Gill and Goggle Eye advice?

[kyled]

A few times lately I have tried to lay down the bass rods and catch a few panfish on ultra lights just for a change of pace. It seems like it would be very easy but to be honest I have had very limited success. There are always a few real small sunfish on the bank that will play but never anything consistent or much quality. I would appreciate any tips or guidance in the correct general direction.... I have tried dragging fake crickets and worms around off points in 10-20ft of water like has been suggested in past threads but not had any success. I fish mostly from Indian Point down to Kimberling. Would micro crank baits work better? or swimming minnows?

[Dutch]

Go down to 30' to look for the bull gills. SK always used crickets.

[Quillback]

I have no idea on goggle eye, as a matter of fact, I think their existence in Table Rock is a myth.

But as far as gills, what has worked for me is a drop shot rig. Get some of those Eagle Claw pan fish hooks, use a 1/8 oz sinker, and some red worms. Hook the red worm one time through the middle (don't wad it up on the hook), and work the bait in, say 6-10 FOW. I'd look around about half way back in the coves in the middle of pockets or off secondary points. They also ought to be off main lake shelves and flats near buck brush.

Water may be clearer in the area of the lake where you are fishing, so you may need to work a little deeper. Sometimes you've got to poke around a bit to find them, but they are out there and you should be able to find some nicer ones in the 7-9 inch range.

I'm thinking of giving them a try myself, maybe next week.

[Dutch]

I have caught several goggle eye around Hwy 13 on TR.

[kyled]

Yep, I always catch those goggle eye on accident and on everything from finesse worms to full size brush hogs.... I have never seen any rhyme or reason to it though.

[sms_alum]

I haven't fished Table Rock as much as most of you guys, but I usually get a few goggle eye fishing grubs and jigs in the Indian Point area. One year we really got into them and had a nice little fish fry. They seem to run larger on Table Rock than on the rivers.

[mjk86]

Eater size gills stack up on the hwy 13 bridge pilings in summer. Def can get a nice mess that way with crawlers.

[Fishslayer88]

Fish chunk rock in the shade with a night crawler on a #4 hook. I usually catch my 30 for trotline bait in an hour or so some of them are pretty good size gills.

[cbass12]

Eater size gills stack up on the hwy 13 bridge pilings in summer. Def can get a nice mess that way with crawlers.

I wonder if that's the reason for my very poor hook-up percentage when I fish the drop shot around the bridge. I catch a good amount of spots around the bridge, just miss quite a few fish. Could be the gills grabbing the finesse worm?

[kyled]

I sure appreciate the tips, and will try the red worms and suggested depth and spots and report back soon.