from the Shore and the Kids had some nice Blue Gills bigger than my hand. They had a blast.

[gobblergetter]

where do you normally go to catch the bigger gills my grandpa used to talk about him and my dad catchin some bruiser blue gill in mill creek when they lived down there

[Crappie Fisherman]

Well, we went out today and fished the gravel points and flats around the dam area. Somehow in all of the boat traffic and pleasure boaters waking us we found the bluegill in 12-15 feet of water on the bottom. We were using night crawlers. I think we caught around 30 or so, ranging from 7-8 1/2 inches. Some were close to 9. Really good fighters on ultralight though. I think it's just starting, should get better from here! Caught a couple of nice smallmouth on tubes and shaky head worms too. Chunk rock banks were the best for the smallmouth. Probably try to get out a bit earlier tomorrow to beat the boat traffic. It looks as if everyone who missed their vacation from the high water last year has come down now! If you don't have at least a 20 foot boat or fiberglass bass boat, I wouldn't get out there!!

[FishinCricket]

Ahhh, you guys are using CRICKETS? LOL

Here's a nice one I caught on a fly rod the other day.. Hope you don't mind me intruding with a pic... I like showing off the pretty ones... (ask my wife)