Hey ya’ll,

 

If I’m not mistaken, I think the bluegill spawn should be happening in my area right now, with possibly a Shad spawn already happening or soon on the way. So I’m planning on taking advantage of that in the wee hours of the morning when I hit the water in a day or two. Kinda just a question about spawning behavior. Do bluegill and shad have similar preferences as bass for the areas they like to spawn in? My whole idea of where bass spawn, right or wrong, is that they like a hard bottom, shallow maybe anywhere from 1-8ft, often on a flat, in view of sunlight. What about bluegill and shad? 

My bass DO  LIKE to nest on the shady side of LARGE rocks & gravel piles. They clean the muck away to bare rock.  Same places every year.

bluegill are basically the same.  They are more tolerant of other bluegill nests nearby (compared to bass who are less tolerant of other nests nearby) and bluegill are more tolerant of open areas whereas bass prefer to have a log or rock on one side of the bed.

 

I'd be surprised if you haven't missed the bluegill spawn.  They are due to start up here in NJ anytime now (water is around 70).  You must be 3-4 weeks ahead of us.

Just now, casts_by_fly said:

I'd be surprised if you haven't missed the bluegill spawn.  They are due to start up here in NJ anytime now (water is around 70).  You must be 3-4 weeks ahead of us

Yeah kinda worried about that….

 

However, I read that they continue to spawn multiple times throughout summer along with shad, so I might be able to get at least some action going.

spawn or not, bass love bluegills.  Most of the lakes up here don't have shad so bluegills are the primary forage.  A bluegill imitation that comes past a bass is going to get eaten.  For me that's chatterbaits and swimjigs mostly.  Also my lighter colored crankbaits are usually a bluegill type instead of a shad type.

 

I've never seen bluegills spawn in the summer or fall.  That's not to say that they don't, but I've never seen it.

3 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

I've never seen bluegills spawn in the summer or fall.  That's not to say that they don't, but I've never seen it.

Went back through some old photos to recall dates.

 

May 29th last year in NC I was fishing on a very small pond where bluegill were spawning. Could very clearly see their beds in the shallow water while bank fishing. 
 

But yeah, me thinks bluegill imitators around docks should be a good thing for me this summer. For a shallower bite. For a deeper bite… gotta figure that out.

 

 

3 minutes ago, LrgmouthShad said:

Went back through some old photos to recall dates.

 

May 29th last year in NC I was fishing on a very small pond where bluegill were spawning. Could very clearly see their beds in the shallow water while bank fishing. 
 

But yeah, me thinks bluegill imitators around docks should be a good thing for me this summer. For a shallower bite. For a deeper bite… gotta figure that out.

 

 

 

A 'bluegill' swim jig up under docks is a given.  Pick your poison for color.  I also want to try a berkley gilly when they are eventually back in stock.  I think they could be dynamite on a weighted swimbait hook up under docks and run through the weeds we have here.

4 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

A 'bluegill' swim jig up under docks is a given. 

Placed an order with Mr. Siebert last night for some “Bull gill” colored swim jigs. I needed some replacements. Bull gill color + blue craw color trailer + spike-it chartreuse 

 

?

 

Bluegill colored spinnerbaits also tied on. 

Just now, LrgmouthShad said:

Placed an order with Mr. Siebert last night for some “Bull gill” colored swim jigs. I needed some replacements. Bull gill color + blue craw color trailer + spike-it chartreuse 

 

?‍?

 

Bluegill colored spinnerbaits also tied on. 

 

I too placed an order last night, though the bluegill jigs were in my previous order from ~2 weeks ago.  I think I went blue oyster and a few others.  Last night was spinnerbaits mostly.

2 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

think I went blue oyster and a few others

Blue oyster looked GOOD ?

 

Also good color for me this spring is bruised craw (black/blue/purple) with black/blue swirl trailer. 
 

If I don’t get bit on those swim jigs, spinnerbaits, or light Texas rigged z hogs, man I’m gonna………. Fish somewhere else ?

 

 

3 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

bluegill are basically the same.  They are more tolerant of other bluegill nests nearby (compared to bass who are less tolerant of other nests nearby) and bluegill are more tolerant of open areas whereas bass prefer to have a log or rock on one side of the bed.

 

I'd be surprised if you haven't missed the bluegill spawn.  They are due to start up here in NJ anytime now (water is around 70).  You must be 3-4 weeks ahead of us.

What he said

I would also like to add that bluegill will spawn all summer into late August. I'm pretty sure it happens around the full moon.

Or at least down here they spawn till late August

Females can lay between 10,000- 60,000 eggs a year is what I read somewhere

9 hours ago, LrgmouthShad said:

Do bluegill and shad have similar preferences as bass for the areas they like to spawn in? My whole idea of where bass spawn, right or wrong, is that they like a hard bottom, shallow maybe anywhere from 1-8ft, often on a flat, in view of sunlight. What about bluegill and shad? 

There are more similarities between bass and bluegill spawns than bass and shad.  Threadfin are our predominate baitfish and the daily window is small and ends shortly after after sunup, maybe a little longer if cloudy (most of it takes place at night).  They will choose different areas but they will want something hard to spawn on (wood, docks, riprap, reeds, etc.).  If they are spawning, you will know.  Water around 70 is a good indicator.  Bluegill have a more traditionally bass looking spawn with spawning phases, beds, etc.  You don’t need to be on the water at first light for bluegill.  Also, the shad spawn can be a good time to pull our your white bladed spinnerbaits.