In what conditions do you guys fish these? I've got some, but I'm not really confident in them. Every time I start to use one I wind up tying on a white or white and chartreuse spinnerbait. I imagine that they would be really good during the spring when the fish are on beds and maybe around grass, but that's all that I can think of.

I have a bluegill pattern Terminator. It's one of my go-to baits. I also have luck with the white and charteuse baits, but this one seems to do better for me in clear and shallow water.

 

I don't think Terminator makes the bluegill spinnerbait like I have, I've not seen it for a long time, but if you can find one, it seems to be a producer.

They don't work at all. (Shhhh....wink wink) I can take them off of your hands for you.

I'll use a bluegill pattern when the water is stained but still has 1.5' to 2' of visibility and when I'm fishing behind others I see using a spinnerbait because most are using white, chartreuse or a combination of white and chartreuse. The clearer the water, the more translucent colors and baitfish type patterns I'm going to use, blue glimmer, green glimmer, and pearl are really good to use in clear water but if you get a little color to the water then use one of those colors along with blue and a few strands of chartreuse to make a bluegill pattern which is a natural color but offers a little more visibility.

I have a bluegill pattern Terminator. It's one of my go-to baits. I also have luck with the white and charteuse baits, but this one seems to do better for me in clear and shallow water.

 

I don't think Terminator makes the bluegill spinnerbait like I have, I've not seen it for a long time, but if you can find one, it seems to be a producer.

Do you think that you could post a picture of it?

 

I'll use a bluegill pattern when the water is stained but still has 1.5' to 2' of visibility and when I'm fishing behind others I see using a spinnerbait because most are using white, chartreuse or a combination of white and chartreuse. The clearer the water, the more translucent colors and baitfish type patterns I'm going to use, blue glimmer, green glimmer, and pearl are really good to use in clear water but if you get a little color to the water then use one of those colors along with blue and a few strands of chartreuse to make a bluegill pattern which is a natural color but offers a little more visibility.

I've been looking at different spinnerbaits online and found several different designs for sunfish colors. Some are super natural while some don't look anything like a sunfish. I've been using the Strike King premier pro spinnerbaits which in my opinion is really realistic. It seems like it has a green pumpkin base color though so I'm not sure how it relates to what you said.

Here's the bluegill spinnerbait I have from Terminator. You can still get them it seems

 

http://www.amazon.com/Terminator-Spinnerbait-Willow-Willow-Bluegill-2-Ounce/dp/B008DNWU9K

Spring time is a great time to use them, around vegetation and docks where you normally see bluegills is good also. If it's a brighter bluegill color it can be a really good stained/muddy water color as well. 

Spring time is a great time to use them, around vegetation and docks where you normally see bluegills is good also. If it's a brighter bluegill color it can be a really good stained/muddy water color as well.

Agreed. Any type of shallow cover and deep weed edges.

Up north here bluegills are a staple food for bass since most lakes up here don't have shad. They can be used just about anywhere, or anytime. Down there, you'd probably want to use them more around shallow cover than anything. Pre-spawn, and post spawn would also be great times to use them.

I own more bluegill and black skirted spinners than white/chart ones. I just don't throw them as often because the pike destroy them. I will normally throw them in the shallows and around docks as mentioned for bass. Out in the open around weed flats is typically where the water wolves start to claim them from me so I don't throw them out there too much.

I have one that is closer to being a fire tiger than bluegill, but, I throw it in highly stained water when a white or white/chartreuse won't work. 

I prefer a bluegill swimjig with a trailer over a spinnerbait. I can change the size of the presentation by changing the trailer. Plus, the pike don't destroy them. If they don't bite it off, maybe a trailer replacement is all that is necessary.

It seems like everyone is saying that they're good when fished shallow in stained to muddy water. I guess that this is why I've had better luck on a bluegill colored swim jig than a spinnerbait, because my lake has clearer water. It also has a high population of shad, so they're probably focusing on them.