specifically fishing around grass and docks, what lures do you guys use to imitate bluegils?

Bluegil colored swim jig with green pumpkin Baby Craw trailer!

use a Jerry Rago blue gill swimbait !!!!

I like to swim the Big Bite Baits Fighting Frog in tilapia or prime rib color. I use an Owner sled head which is perfectly balanced an does not roll over on the retrieve.

Spinnerbaits and swimjigs.

NorthStar Swim jig in "New Gill"

@pgersumky

How do those compare to the MattLures series?

Bagley Small Fry Bream.

Tight Lines

Pa Angler

i'll use the Booyah Pond Magic Spinnerbait in Pumpkin Seed Color or the BPS Nitro flash casting spoon (5 inch) in bluegill

Swim jigs, spinnerbaits, squarebills, other cranks, certain soft plastics.  Just try to closely match the color and you're in business.

Luhr Jensen Speed Trap in Bluegill pattern.

Swim jigs, spinnerbaits, squarebills, other cranks, certain soft plastics.  Just try to closely match the color and you're in business.

There ya go.

NorthStar Swim jig in "New Gill"

absolutely deadly! add a rage chunk trailer and you're in business!!!

I like to swim the Big Bite Baits Fighting Frog in tilapia or prime rib color. I use an Owner sled head which is perfectly balanced an does not roll over on the retrieve.

hookset on 3 - where do you get those sled heads? i searched a few places and came up empty (tackle warehouse, bps, dicks and cabelas)

Bluegill Blade Runner swim jig with a watermelon jelly paca chunk trailer

See Matt Lures who has hard & soft swimbaits that are as close to a Bluegill as an artificial bait can get. His new U2 Ultimate Gill looks like it's going to be another great lure in an already impressive line-up.

@pgersumky

How do those compare to the MattLures series?

It's better swimming , Matt's is better for bed fishing which I don't and never will do . In the water , the Rago gill looks awe some and runs good at slow speed retrieves .. 

Peter you will have to check out my new one. It swims sooooo much better.

Another vote for the swim jig here.

specifically fishing around grass and docks, what lures do you guys use to imitate bluegils?

When you say grass are you asking about fishing the weed line or fishing open pockets? Docks; fishing the edges or under them?

It takes different lures and presentations to fish in cover or under it then fishing the edges.

If the bass are specifically targeting bluegill, green sunfish or crappie then the profile of the lure is important along with erratic swimming motion.

Edges; parallel swimming shallow running lipless or square bill crank baits and spinner baits are good choices. Soft plastic bluegill swim baits works great if toothy fish like pike and pickerel don't destroy them.

In or under cover; soft plastics like bluegill color beavers/creatures, grubs fished on jigs or pegged T-rigged work well.

Tom

Mattlures still leads the pack in the bluegill area, bar none.

As was mentioned, the new U2's look delicious.

I just saw the pics of those U2 gills and they're ridiculously impressive looking! From the text description, they sound like they're even improved from the original Ultimate gill. Matt makes astonishing baits!

I'm ordering at least one, most likely two of the U2's..and was wondering if the flat tail would be suitable for swimming as well as bed fishing, or if I'd be wise to invest in multiple models.

Thanks,

JP

The flat tail does not swim. Think of it as a very realistic jig

I would try a swim jig or spinnerbait.  There are many different companies that have great 'gill imitations.  Another possibility for an imitator is the Jackall Giron.  This bait will turn 180 degrees when you stop it after a jerk.  This almost always will catch followers.

Peter you will have to check out my new one. It swims sooooo much better.

haven't checked those out yet , gonna do it right now !!! ;D