garyg199

Today my girlfriend caught two bluegill with a black belly and bottom fins. There's no warmouth around here, in the Jersey shore area, at least where we fish, and I'm not sure what else it would be mixed with. Is it hybrid? Due to season? I have NEVER seen this before. Can't seem to upload pictures due to file size. But it was def a bluegill, still had the blue, just had a black frontward belly portion and black black lower fins If anyone has experienced this, please let me know!

I feel WAY better today! Went out to a little pond I frequent and threw a deep crank. First cast...little 1-2 pounder. Next cast I got this beast! Unfortunately I did not have a scale with me but it had to be a solid 5-6 pounds. I could not believe I pulled this thing out of this little pond. After that I even got two more 1-3 pounders on some soft baits! I was blown away! I'll add more pictures after this post. Can only upload 1mb for some reason. Might be in attachments. Not sure if it's going to show on the post

Think I'm gonna try the manasquan reservoir again tomorrow or Saturday. I feel a second wind after getting that one today and a few more bites. Lots of deep water there even from the banks and docks

None of the above sir. Regular ole jig with a very cool skirt. Thick rubbery tentacle skirt deal

I watched this video by "Debos Fishing" and he showed this jig and I wanna know what it is. For some reason I cannot find the video now. I'm almost positive it was that channel . It was some sort of jig, possibly a swimjig but the skirt was made out of some sort of soft plastic bait type material. Almost like small tentacles. I know regular jigs may be similar, but this was different. It was the typical think strands. I looked on tackle warehouse and the closest thing I could find were the Jackall brand with the zig zag skirts. The one I'm talking about had a skirt that looked like actual creature bait material. Hopefully that makes sense. If anyone knows what I'm talking about let me know. Sorry I can't even find a picture of what I'm talking about.

Thanks man great tip. I'll have to try my buzzbaits more and I'll check the frog out too . I have a Pop R somewhere. I've been using a couple different poppers and seem to get fish, it's just been so hard to use them with all the weeds and blooms in the water from the direct sun and heat. I've tossed the Whopper plopper when I can and it's literally hit or miss. Was thinking about checking out that plopper trailer they make for frogs. If anyone has tried it, let me know how it does. I actually hooked a little dink this morning before work on a June bug smallie beaver. Went super early before the sun even cracked. Was surprised to actually see shad this morning. They were coming right to the shore to feed on them. Tried a kietech 3.5 and got a bite after my catch but didn't get any. Keep the tips coming guys. I appreciate it.

Speaking of punching... That's the other frustrating part; the vegetation. No matter the lake, I always have some type of mass amount of slop or grass to worry about. A lot of the time I'm forced to frog because it. Haven't tried punching yet with an actual punching rig, so maybe I'll try that next. Thanks for the tip

Ohhhh, yeah I see. Yeah I try to keep a wide color assortment. Throwing June bug and pumpkins, darker for muddy water, natural for clear. See, I feel like I'm making all the right moves... Just not getting their attention. And yeah, pickeral...garbage fish. I'd rather not catch anything lol. If anyone comes across this that lives in Ocean Co. Please let me know of anywhere with a good bite. Even tried that Fishbrain app to try different spots.

Thanks for the reply. Yeah, I am definitely putting in the tjme, that's for sure. Just seems like I'm suddenly doing something wrong. It's been very hot and humid here. High 80s into the 90s and the water is super warm. Most of the fisheries I go to are ponds or small lakes. I thought for sure I would get them at the big tournament lake. Nothin. Bought some big swim baits and mag worms...nothing. My girlfriend catches more than me...granted they're sunnies and bluegill but still..it's getting frustrating. Kid next to me caught a bass right where I had been twenty minutes prior and I just about threw my pole in the water. Guess you're right though. Right place right time. Thanks again for the input! What do you mean by color codes? I am in ocean county unfortunately. I know there's a few good fisheries up north, but it's a ways for me to go in mid summer with a tough bite. I will gladly take anyone's recommendations though, regardless!

Ever since it got really hot here in NJ, I cannot even get a nibble from anything, let alone a large mouth. I understand that they go to deeper waters and into tight cover etc. I fish the cover, the weeds, brush piles, shaded areas. I try my whole garage of baits and lures from topwater to Texas rigged soft baits, and everything in between the water column. I fish fast, I fish slow. I fish first and last light, night and mid-day. What is going on?! Am I just beat? I fish from the bank, so deeper water isn't always an option. I've even been to a reservoir that holds tournaments occasionally and didn't get a thing. Is there anything else I can try? I've been using a 7' fast medium action rod, 12lb mono with a black max...if it matters. Ive tried dropshotting a couple of times, but still didn't get anything. I don't know...it's so discouraging. I love the summer but I just wish the heat would go away so I can hook some fish already! Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks