Bluegill are said to be finicky and won’t touch anything big than a slice of bread in bass fishing. Because there are plenty of bluegill in the same cover as the bass, anglers might be afraid to use smaller lures. The truth is, bluegill aren’t very picky.
They’re opportunistic feeder, so as long as something fit in their mouths, how you present the lure matter more then its size. So the question becomes matching the hatch and the conditions. Catching sunfish doesn’t require tiny live bait or micro-jigs.
Catching Bluegill With Standard Bass Lures
Debunking the Bluegill Pickiness Myth
If you vary your retrieve, a lot of conventional bass lures will work. It allow for fishing for two species on one rod. Simplifies your gear.
Saves time. And uses what’s already in your tackle box rather than purchasing specialized mini-lure. When we talk about this we’re really talking about a standard crankbait.
Using Standard Crankbaits for Sunfish
It is something like a square-bill Rapala or even a Zara Spook diving just off the bottom. These baits are made for bass. But they’ll also catch bluegills that is swimming around in the middle of the water column or even close to the bottom.
Speed is the kicker here. The bluegill has a much smaller mouth than a bass. They cannot swim up and attack a lure at max speed.
Slow it way down. Keep letting it fall and stop, that imitates insects struggling or wounded baitfish. It allows the bluegill time to decide whether or not this thing is reachable.
So many guys reel it in too fast thinking the fish will blow up because they are mad. Bluegill aren’t blowing up out of anger. They’re blowing up out of hunger and curiosity.
Soft Plastic Worms and Senkos
The size limit is also unexpectedly large on soft plastic worm. A typical 4 or 5 inch Senko is often gobbled up whole by a nice bluegill. Because these baits float and then slowly sink back down, they stay in the strike zone longer.
You don’t have to cut them in half but if the fish are pressured this can help. The bulk of the bait doesn’t seem to matter as much as the combination of plastic action, scent, and taste. Keep your line taut and use a light jig head.
When the bite comes it won’t feel like a bass bit. It’ll be more subtle, a slight pause or tick. Waiting for a heavy thump means you’ve lost the bluegill.
In this case patience is what you need, not smaller gear. Due to its size and flash, spinnerbaits offer another dilemma. Yes, a bluegill will flat out inhale a small to medium-sized spinnerbait like a 1/8 or 3/16-ounce model.
Spinnerbaits in Stained Water
They may not see the wire frame, but they feel the disturbance through their lateral lines. While they might not be able to see the wire frame, they certainly feel the disruption caused by the blade. Make a cast to cover and allow the bait to fall down into the weed line.
Slowly retrieve the bait. The spinning blade and skirt’s fluttering make an inviting profile that’s impossible for a curious sunfish to resist. This is especially true in stained water, where visibility is poor.
In this situation the flash makes up for the lack of visual appeal. This is for a good reason. The size limitation apply more obviously with topwater lures but not to the point of being a deal breaker.
Topwater Lures and Surface Strikes
You can tempt a gill to jump at the sight of a small popper or a Zara Spook. Bluegills are opportunistic feeders up on the surface. They’re aggressive hunters near the surface, especially in the early morning or late evening.
When they see a baitfish in distress, the slap-splash-slap retrieves imitate that behavior. It’s enough to trigger their predatory nature, the bluegill don’t care about size. But you had better be ready to set the hook then and there.
Their strike is powerful yet fleeting. Delay too long and your lure will come unhooked from its mouth before you have time to set the hook. That makes for some fun action on the water when bluegills are around.
It turns a lazy pastime into an adrenaline rush. All in all, however, it’s not necessarily so much about how big the bait is as it is about how well you can work it. Bluegill are like suckers for just about anything that appears vulnerable and gives them an extended look in their comfort zone.
Final Tips for Bass and Bluegill Fishing
Don’t be afraid to break out your bass tackle. Go ahead and use it. Slow down, don’t revamp.
Next time you’re out there fishing for bass, and you’re coming up empty handed, slow down. I bet you’ll see the bluegill is right there where you’ve been casting. They’re there.
They’re ready. And they could of cared less that your bait is built for something far bigger.